Christian McCaffrey’s Return Hurts 49ers Offense

The 49ers thought the return of Christian McCaffrey would solve their offensive problems. Instead, they have gotten worse since he returned.

In the three weeks McCaffrey has played this season, the 49ers have scored just 16.7 points per game. In the eight weeks he missed, the 49ers scored 26.3 points per game. Big difference.

Returning McCaffrey to his role as the featured weapon on offense has made a big impact. negative impact in the whole team. And that doesn’t impress McCaffrey. He deserves credit for battling bilateral Achilles tendinitis and playing without an offseason. He’s clearly not in football shape, lacking quickness and elusiveness, but he’s a captain and the 49ers’ season is slipping away, so he’s trying to move up.

Adding McCaffrey to an offense that’s averaging over 26 points per game without him has to be a good thing. But the 49ers buried Jordan Mason and Isaac Guerendo, who were playing extremely well, to get McCaffrey on the field. Suddenly, the 49ers’ running game became a major weakness.

McCaffrey is averaging just 3.5 yards per carry so far this season. Meanwhile, Mason is averaging 5.1 yards per carry and Guerendo is averaging 6 yards per carry. They can be elite as a trio. But since McCaffrey returned, Mason has only six carries and Guerendo has only one. They are not used in threes.

If the 49ers find a way to use all three running backs, their offense will improve no matter who their quarterback is.