3 NFL running backs who changed the position

NFL running backs who changed the position: Christian McCaffrey

Over the years, NFL offenses have changed rapidly. For the league’s first 58 years, teams averaged 30+ rushing attempts per game every single season. In 1989, the average dipped under the threshold for the first in history (29.2), and it never recovered. The top-10 seasons in fewest rushing attempts have all come in the last 13 years.

With that shift, the running back position has evolved. They are utilized more as receivers and pass blockers.

No running back better represents the modern game than Christian McCaffrey. Prior to his arrival, many elite running backs were already putting up big receiving numbers, but McCaffrey took it to another level. In 2018, he broke the record for single-season receptions by a running back (107). In 2019, he topped himself again with 116 receptions.

In the coming years, the majority of coaches should continue to deploy pass-heavy offenses, and McCaffrey is the gold standard for modern running backs.