No player has dominated the NFL this season in such form as star running back Christian McCaffrey. The MVP vote can only go to him – a commentary.

There is only one player this season who is really in the running for MVP: Christian McCaffrey.

The San Francisco 49ers running back has dominated the league almost at will for weeks. Game days on which “Run CMC” doesn’t score a touchdown – which has only been the case twice in the 2023 season anyway – are almost laughed at a la: What was that all about, sports fan?

McCaffrey once again proved his exceptional talent in the Monday Night Game of Week 16, the thriller against the Baltimore Ravens. And that despite the fact that it was against one of the best defenses in the league and the Niners’ offense had been struggling for a long time.

Quarterback Brock Purdy had a horror evening with 255 passing yards, no touchdowns and four interceptions. And wide receiver Deebo Samuel, who has been in absolute gala form for weeks, was held to four receptions for 47 yards and failed to visit the end zone for the first time in four games.

McCaffrey, on the other hand, was once again unfazed by the strength of the opposition, putting up strong numbers with 103 rushing yards on 14 runs and a rushing touchdown as well as six catches for 28 receiving yards. The dual-threat runner was a constant source of trouble for Baltimore’s defense.

For the fourth time in the last five games, “CMC” had triple-digit rushing yards. Despite the first loss for San Francisco after six wins in a row, hope for a very successful season prevails again after the brief disappointment – especially because of McCaffrey.

McCaffrey in the footsteps of 49ers legend

The 49ers squad is unparalleled in terms of breadth and depth, and is more balanced than almost any other roster this year. And with McCaffrey as the spearhead, they have an elite player who carries the offense on his shoulders week after week and simply cannot be taken out of the game for four quarters – come who may.

A difference-maker who is needed for a strong regular season and a deep playoff run.

And the dominance and naturalness of the 27-year-old’s performances over the past few weeks cannot receive enough praise and attention.

The numbers after 15 games of the season impressively back up McCaffrey’s claim to the award for most valuable player of the regular season: 258 carries, 1,395 rushing yards, 14 rushing touchdowns. 63 receptions, 537 receiving yards, seven receiving touchdowns.

With 21 TDs after Week 16, it is more than likely that the 49ers’ franchise record of 23 set by legend Jerry Rice in 1987 will fall with two games remaining.

When the starters are read out, opponents regularly go weak at the knees when the name of number 23 is mentioned.

A one-man wrecking crew. 1.80 meters of pure athletic force of nature. Who is going to stop this Swiss army knife anyway?

Most-Valuable-Quarterback must come to an end

It’s time for McCaffrey to finally break through the quarterback phalanx and follow in the MVP footsteps of Marshall Faulk (2000), Shaun Alexander (2005), LaDainian Tomlinson (2006) and Adrian Peterson (2012) as a running back.

Brock Purdy. Dak Prescott. Tua Tagovailoa. Josh Allen. Lamar Jackson. Jalen Hurts. Patrick Mahomes.

McCaffrey is leaving those quarterbacks behind this season. Because McCaffrey has never been more valuable. As an MVP should be