It should be no surprise that McCaffrey led the National Football League in most rushing attempts for first downs (142) last season. That’s an expected by-product of having a league-leading 1,459 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns for the San Francisco 49ers.
However, the second player on the list is quite surprising. During the 2023 offseason, the Philadelphia Eagles and quarterback Jalen Hurts agreed to a five-year, $255 million contract extension with a no-trade clause. He repaid that trust by finishing with 15 rushing touchdowns, most of which courtesy of the quarterback sneak known as the ‘Brotherly Shove.’
In addition to those scores that made Hurts one of the better quarterbacks in fantasy football, he also had 136 rushes for first downs, six fewer than McCaffrey’s total.
Most rushes for first down in the last two seasons:
— PFF Fantasy & Betting (@PFF_Fantasy) June 9, 2024
Christian McCaffrey - 142
Jalen Hurts - 136 pic.twitter.com/nmrdX41pxx
Meanwhile, McCaffrey’s impressive season led to a two-year, $38 million contract extension, keeping him with the Niners until the 2027 season. He also solidifies his position as the highest-paid NFL running back regarding average annual salary.
Conversely, Hurts benefits from playing behind one of the NFL’s best offensive lines. But while Landon Dickerson, Lane Johnson, and Jordan Mailata are still there, Hurts must adjust to life without Jason Kelce, who retired after the Eagles lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2024 NFC Wild Card Round.
-Lance Fernandez