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By Ellis Williams
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San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey has scored 10 touchdowns through eight games, helping his team build a 7-1 record. One NFL executive still expects the 49ers to need more from rookie running back Kaelon Black before the season ends.
The executive's praise for Black came with a prediction about McCaffrey getting injured.
“He's an explosive runner,” an NFC executive told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler of Black, adding that “Christian [McCaffrey] will undoubtedly get hurt at some point.”
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Fowler included the comment in a Friday report on the NFL's playoff races and emerging players. The executive was not identified and did not offer a reason for the injury prediction.
McCaffrey carries no game designation for Sunday’s matchup with the Dallas Cowboys. He sat out Wednesday for rest, then practiced fully Thursday and Friday.
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The 30-year-old has appeared in all eight of San Francisco's games this season. He leads the team with 457 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns, adding 36 catches for 270 yards and another score. Only tight end George Kittle has more receptions for the 49ers.
Kaelon Black earns work alongside Christian McCaffrey
Black has already become a regular part of coach Kyle Shanahan's offense. He has 68 carries for 303 yards and a touchdown, averaging 4.5 yards per attempt. His 133 rushing yards over the past two games include a 30-yard touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons.
In last Sunday's 38-17 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, Black carried 11 times for 70 yards. McCaffrey had 18 carries for 68 yards and a touchdown, along with two catches for 19 yards and another score.
That gave San Francisco 138 rushing yards from its top two backs, with Black accounting for more than a third of their combined carries. The rookie also handled double-digit rushing attempts in the season opener against the Los Angeles Rams, finishing with 65 yards on 14 carries.
McCaffrey's workload remains below last season's pace. He finished the 2025 regular season with 311 carries and 102 receptions across 17 starts, totaling 2,126 yards from scrimmage and 17 touchdowns. He won the AP Comeback Player of the Year award.
Through eight games this year, McCaffrey has 138 touches for 727 yards from scrimmage. His receiving role remains far larger than Black’s, who has three catches for four yards. McCaffrey caught nine passes against Washington and six against Atlanta before San Francisco’s bye. He has scored at least one touchdown in seven straight games, including two-touchdown performances against Miami, Washington and Las Vegas.
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