There aren’t many players in the NFL who are more dynamic than Christian McCaffrey. The dual-threat running back has rushed for 707 yards and six touchdowns through 11 games, adding 74 catches for another 732 yards and five scores.
That ability to impact the game makes in multiple ways makes him incredibly valuable, though he believes the running back position in general remains underpaid in the current NFL landscape.
“I do think running back is the most disrespected position in the NFL for how much value a lot of these guys bring to their team,” McCaffrey told ESPN’s Nick Wagoner. “Hopefully, the contract stuff with running backs gets better because I think it’s such a valuable position and guys that touch the ball all the time are really game changers.”
The general line of thinking has been that running backs have a shorter shelf life than other positions and it’s generally easier to find production at the position than at wide receiver or quarterback.
But the true unicorns at the position like McCaffrey, Jonathan Taylor or Jahmyr Gibbs continue to offer a different level of impact to their respective offenses. McCaffrey is hoping the market eventually acknowledges as much.