San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy is still a strong candidate for NFL MVP after tossing for 368 yards and two scores in another victory over the Seattle Seahawks.
Being a quarterback gives Purdy higher MVP odds, but many believe McCaffrey’s performance this past week—running back Christian McCaffrey, who had 16 carries for 145 yards—is one of his fiercest rivals. Some contend that because McCaffrey is the best player at his position and makes the biggest contributions to the team, he should be the MVP.
These players are worthy opponents. Arguably the best team in the NFL, they are two of the key components of the NFC’s top-seeded squad. They are in charge of an offensive that is among the top three in each of the four major categories, and they are putting together the best Kyle Shanahan offense in recent memory.
Which 49er player, then, is the MVP? Let’s dissect the claims made by each player.
Christian McCaffrey
The best running back in the NFL is Christian McCaffrey. With 1,177 yards gained through running, McCaffrey leads the NFL in rushing yards per carry (5.2). Additionally, with 12 rushing touchdowns, he is second in the NFL. His contributions extend to the pass game in addition to the run game. With 437 yards, he has the most receiving yards of any running back. In addition to his rushing totals, he has 63 receptions and five touchdown receptions overall. Tyreek Hill, another MVP contender, is in second place with 1,557 scrimmage yards, while McCaffrey leads with 1,614 yards in all-purpose yards.
McCaffrey’s season has broken records, which is encouraging for his cause. Before tying Lenny Moore for the NFL record after extending his streak to 17 straight games with a touchdown, he broke the 49ers franchise record held by Jerry Rice.
In addition to his numbers, McCaffrey consistently produces some of the 49ers’ greatest plays. This was demonstrated once more against the Seahawks, as he opened the contest with a massive 72-yard rush that set up the 49ers’ scoring drive right away. He opened his campaign with a 65-yard touchdown run against the Pittsburgh Steelers back in Week 1. Naturally, the game against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 4 was his greatest, as he scored four touchdowns in all. That kind of performance against the Cardinals this week would greatly improve his chances of winning MVP.
In addition to these plays, McCaffrey is the 49ers offense’s mainstay. They can toss the ball to CMC and bank on him for an eight- or nine-yard rush if the passing game ever gets out of rhythm. In addition, he has the ability to run a route, screen, or even give a checkdown, as he demonstrated against the Bucs and Eagles.
The fact that McCaffrey is not a quarterback is, of course, his greatest drawback. Even though he draws the defense’s attention every time he steps onto the field, he gets harmed because he doesn’t touch the ball on every play. With 2,000 scrimmage yards and more than 20 touchdowns, McCaffrey will have the best chance of winning the championship. If not, Tyreek Hill and him will probably be in competition for Offensive Player of the Year.
Purdy’s case for MVP keeps getting stronger as he keeps winning games and proving his naysayers wrong. His performance and stats are equally as important as his place on the NFC’s best squad. Purdy’s stats are on par with an MVP. With 3,553 passing yards, he is tied for second in the NFL in touchdown passes with 25, leads the league in QBR, passer rating, and completion percentage among quarterbacks who have started at least half of their team’s games.
With his 54-yard touchdown pass to Deebo last week, his 76-yard pass to Brandon Aiyuk against the Buccaneers, and his 66-yard touchdown ball to George Kittle against the Jaguars, he has further disproved the notion that he is incapable of throwing deep passes. Such intricate plays strengthen Brock’s argument as a passer.
The quantity of guns surrounding Purdy, including McCaffrey, is the key factor harming his case. With as many detractors as he has, Purdy is bound to draw criticism when Deebo converts two short passes into lengthy scores, like he did against the Eagles. Some have countered that all of the MVPs from the past several years have gotten support around them and scored off screen passes.
The quantity of guns surrounding Purdy, including McCaffrey, is the key factor harming his case. With as many detractors as he has, Purdy is bound to draw criticism when Deebo converts two short passes into lengthy scores, like he did against the Eagles. Some have countered that all of the MVPs from the past several years have gotten support around them and scored off screen passes.
The fact that Brock is unquestionably the 49ers’ most successful quarterback under Kyle Shanahan certainly helps. Purdy outperforms what the 49ers achieved with Jimmy Garoppolo, Trey Lance, and Brian Hoyer, both statistically and through the eye test. This is a serious factor that contributes to San Francisco’s perception that their offensive is now equally as crucial to the team’s chances of winning the Super Bowl as their defense.
