ClutchPoints
The San Francisco 49ers are preparing for one of their most critical primetime matchups of the 2025 season as they host the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday Night Football in Week 7. At 4-2 and sharing the top spot in the NFC West with the Seattle Seahawks, the 49ers find themselves at a crossroads. After a disappointing 30-19 road loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 6, San Francisco desperately needs to bounce back at Levi’s Stadium against a Falcons defense that currently ranks first in several key defensive metrics. With quarterback Brock Purdy still questionable due to turf toe and backup Mac Jones dealing with his own injuries, the 49ers will need their most reliable weapon to deliver a signature performance.
That X-factor is none other than running back Christian McCaffrey.
In a season marred by injuries to key players across both sides of the ball, Christian McCaffrey has been the one constant force keeping the 49ers’ offense afloat. Through six games, McCaffrey has amassed 780 scrimmage yards, trailing only Atlanta’s Bijan Robinson (822 yards) for the NFL lead. What makes McCaffrey particularly dangerous isn’t just his production on the ground, but his elite work as a receiving threat out of the backfield.
McCaffrey is currently averaging 10 targets per game, which leads all running backs by a staggering margin—the next closest running back is 22 targets behind for the entire season. Across all positions, he ranks third in the NFL in targets behind only wide receivers Puka Nacua and Chris Olave. This dual-threat ability makes him virtually impossible to game plan against, especially for a Falcons defense that will need to account for him on every single snap.
Through six games in 2025, McCaffrey has carried the ball 108 times for 336 yards and one rushing touchdown, while adding 46 receptions on 60 targets for 444 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns. He’s scored in four of his six games this season, providing consistent fantasy production and real-world impact. While his rushing average of 3.1 yards per carry might seem pedestrian, it’s his receiving prowess that has elevated him to elite status once again. His 9.7 yards per reception demonstrates his ability to create explosive plays in space, and Kyle Shanahan has made it a priority to get the ball in his hands as frequently as possible.
The Falcons enter Week 7 allowing 114.0 rushing yards per game, ranking 17th in the NFL against the run. However, their pass defense against running backs has been stout, yielding just 5.02 adjusted yards-per-target to the position—the fifth-fewest in the league. Despite this, McCaffrey’s versatility and Shanahan’s creative play-calling should allow him to exploit Atlanta’s defense in multiple ways. As one analyst put it, “The Falcons have been a very impressive defense this season, with their rookies stepping up to the plate. However, CMC is inevitable and truly matchup-proof”.
While McCaffrey will be the featured weapon,...
