Christian McCaffrey Makes NFL History: Breaks Marshall Faulk's Record

Historic Achievement: 16 Games with Both Rushing and Receiving Touchdowns

In Week 9 of the 2025 NFL season, Christian McCaffrey etched his name in the record books, surpassing Pro Football Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk with his 16th career game recording both a rushing and receiving touchdown.

Date: November 2, 2025 Game: San Francisco 49ers 34, New York Giants 24 Location: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ

---

The Record-Breaking Performance

Week 9 Statistics

Christian McCaffrey vs New York Giants:

• 28 carries for 106 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD
• 5 receptions for 67 receiving yards, 1 receiving TD
• 173 total yards from scrimmage
• 2 total touchdowns
• 34.3 fantasy points

This performance marked the 16th time in McCaffrey's career that he scored both a rushing and receiving touchdown in the same game, breaking Marshall Faulk's long-standing NFL record of 15 such games.

---

Marshall Faulk's Legacy

The Previous Record Holder

Marshall Faulk set the standard for dual-threat running backs during his Hall of Fame career with the Indianapolis Colts (1994-1998) and St. Louis Rams (1999-2005).

Faulk's Career Achievements:

• 12,279 rushing yards
• 6,875 receiving yards
• 100 rushing touchdowns
• 36 receiving touchdowns
• NFL MVP (2000)
• 3x NFL Offensive Player of the Year
• 7x Pro Bowl selection
• Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2011)

The Record: 15 games with both a rushing and receiving touchdown

Faulk's versatility revolutionized the running back position, demonstrating that elite backs could dominate in both the ground game and passing attack. His record stood for over 15 years before McCaffrey surpassed it.

---

Christian McCaffrey's Path to History

Career Timeline

Drafted: 2017 NFL Draft, 8th overall by Carolina Panthers

Career Highlights:

• 2019: NFL Offensive Player of the Year
• 2019: Led NFL in scrimmage yards (2,392)
• 2019: Third player in NFL history to record 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in a single season
• Multiple Pro Bowl selections
• Traded to San Francisco 49ers (2022)

The Journey to 16: McCaffrey's dual-threat ability has defined his career. His combination of elite rushing vision, pass-catching skills, and red zone efficiency makes him one of the most dangerous offensive weapons in NFL history.

---

Breaking Down the Achievement

What Makes This Record Special

1. Elite Versatility Required

To score both rushing and receiving touchdowns in the same game requires:

• Offensive coordinator trust in multiple roles
• Elite hands for receiving touchdowns
• Power running for goal-line rushing scores
• Consistent high-volume usage

2. Red Zone Dominance

Scoring two touchdowns in different ways demonstrates:

• Scheme flexibility
• Defensive unpredictability
• Elite finishing ability
• Multiple skill sets

3. Durability and Consistency

Achieving 16 such games requires:

• Seasons of health
• Sustained elite performance
• Offensive system support
• Year-over-year excellence

---

2025 Season Context

McCaffrey's Season Through Week 9

Season Statistics:

• 596 rushing yards
• 626 receiving yards
• 1,222 total scrimmage yards
• Multiple touchdowns in both categories

Historic Milestone: McCaffrey became just the third player in NFL history, and second in 49ers franchise history, to surpass 500 yards in both rushing and receiving through the first nine games of a season.

Exclusive Company:

• Roger Craig (49ers, 1985)
• Saquon Barkley (Giants, 2018)
• Christian McCaffrey (49ers, 2025)

---

Fantasy Football Implications

Elite RB1 Status Confirmed

McCaffrey's record-breaking performance validates his fantasy football dominance:

Fantasy Value:

• RB1 ranking maintained throughout 2025
• 34.3 fantasy points in Week 9 (RB1 for the week)
• Consistent high-volume usage
• Dual-threat scoring ability

Rest of Season Outlook:

• Must-start in all formats
• Top-5 RB production guaranteed
• League-winning potential in fantasy playoffs
• Zero concerns about usage or role

---

Comparing McCaffrey to Faulk

Dual-Threat Mastery

Category	Marshall Faulk	Christian McCaffrey
Games with Rush + Rec TD	15	16
Career Rushing Yards	12,279	6,000+ (career ongoing)
Career Receiving Yards	6,875	4,000+ (career ongoing)
Peak Season (Scrimmage Yards)	2,429 (1999)	2,392 (2019)
MVP Awards	1	0 (but NFL OPOY 2019)

Key Similarity: Both redefined the running back position by excelling as dual-threat weapons.

---

Expert Reactions

The NFL community recognized McCaffrey's historic achievement immediately:

NBC Sports Bay Area: "How Christian McCaffrey made NFL history in 49ers' Week 9 win"

Yahoo Sports: "49ers' Christian McCaffrey breaks incredible Marshall Faulk record"

Newsweek: "Christian McCaffrey Makes NFL History in 49ers' Win Over Giants"

---

What This Means for CMC's Legacy

Hall of Fame Trajectory

Breaking Marshall Faulk's record places McCaffrey firmly on the Hall of Fame path:

Credentials Building:

1. Historic dual-threat ability (record-holder)
2. 2019 NFL Offensive Player of the Year
3. 1,000/1,000 rushing/receiving season member
4. Consistent elite production across multiple teams
5. Redefining the RB position in modern NFL

Remaining Goals:

• Super Bowl championship
• MVP award
• Sustained elite production into early 30s
• Additional milestone records

---

The Game-Winning Plays

Touchdown #1: Rushing Score

McCaffrey's rushing touchdown showcased his elite vision and power in the red zone. The 49ers' offensive line created the lane, and CMC finished with authority.

Touchdown #2: Receiving Score

The receiving touchdown demonstrated McCaffrey's elite hands and versatility. Kyle Shanahan's creative play-calling exploited the Giants' linebacker coverage, allowing CMC to create separation and secure the score.

---

49ers' Season Implications

Playoff Push with Elite Weapon

The 49ers improved to 6-3 with the victory, positioning themselves as NFC playoff contenders.

Offensive Identity:

• Run game anchored by McCaffrey
• Play-action passing benefits from CMC's dual-threat ability
• Red zone efficiency improved with versatile weapon

Rest of Season: With McCaffrey in historic form, the 49ers' playoff aspirations remain strong heading into November and December.

---

Fantasy Trade Market Impact

McCaffrey's Value Post-Record

If You Own McCaffrey:

• Do not trade under any circumstances
• His value is at season-high after record-breaking performance
• League-winning potential for fantasy playoffs

If You Don't Own McCaffrey:

• Nearly impossible to acquire now
• Would require multiple elite assets
• Current owners unlikely to sell after historic game

Trade Offer Guidelines: To acquire McCaffrey, you'd need to offer:

• Another elite RB1 + WR1
• Multiple first-round fantasy picks (dynasty)
• Essentially untradeable in redraft leagues

---

Historical Context

Dual-Threat RB Evolution

The NFL has evolved to feature running backs as complete offensive weapons:

1990s: Marshall Faulk pioneers dual-threat role 2000s: LaDainian Tomlinson continues the trend 2010s: Le'Veon Bell, David Johnson emerge 2019: Christian McCaffrey's 1,000/1,000 season 2025: McCaffrey breaks Faulk's record

McCaffrey represents the pinnacle of this evolution—a complete offensive weapon capable of dominating in every facet of the game.

---

What's Next for McCaffrey

Chasing More Records

With the Faulk record broken, McCaffrey sets his sights on:

1. Career Scrimmage Yards: Climb all-time rankings
2. Touchdowns: Approach 100 career TDs
3. Super Bowl Championship: The ultimate goal
4. Season Records: Another 1,000/1,000 season possible

---

Key Takeaways

• ✅ Record Broken: 16 games with both rush + receiving TD (surpassing Marshall Faulk's 15)
• ✅ Week 9 Stats: 173 scrimmage yards, 2 TDs, 34.3 fantasy points
• ✅ 49ers Win: 34-24 over Giants, improving to 6-3
• ✅ Fantasy Impact: Elite RB1 status cemented for rest of season
• ✅ Legacy: Hall of Fame trajectory strengthened

Christian McCaffrey's record-breaking performance cements his place among the NFL's greatest dual-threat running backs. Fantasy managers who own him can celebrate not just a dominant Week 9 performance, but also witnessing NFL history.

---

Data Verification

All statistics verified through:

• ✅ ESPN NFL Week 9 Game Report
• ✅ Yahoo Sports Coverage
• ✅ San Francisco 49ers Official Website
• ✅ Newsweek Sports Section
• ✅ NBC Sports Bay Area
• ✅ NFL.com Official Statistics

Last Updated: November 16, 2025 Game Date: November 2, 2025 (Week 9)

---

Season Update: McCaffrey Through Week 10

Continuing Elite Production After Record-Breaking Performance

Season Totals (Through 10 Games):

• Rushing Yards: 626 yards (NFL Rank: #13)
• Receiving Yards: 692 yards
• Total Yards from Scrimmage: 1,318 yards
• Total Touchdowns: 8 TDs (4 rushing, 4 receiving)
• Receptions: 69 catches
• Attempts: 180 rushing attempts

Per-Game Averages:

• Rushing: 62.6 yards per game
• Receiving: 69.2 yards per game
• Total: 131.8 yards from scrimmage per game
• Touchdowns: 0.8 TDs per game

Marshall Faulk Record Update

After breaking Marshall Faulk's record in Week 9 with his 16th career game featuring both a rushing and receiving touchdown, McCaffrey has solidified his position as the NFL leader in this elite category. This record demonstrates sustained dual-threat excellence throughout his career.

Record Status:

• Previous Record: Marshall Faulk (15 games)
• New Record: Christian McCaffrey (16 games as of Week 9)
• Active Lead: McCaffrey continues to extend this record

Fantasy Value Through Week 10

Despite slightly lower rushing yard totals compared to some seasons, McCaffrey remains an elite RB1:

Fantasy Points (PPR Scoring):

• 69 receptions = 69 points
• 1,318 yards = 131.8 points
• 8 TDs × 6 = 48 points
• Total: ~250 PPR points (25 per game)

RB Rankings:

• Overall RB ranking: Top-3 RB (consensus)
• PPR value: Elite RB1 (weekly must-start)
• Rest-of-Season: Unanimous top-5 RB

49ers Offensive Role

McCaffrey remains the centerpiece of San Francisco's offense:

Week 10 Context:

• 49ers record: 6-4 (after Week 10 loss to Rams)
• McCaffrey's role: Unchanged—primary offensive weapon
• Quarterback situation: Brock Purdy dealing with turf toe, Mac Jones filling in
• Impact: McCaffrey's volume remains elite regardless of QB

Key Insight: With Brock Purdy's injury creating uncertainty at quarterback, McCaffrey's importance to the 49ers offense has only increased. Both Purdy and Mac Jones rely heavily on McCaffrey as a safety valve and primary playmaker.

Remaining Schedule Outlook

Weeks 11-13 (Regular Season Finish): The 49ers face crucial divisional games in the competitive NFC West:

• NFC West battles with Rams (7-2) and Seahawks (7-2)
• Playoff positioning fights
• McCaffrey's volume should remain 20+ touches per game

Weeks 15-17 (Fantasy Playoffs): McCaffrey's elite production makes him a championship cornerstone:

• 49ers fighting for playoff seeding
• High-volume usage guaranteed in meaningful games
• RB1 weekly floor with RB1 overall ceiling

Dynasty and Long-Term Value

Age and Durability:

• Age: 29 years old (entering prime final years)
• Games played 2025: 10 of 10 (100%)
• Injury concerns: None currently

Contract Status:

• Signed through 2027 with 49ers
• Guaranteed centerpiece role
• Elite production window: 2025-2027 (3 seasons)

Historical Context Update

Career Achievements (Through Week 10, 2025):

1. ✅ Marshall Faulk dual-TD record (16 games - NFL record)
2. ✅ 2019: 1,000 rushing + 1,000 receiving yards (3rd player ever)
3. ✅ Multiple All-Pro selections
4. ✅ Elite career yards per game average
5. 🎯 Tracking toward Hall of Fame candidacy

2025 Season Trajectory:

• Pace for 1,063 rushing yards (17-game season)
• Pace for 1,176 receiving yards
• Pace for ~14 total touchdowns
• On track for another elite dual-threat season

---

Article Note: This article originally published November 11, 2025, focused on McCaffrey's Week 9 record-breaking performance against the Giants. The season update section (updated November 16, 2025) provides current standings through 10 games: 626 rushing yards, 692 receiving yards, 69 receptions, 8 total touchdowns.