49ers HC Kyle Shanahan strongly believes RB Christian McCaffrey is a legit MVP candidate

Purdy and McCaffrey votes would be split that would block them from gaining enough votes to secure the win in the MVP award.

49ers HC Kyle Shanahan strongly believes RB Christian McCaffrey is a legit MVP candidate

Christian McCaffrey and Kyle Shanahan (Via Belfast Telegraph/A-speakers)

With 8-3 standings in the NFC, the San Francisco 49ers have established themselves among the high-level contenders this season. And while most teams have one MVP candidate, they are one of the few teams with two strong MVP candidates.

As with the commendable record of quarterback Brock Purdy, running back Christian McCaffrey has also shown up in the MVP conversation, if the 49ers succeed in securing the top seed in the NFC. When the 49ers’ head coach Kyle Shanahan was asked by the reporters about his opinion on McCaffrey being a legitimate candidate, he replied by saying he believed it “without a doubt.”

YouTube video

Shanahan further added:

FS Video
I know it goes to quarterbacks the majority of the time, and there's plenty of worthy quarterbacks, but you definitely can't say that Christian's behind anyone. He's as valuable in this league as anyone.

However, with running back McCaffrey in the MVP race, things may not look that good for quarterback Purdy. Both of their votes would be split, blocking them from gaining enough votes to secure the win in the MVP award.

If that happens, it would be easier for a player from the AFC to win the MVP award this season. Coming to the AFC, if the Miami Dolphins secured the No. 1 seed, they would have wideout Tyreek Hill or quarterback Tua Tagovailoa as MVP candidates. The other top contenders such as the Baltimore Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs, Jacksonville Jaguars, Philadelphia Eagles, and Dallas Cowboys have only one short-list MVP finalist.

How did Christian McCaffrey become an MVP candidate?

The 49ers’ star running back McCaffrey has logged a remarkable record this season. He recorded the highest number of finding the end zone, 16 times this season. Counting from last season to San Francisco’s 34-3 win over the Jaguars in week 10, McCaffrey tied the NFL record for a touchdown in 17 back-to-back games.

Christian McCaffrey
Christian McCaffrey (Via Fox News)

After the 11 games of the 49ers this season, running back McCaffrey is leading the league in rushing yards with 939. He is ranked second across the league in rushing touchdowns of 11 and an average of 4.9 yards per carry.

Along with that, the 27-year-old athlete has logged 48 receptions for 389 yards and five touchdowns, placing him on pace for more than 2,000 total scrimmage yards.

In case you missed it: