"HOUSTON - Apologies to data analysts and numbers crunchers but one of Stanford's most distinguished alumni has something to say. "You can look at stats all you want and stats tell a story," 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey said, "but they don't tell the whole story." The 49ers (5-2) are writing a unique tale this season, serving up plot twists outside logical numbers."
""Each week, each play has a life of its own," added McCaffrey, Stanford's lifeblood from 2014-16. "Everybody wants the run game to work, they want the pass game to work, they want to score touchdowns. That's been true since the beginning of time. There's definitely a sense of urgency but there's always been, and when things don't go well, you harp on it more.""
"Their rushing game broke out of its early-season slump last game by audibling to a power scheme, with McCaffrey racing between the tackles for 129 yards and two touchdowns in a 20-10 win over Atlanta. Mix in another 72 receiving yards - including a third-and-long conversion to set up his second score - and the 49ers aren't apologizing for his over-usage, not when they're without Brock Purdy, Ricky Pearsall and Brandon Aiyuk."
Christian McCaffrey leads the NFL in scrimmage yards and has become the centerpiece of the 49ers' offense. The 49ers are 5-2 while coping with injuries to key players such as Brock Purdy, Ricky Pearsall and Brandon Aiyuk, prompting heavier reliance on McCaffrey. The team shifted to a power rushing scheme to break an early-season slump, producing 129 rushing yards, two touchdowns, and 72 receiving yards for McCaffrey in the win over Atlanta. The 49ers will face the Texans' top-ranked scoring defense at NRG Stadium, presenting a difficult matchup despite recent success.
Read at The Mercury News
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