Christian McCaffrey has undoubtedly been the heart of the San Francisco 49ers’ 5-2 start in the 2025 season. Back-to-back, the athlete has been doing the heavy lifting, but it could come at a cost the Niners can’t afford. Head coach Kyle Shanahan’s heavy reliance on Chris might burn him out or cause an injury. That’s almost like killing your shot at the tournament.

Anybody can tell that the 49ers have dominated opponents from McCaffrey’s performance. If he keeps up his best game, he may handle the ball ‌449 times, beating his own career best mark by 46 touches. The star RB has been driving the team’s offense and winning games, but it’s also a matter of concern. The franchise is putting Christian at risk of injury again by asking him to overdo.

It’s crystal clear that the 49ers’ team strategy isn’t sustainable, and it needs to be changed. According to reporter Jeff Kerr, “The 49ers have used McCaffrey to their advantage, but they also have risked injury to an oft-injured running back.” Especially when we know that last year, a nagging calf injury forced McCaffrey to miss all but four games. So, this time, the stats prove that the team is overusing him.

Christian McCaffrey once again carried the 49ers on his back, racking up 201 total yards and two touchdowns against the Falcons. He ran for 129, caught for 72, and seemed to be everywhere the ball went. Through seven games, the entire San Francisco offense has basically flowed through him with an NFL-best 185 touches. So, he’s been the heartbeat of their attack.

But the irony is, the team has talented athletes to serve as wide receivers, including Ricky Pearsall, Jauan Jennings, and Kendrick Bourne. And the list doesn’t end here! The Sunday battle against the Atlanta Falcons marked George Kittle’s return after a hamstring injury.

But surprisingly, the iconic tight end didn’t play as a receiver and blocked for McCaffrey. Additionally, the 49ers’ coach almost pushed McCaffrey past his limits before the big 20-10 win against the Falcons. During the post-game conference, Shanahan admitted to having a pre-planned play for a third-and-long situation.

“I felt like it was the first one we used in the game, and he actually tried to come out of the play, which we never allow. He came out a number of times again. We never sent him back once, except for that play. I looked at him and said, ‘Go back as long as you’re not hurt. You knew the deal.’ And he went back, and it was a hell of a play, a hell of a throw,” Shanahan said.

Kyle Shanahan asked, and Christian McCaffrey delivered

While Christian McCaffrey’s game won hearts at Levi’s Stadium on Sunday, Kyle Shanahan had set the tone for the day. The head coach made a small pre-game request to his team that he hadn’t made in two years. “I challenged [them], saying I’d like to get 40 runs called…That’s not just an offensive thing. In order to do that, you’ve got to play defense like we did tonight. You’ve got to play special teams like we did tonight,” he said.

The team listened and slayed with its offense, with McCaffrey delivering his best game of the season. The Colorado-based player recorded 31 touches for 201 yards and two touchdowns. With 129 rushing yards, he has become the first player to cross triple digits against the Falcons this season.

The player also joined legendary Roger Craig to become the team’s only duo to record over 100 scrimmage yards in each of the first seven games. Then there was George Kittle, one of the best tight ends the league has ever seen. Though he didn’t catch a pass for the first time in his career, his blocking helped the franchise rush for 174 yards. Now Kittle has a new wish–to catch the football.

“When it happens, it happens. When it doesn’t, it is what it is, but when you can run the ball 37-plus times, it’s a fantastic night,” the six-time Pro Bowl selection said. While it’s been rainbows and sunshine for the five-time Super Bowl champion team, they must stop overloading Christian McCaffrey with responsibility.