Christian McCaffrey Having Better Offensive Season Than New York Jets

Jacksonville Jaguars v Carolina Panthers
Jacksonville Jaguars v Carolina Panthers /
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There is a lot fun to be had with Christian McCaffrey stats through five weeks, as his 866 scrimmage yards has him on pace for 2,771 over a 16-game season, which would shatter the all-time record set by Chris Johnson (2,509) 10 years ago. In fact, McCaffrey's current all-purpose yardage is more than the entire Jets' offensive total of 718 (albeit in one extra game, as the Jets had their bye already in Week 4).

McCaffrey is actually out-producing a pair of elite running backs, Ezekiel Elliott and Todd Gurley, in combined scrimmage yards through the season's first five weeks. A tweet about the stat from ESPN prompted Gurley to respond, and also give McCaffrey some well-deserved props for his MVP-level start to the 2019 season.

McCaffrey has taken the reigns of the Panthers offense following Cam Newton's foot injury that has kept him out of the team's last three games, all victories. In that three-week span, McCaffrey has averaged an incredible 201.3 scrimmage yards per game, while scoring a combined five touchdowns.

The performance has led many to wonder whether McCaffrey can finish with the greatest fantasy season of all time, which currently belongs to former San Diego Chargers running back LaDanian Tomlinson. In 2006, Tomlinson finished with 2,323 all-purpose yards and an NFL-record 33 total touchdowns for a skill player.

Next up for McCaffrey in Week 6 is the one team that has stymied him so far this season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Panthers and Bucs will play in London this Sunday for their second matchup of the season, after Tampa limited McCaffrey to 53 scoreless scrimmage yards in Week 2. The Bucs are giving up the third fewest fantasy points to running backs this season.


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