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Norv Turner is crazy

Floats idea of 400 touches for Christian McCaffrey

Coaches say the darnedest things. Norv Turner takes the cake for today, indicating that it’s realistic for Christian McCaffrey to get 25-30 touches per game. Yet another indication we need less talking and more on-field action.

Turner at least has all the bases covered. Back when he took Carolina’s offensive coordinator gig, he suggested McCaffrey was better suited for a part-time role. (And that’s how I expect it will play out; McCaffrey probably will catch 60-plus passes, but C.J. Anderson I think will run for more yards and score more rushing touchdowns.)

"That hard-nosed running between the tackles he can certainly do, but I don't know that's what you want to lead with him,” Turner told a writer for the team’s website back in January.

Now Turner is sizing up McCaffrey as the next LaDainian Tomlinson. If McCaffrey were to average 30 touches, that would put him up at 480 in 16-game season – just 12 off the NFL record held by James Wilder (who’s also, by the way, was my second-round pick in my first-ever fantasy draft).

If McCaffrey were to average 25 touches, that would work out to 400 for the season – over double his total from last year. In this century, only 18 running backs have handled the ball at least 400 times in a season.

RUNNING BACKS WITH 400-PLUS TOUCHES
YearPlayerTouchesRecRunTotal TD
2006Larry Johnson, K.C.4574101,7892,19919
2000Eddie George, Tenn.4534531,5091,96216
2002LaDainian Tomlinson, S.D.4514891,6832,17215
2000Edgerrin James, Ind.4505941,7092,30318
2014DeMarco Murray, Dall.4494161,8452,26113
2003Ricky Williams, Mia.4423511,3721,72310
2006Steven Jackson, St.L.4368061,5282,33416
2002Ricky Williams, Mia.4303631,8532,21617
2003Deuce McAllister, N.O.4205161,6412,1578
2003LaDainian Tomlinson, S.D.4137251,6452,37017
2003Jamal Lewis, Balt.4132052,0662,27114
2004Curtis Martin, NYJ4122451,6971,94214
2005Tiki Barber, NYG4115301,8602,39011
2009Chris Johnson, Tenn.4085032,0062,50916
2017LeVeon Bell, Pitt.4066551,2911,94611
2003Ahman Green, G.B.4053671,8832,25020
2006LaDainian Tomlinson, S.D.4045081,8152,32331
2005Edgerrin James, Ind.4043371,5061,84314

—Ian Allan

Fantasy Index