What do Christian McCaffrey and LeBron James have in common? At first glance, very little. However, a well-known NFL analyst recently compared the King’s impact on the Los Angeles Lakers to that of the running back on the San Francisco 49ers, especially now that his long-awaited return has been announced.
After more than two months of absence due to an injury, McCaffrey could finally make his debut in the 2024 NFL season this Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, in front of his home fans at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
McCaffrey and the 49ers have had a difficult season. In the absence of their star running back, quarterback Brock Purdy’s offense has struggled to establish itself on the field, leaving the team with a 4-4 record, 1-2 in the NFC West.
However, according to Yahoo Sports analyst Jordan Schultz, that is about to change, as McCaffrey has just been given the green light to return to the field.
Christian is the Niners’ LeBron
In a recent commentary for ESPN Radio’s “The Herd,” Schultz compared McCaffrey toJames, saying that when NBA teams face the Lakers, “your entire game plan shifts to LeBron because you have to account for him on every single play.”
The analyst explained, “Even when McCaffrey doesn’t have the football, this offense is going to be a lot better,” as the return of the running back will boost the production of players like tight end George Kittle and receiver Deebo Samuel.
According to Schultz, having McCaffrey on the field will cause a domino effect that will ultimately benefit quarterback Brock Purdy, especially in the red zone.
McCaffrey isn’t the solution, but he’s a good start
However, Schultz cautioned that the Niners’ problems won’t be solved by McCaffrey alone. “He’s not going to solve all their problems, and they’ve had some injuries, but McCaffrey gives Kyle Shanahan that magnetizable weapon that he hasn’t had.”
If McCaffrey stays healthy for the rest of the season and Purdy takes advantage of his presence, the 49ers have a strong chance to not only recapture first place in their division but also make another deep run in the upcoming playoffs.
