RB · SF
WR · BUF
general
Browns opponents: Injuries already hitting visitors for Cleveland’s home opener
The Cleveland Browns look to open training camp, while their Week 3 scheduled opponent Carolina Panthers have big injuries
Christian McCaffrey
RB · SF · 30 yrs · exp 9 · Stanford
Status
- Game status
- Active
Keep Trade Cut (SF TEP)
From latest snapshot · trend vs ~7d prior when data allows.
Value
5,152
Rank
#59
Pos rank
#14
7d trend
+2.1% (7d vs prior)
Value history (90d)
One snapshot point per calendar day (shown in your timezone).
Latest: Jul 24, 2026 · 5,152
News
Stories linked to this player — newest first.
RB · SF
general
49ers roster preview: Is this Christian McCaffrey’s final year as a Niner?
The San Francisco 49ers had made the Super Bowl, had deep playoff runs, and had been among the best teams in the NFL before acquiring Christian McCaffrey. McCaffrey playing in a game a few days after the trade says everything you need to know about the player. After that game against the Chiefs, he took off. Since then, McCaffrey has consistently found himself in the top-5 of MVP voting. Not many running backs can say that. As we know, McCaffrey is no ordinary running back. The gravity that he commands as a receiver is unlike any player Kyle Shanahan has had in the Bay Area. And Shanahan has taken full advantage of that. After missing all but four games in the 2024 season, McCaffrey played 932 snaps in 2025, which was nearly 83% of the team’s snaps. McCaffrey was the 49ers’ offense last year. He had 10 games with at least 45 receiving yards. He forced a league-high 113 missed tackles, per Next Gen Stats. Understanding that it was a struggle to generate offense, Shanahan went out of his way to target McCaffrey behind the line of scrimmage. CMC had 73 receptions behind the line of scrimmage, which was 35 more than the next-closest running back. McCaffrey still managed 697 receiving yards and 35 first downs. Off a season with 311 rushing attempts and 102 receptions, Shanahan’s hand will be forced to dial back the touches for McCaffrey. Age: 30 Experience: 9 accrued seasons Height: 5’10 Weight: 210 pounds McCaffrey is under contract through the 2026 season. This is the final year of McCaffrey having a relatively cheap cap number. McCaffrey’s base salary is $1.3 million in 2026. That number spikes to $16.85 million next season. That is in addition to McCaffrey’s annual prorated bonuses. He has a $18.6 million signing bonus that pays out $3.94 million this year and next. Plus a $24.79 option bonus that will be paid out $4.95 in 2026 and 2027.McCaffrey’s base salary is $1.3 million in 2026. That number spikes to $16.85 million next season. That is in addition to McCaffrey’s annual prorated bonuses. He has a $18.6 million signing bonus that pays out $3.94 million this year and next. Plus a $24.79 million option bonus that will be paid out $4.95 million in 2026 and 2027. That’s how you get a cap number of $26 million during McCaffrey’s 31-year-old season next year. If the 49ers were to release McCaffrey after this season, they would save $17.5 million in cap space. The alternative could be restructuring McCaffrey’s contract, which would save $11.7 million in cap space. The latter option does not have any dead money, while the former has $8.9 million. Salary cap and age will have a big say in this. There is no arguing about McCaffrey’s impact and what he means to the 49ers. He’s incredible. But we know how Father Time is with running backs once they hit 30. We also know what history says about players coming off 400-touch seasons. Injuries are as close to inevitable as it gets. If it’s not injuries, it’s the production that falls off a cliff. It’s difficult to imagine McCaffrey not being successful in a Shanahan offense with the weapons currently on the roster. The added speed and WR1 at wide receiver should only make McCaffrey more dangerous out of the backfield. The data tells us McCaffrey has lost a step. That doesn’t mean he’s any less effective, as evidenced by his missed tackle rate. But the 49ers will have to make a decision on McCaffrey with a ballooned salary. The team just used a third-round pick on Kaelon Black. Jordan James is 22. If those two look like they can be the future, the 49ers may turn the page from McCaffrey. If not, a restructure may be in the works
general
Which 49ers player will be the biggest standout during training camp?
We are a few days away from the San Francisco 49ers’ entire team reporting to training camp. We’ll see how often Kyle Shanahan gives veterans like Trent Williams and Christian McCaffrey days off. We know players like Nick Bosa , George Kittle , and Mykel Williams are recovering from season-ending injuries. That opens the door for some other players on the roster to make a name for themselves and catch the eyes of the coaching staff. That’s especially true for the new faces on the roster. And there are plenty of those who will look to take advantage of potential openings. Whether that’s Christian Kirk at wide receiver, Robert Jones or Brett Toth at guard, Nate Hobbs in the secondary, or one of the undrafted free agent rookies added on defense, we can expect somebody to stand out. Last season, that was Demarcus Robinson . He was unguardable during training camp. You would have thought he was Brandon Aiyuk the way he was being talked about last August. Unfortunately, that summer success never came to fruition during the season. So, who will be the summer standout this year? My answer: Jacob Cowing In these practice settings, it tends to be the wide receiver, much like Robinson a year ago. I’ll go with the player who I think can carry over a strong training camp into the regular season. There will be veteran days off for Mike Evans during training camp and the preseason. That’ll open the door for other wideouts. So I’m going with Jacob Cowing, a guy who adds a speed dimension that the 49ers did not have a season ago. Ricky Pearsall tested extraordinarily well, but, to the eye test, Cowing plays faster than Pearsall. Cowing will be lined up in the slot and off the ball in advantageous matchups against a secondary that does not run well, at least compared to Cowing. Usage matters. Cowing will likely run deep crossing routes or routes with vertical stems. He may have a screen or two mixed in with an underneath route, but he’s a vertical threat. That’ll lead to big plays, splash plays, and “oohs and ahhs” from the crowd. That’ll show in preseason games, as will Cowing’s ability as a returner. He should get enough opportunities returning punts and kicks. It’s another area where Cowing can show off his speed and prove to the coaching staff that he can make an impact
analyst
Brian Robinson Jr. Could Hold Standalone Value in Addition to Insurance Upside
Atlanta Falcons running back Brian Robinson Jr. failed to reach 100 carries for the first time in his career in his lone season with the 49ers in 2025. With injuries hitting the team hard, four-time All-Pro Christian McCaffrey was one of the few players to stay healthy wire-to-wire, limiting Robinson's opportunities in what has long been viewed as one of fantasy's most valuable insurance roles. In signing a one-year deal with the Falcons, Robinson again finds himself as a high-value handcuff, this time to two-time Pro Bowler Bijan Robinson, who has not missed a start through his first three seasons in the league. While the incumbent Robinson has seen heavier usage year after year, there has still been enough remaining opportunity for his primary backup to see some standalone fantasy value, with Tyler Allgeier averaging 117.9 fantasy points across their three seasons together. A new coaching staff in Atlanta could ultimately prove to make any past workload splits moot, but as RotoBaller's RB46, Robinson Jr. is projected to have some flex appeal in 2026 with obvious week-winning upside should an unfortunate injury force him to take on a larger role
analyst
Jordan James Could Be Part of One of Fantasy's Most Important Camp Battles
San Francisco 49ers running back Jordan James did not record a single offensive statistic as a fifth-round rookie in 2025. While the 49ers dealt with a string of high-profile injuries throughout the year, one player who remained almost surprisingly healthy was four-time All-Pro Christian McCaffrey. At 29 years old, the ninth-year veteran handled the largest workload of his career on the way to an RB1 fantasy finish, limiting primary backup Brian Robinson Jr. to only 92 carries in his lone season with the team. With Robinson departing in free agency, James will battle 2026 third-round pick Kaelon Black for those primary backup responsibilities, and with McCaffrey another year older with a spotty history of stringing together heavy-touch seasons, it remains arguably the most valuable handcuff role in fantasy. The 49ers will hold their first public training camp practice on Sunday, and while it may still be some time before they don pads for the first time, the battle between San Francisco's two young runners will be one to pay close attention to. In the meantime, James is worthy of a late-round dart throw at the end of drafts as RotoBaller's RB56
general
2026 San Francisco 49ers Fantasy Preview: Can a revamped skill corps keep the points coming?
Has Kyle Shanahan made enough meaningful additions to support an aging and injured core?
general
Agent's Take: How high can Jahmyr Gibbs and Bijan Robinson take a resurgent RB market?
The running back market had taken an economic downturn until Christian McCaffrey signed a two-year, $38 million contract extension averaging $19 million per year with the San Francisco 49ers during the 2024 offseason. McCaffrey was already the NFL's highest-paid running back with a four-year extension, averaging $16 million per year, which he received from the Carolina Panthers in 2020. He remained the only running back legitimately averaging more than $14 million per year under the 2024 extension. Saquon Barkley became the league's first $20 million running back in 2025 when he signed a two-year, $41.2 million extension with the Philadelphia Eagles . The deal had a then-record-high $36 million in fully guaranteed compensation at signing. Derrick Henry subsequently signed a two-year, $30 million extension averaging $15 million per year with the Baltimore Ravens despite his high mileage and being 31 years old. Barring an injury, it was a certainty that Henry would easily eclipse the 2,500-career-carry mark during the 2025 season. Three running backs landed deals for more than $14 million per year this offseason. Kenneth Walker III signed a three-year, $43 million contract worth up to $45 million through incentives with the Kansas City Chiefs as an unrestricted free agent. Breece Hall , who was kept off the open market by a $14.3 million franchise tag, signed a three-year, $43.5 million deal worth a maximum of $45.75 million through incentives to stay with the New York Jets . De'Von Achane received a four-year, $64 million extension with $32 million in guarantees from the Miami Dolphins . Incentives make the deal worth up to $68 million. At $16 million per year, Achane is the NFL's third-highest-paid running back. Six running backs make more than $14 million per year. There could be as many as nine by the time the regular season starts in early September. Jonathan Taylor has entered the final year of a three-year, $42 million extension with the Indianapolis Colts , signed early in the 2023 regular season after acrimonious negotiations in which he requested a trade. He is likely looking for a new deal near the top of the running back market. Taylor probably thinks his place in the running back salary hierarchy shouldn't be any lower in a new deal than in 2023. For all practical purposes, Taylor was the NFL's second-highest-paid running back. Alvin Kamara's $15 million-per-year extension with the New Orleans Saints included a fifth new contract year worth $25 million for cosmetic purposes, artificially inflating his average yearly salary. The deal averaged $12.5 million per year through the first four new years. Doing the same thing would mean Taylor getting more than McCaffrey's $19 million per year. Taylor was coming off an injury-plagued 2022 season in which he rushed for a then-career-low 861 rushing yards while dealing with a terrible economic climate for running backs, when he got the $14 million-per-year deal. That isn't the case this time around. Taylor was selected to the Pro Bowl for the third time in his six NFL seasons in 2025. He was also named first-team All-Pro by The Sporting News, one of the three media outlets approved by the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement for honors incentives. Taylor was third in the NFL with 1,585 rushing yards last season. He led the league with 20 total touchdowns (18 rushing and two receiving). Taylor will be a prime candidate for a franchise tag if he doesn't sign a new deal. It will cost the Colts $18.7 million, given how the prior year's salary provisions work with franchise tags. That's 120% of Taylor's $15.562 million 2026 cap number. Jahmyr Gibbs and/or Bijan Robinson should reset the running market when signing new deals. Both are dual-threat, former first-round running backs. Robinson led the NFL with 2,298 yards from scrimmage (combined rushing and receiving yards) last season. It was the 12th-best single-season mark in NFL history. He also earned first-team All-Pr [... truncated ...]
general
Is age really that much of a concern for the 49ers?
We’ve been going all over this for the last few months: the 49ers are getting older. And while we discuss it in the comments, everyone else mentions that they are getting too old and beat up. Is that much of an issue? It will be in a year or two if these last couple of draft picks don’t work out. I’ve been harping about finding a replacement for Trent Williams , even though that’s not exactly the way things work in the NFL. Can it be done currently? Well, if the last two seasons are any indication, yeah, maybe. In both seasons, the 49ers were inundated with injuries, and how they won the wild card game against the Philadelphia Eagles last season is still something I’m trying to figure out (oh, but its awesomeness can’t be argued). Albert Breer mentioned the age as something interesting to watch in his latest column on SI.com . The 49ers’ age is notable, and makes them as all in as their NFC West rivals in Los Angeles . Trent Williams is 38, Kyle Juszczyk is 35, George Kittle and Mike Evans are 32, Christian McCaffrey is 30, Fred Warner is 29 and Nick Bosa is 28. Can all those guys stay healthy? Do the Niners have a big swing left in them before the trade deadline to give them their best shot? It’s an interesting circumstance. Do older players get injured? Sure. But that’s really the main thing: if they don’t get injured (and that might happen), then I don’t think anyone will care about how old the roster is. If they make another NFC Championship this season, age really wasn’t an issue, and this season was a success. But going into the season? Same applies. I don’t really care how old the roster is as long as they are winning. The injury concerns are real, but it’s not like only the old players got sidelined last year and the year before that. At the end of the day, it’s a question of whether the age of the 49ers is really that much of an issue or just a talking point for everyone talking about the 49ers. Only time will tell, I suppose. Are you that concerned about their age, or is that just a number at this point?
general
Broncos' RJ Harvey watching film of NFL's top running backs as he looks to expand his game
Broncos running back RJ Harvey is studying top NFL running backs like Christian McCaffrey, Kenneth Walker, and Jahmyr Gibbs to improve his game in his second season. Harvey had a productive rookie year and aims to reach the impact level of the league's elite players
analyst
RJ Harvey Watching More Film as he Heads Into Year 2
Broncos running back RJ Harvey is focusing on studying film of other successful RBs like Christian McCaffrey, Kenneth Walker III, and Jahmyr Gibbs as he enters his second year. While he showed flashes after J.K. Dobbins' injury, consistency issues and a crowded backfield with Jonah Coleman and Dobbins suggest a committee approach. Harvey's fantasy value has decreased, positioning him as a potential RB3/flex option in PPR leagues
general
49ers exec Paraag Marathe is a finalist for MLS Commissioner
Paraag Marathe, a key executive for the 49ers who has been instrumental in roster building and contract negotiations for players like Brock Purdy, George Kittle, Fred Warner, and Kyle Juszczyk, as well as facilitating trades for Christian McCaffrey and Trent Williams, is reportedly a finalist for the MLS Commissioner position
general
49ers News: Can’t wait to see the offense this season
Former 49ers safety Donte Whitner predicts Kyle Shanahan's offense will be the number one in the NFL this season, highlighting the challenge of defending playmakers like Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, and Ricky Pearsall. The article also touches on the development of Jacob Cowing and the need for improved wide receiver play from Kendrick Bourne and Jauan Jennings, while noting a dip in Brock Purdy's intermediate attempts
RB · SF
analyst
Christian McCaffrey: Wins Best Comeback Athlete
McCaffrey has been named the Best Comeback Athlete the 2026 ESPYS, Briana Jeannel of the 49ers' official site reports. Visit RotoWire.com for more analysis on this update
RB · SF
analyst
Christian McCaffrey - Wins Best Comeback Athlete
sleeper-rotowire+15 stories · 30dSource unavailable
McCaffrey was named the Best Comeback Athlete at the 2026 ESPYS, Briana Jeannel of the 49ers' official site reports. McCaffrey earned All-Pro honors while rushing 311 times for 1,202 yards and 10 touchdowns across 17 regular-season games in 2025, and also leading all running backs with a 102-924-7 receiving line (129 targets). Head coach Kyle Shanahan acknowledged back in spring that the team may alleviate McCaffrey's workload in 2026 in order to keep him fresh, a fair concern given that the 30-year-old handled a career-high 413 touches last year. McCaffrey himself has downplayed any workload concerns, and his versatility will help him remain a high-end fantasy producer even if any of Jordan James, Kaelon Black, Isaac Guerendo (pectoral), Patrick Taylor, Jordan Mims or Jermar Jefferson earn a larger role this year
general
2026 Season Opener Countdown: 61 Days Remaining
Here at Cat Scratch Reader we have counted down the final 100 days leading up to the Carolina Panthers season opener by for at least the past ten years. We’ve always done this by highlighting the current player on the roster whose jersey number matches the day on the countdown. This year, we decided to change that up a bit by counting down our own list of the Top 100 Panthers of all time. This does not correspond to jersey number, does not need to be somebody who wore a jersey, and will in no way be controversial. Former LSU defensive standout Donte Jackson was taken 55th overall by the Carolina Panthers in the 2018 NFL Draft. As a second round pick, he was expected to contribute right away. Jackson proved to be one of Marty Hurney’s few non-first round picks to work out, starting all 16 games for the Panthers his rookie year. Though he lacked the prototypical size at just 5’10” and 180 lbs, he had that dawg mentality and the athleticism to stick with almost anyone. Jackson filled up the stat sheet his rookie year: nabbing four interceptions, defending nine passes, forcing a fumble, and even notching a sack. Jackson’s quality play continued throughout his four year rookie deal, and he was rewarded with a three year, $35.1 million with the Panthers. Unfortunately for Jackson (and the Panthers), injuries hit in the very first year of that new contract. He had an ankle injury that sidelined him in Week 8, but returned the following game. In Week 10, he tore his Achilles on a Thursday night against the Atlanta Falcons , ending his season with just nine games played. That injury was just one exclamation point on a disappointing season that saw the firing of Matt Rhule, the Christian McCaffrey trade, and a quarterback carousel that included Baker Mayfield , Sam Darnold , and PJ Walker. The new regime in 2023 under Dave Canales used Jackson a ton on defense, and he started all 16 games logging 91% of the defensive snaps on a less-than-stellar defense. He failed to make an interception and had a career worst passer rating against of 107.7, leading to the Panthers moving on. Jackson was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers that offseason with a sixth round pick for Diontae Johnson and a seventh round pick. That pick by the Panthers was linebacker Michael Barrett , who was subsequently traded to the Seattle Seahawks for Mike Jackson , who has been damn good in Carolina. Donte Jackson started all 15 games he played in for the Steelers in 2024 and signed a two year, $13 million contract with the Los Angeles Chargers . He returned to his high quality performance in LA last year, with four interceptions, 12 passed defended, and an absurd 56.8 passer rating against. Still only 30 years old, Jackson could very well continue his elevated play for several years. Could a reunion in Carolina be down the road? Who knows? I’m sure neither side would hate the idea, and the fans would welcome him back with open arms. Jackson’s consistently good performance over his six seasons in Carolina (even when the team was bad), combined with him being a fan favorite, earned Action Jackson the No. 61 spot on our countdown of the Top 100 Panthers
general
Where NFL figures rank 49ers' Christian McCaffrey among best running backs
Christian McCaffrey is ranked as the 4th best running back in the NFL by league executives, scouts, and coaches in a poll compiled by ESPN. McCaffrey achieved his third career season with over 2,000 scrimmage yards in 2025, and despite turning 30, he remains an integral part of the 49ers' offense
general
Chase Brown not considered a top-10 running back by coaches, scouts, and executives
Chase Brown had a slow start to last year, largely due to the Joe Burrow injury that resulted in Jake Browning getting four starts. The running back averaged just 2.46 yards per carry through Week 5, but then turned it around and averaged 5.14 yards per carry after Joe Flacco took over for Browning and then Burrow returned to the field. Still, that slow start has the quick running back’s stock dropping to the point that coaches, scouts, and executives do not consider him to be among the top ten backs in the NFL, according to a survey conducted by ESPN . In his article on the survey, Jeremy Fowler shared the list of top-10 running backs and explained how it came together: Voters gave their own top 10 players at a position, then we compiled the results and ranked candidates based on the number of top-10 votes, composite average and dozens of interviews, with research and film study help from ESPN NFL analyst Matt Bowen as well as ESPN Research. More than 70 voters submitted a ballot on at least one position, and in many cases all positions. Additional voting and follow-up calls with those surveyed contributed to placements. Here’s the list: Bijan Robinson , Atlanta Falcons Jahmyr Gibbs , Detroit Lions Saquon Barkley , Philadelphia Eagles Christian McCaffrey , San Francisco 49ers Jonathan Taylor , Indianapolis Colts Derrick Henry , Baltimore Ravens James Cook III , Buffalo Bills De’Von Achane, Miami Dolphins Kenneth Walker III, Kansas City Chiefs Breece Hall , New York Jets It’s easy to see why Brown would be left out of the top seven. And Walker is coming off a Super Bowl MVP performance. But Brown could arguably be better than Hall. Now here’s the interesting part: Brown wasn’t even included among the honorable mentions, who were Josh Jacobs ( Green Bay Packers ), Kyren Williams ( Los Angeles Rams ), and Quinshon Judkins ( Cleveland Browns ). Brown was, however, mentioned among those who also received votes, along with D’Andre Swift, Javonte Williams , Ashton Jeanty , TreVeyon Henderson , Travis Etienne Jr. , and Alvin Kamara
general
49ers News: The entire 2026 rookie class is officially signed
Mac Jones on 49ers choosing Lance over him, why he was meant to join Shanahan “And I felt like I had really good interviews,” Jones said. “Kyle really liked what I was doing on Zoom. My Zoom setup was incredible. I had the whiteboard and all the right s–t. I’m like, I’m gonna do this right . So, I had it all, and I would go in there and show tape and try and show them what my superpower is, which is my ability to process and be smart, and also like rip it, and show them that I have that side of me too.” He entered draft night believing he had a legitimate chance to land in San Francisco. “So I think I had good interviews, and leading up to it, I was like feeling good about it,” Jones said. “And I met with a bunch of teams, and a lot of teams thought I was going to be gone, so they didn’t even meet with me. Anyways, so like the day comes, and I ended up not getting picked by them, and I didn’t really know. It was 50/50. We really didn’t [know]. And they went with Trey, which is just fine. And Trey, I know Trey. He’s a good dude. And I think, Kyle, he really wanted me to get back there somehow, like when I went to New England . You could have just picked me at 12,” he said with a laugh. “I don’t know if I’m worth three first-round picks, but s–t, sign me up.” 49ers sign 4th-round pick Gracen Halton to 4-yr, $5.6M deal “ With the move, the 49ers have signed their entire 2026 draft class.” Watch: 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey’s offseason workout routine “As anticipation builds for the 2026 season, new video has surfaced showcasing McCaffrey’s offseason training routine as the star running back prepares for his 10th NFL campaign.” 49ers 90-in-90: Jordan Watkins reminds us of a pair of former Kyle Shanahan receivers “I imagine Watkins will be the Skyy Moore of 2026, but a more complete version. During OTAs, Watkins and Jacob Cowing were the primary kick and punt returners. Rookie wideout Will Pauling mixed in here and there, but the former two are the starters. Watkins was the only one who didn’t muff a punt. Watkins can have the same kind of splash returns as Moore without fielding the ball inside the five-yard line and driving everybody in the stadium crazy in the process. They have similar body types; Watkins ran a 4.37 40, compared to Moore’s 4.41. Moore reaches his top speed quicker, and that’s what made him a successful punt returner. Watkins’ 10-yard split was in the 65th percentile, compared to Moore’s 98th percentile 10-yard split. The team tried to use Moore on offense, but to no avail. He couldn’t shake free, no matter where Kyle Shanahan lined him up. Interestingly enough, Watkins played most of his snaps at “X” as the isolated receiver. He only ran 15 routes, so there’s not much film to go off of Watkins as a rookie. Still, his usage stood out. The first target of the season went from Watkins’ hands on a sail concept, 15 yards downfield from Mac Jones. It’s a pass he should’ve caught, but those are the kind of routes you can run with a 4.3 wideout….Ultimately, Watkins proved he can be used as a blocker and perhaps be the Travis Benjamin-esque type of receiver in Shanahan’s offenses over the years. The wideout that runs the long developing routes down the field when the offense wants to hit the home run. But Watkins must work on his intermediate route running if he’s ever going to be a consistent threat.”
analyst
Brian Robinson Jr. Still One of the Most Important Insurance Backs in the League
Brian Robinson Jr. is a valuable insurance back, draftable in 2026 leagues, with standalone value in a new home and system
RB · SF
general
Tuesday Tales: Arrowhead Pride’s first favorite Chiefs players
Fans of the Kansas City Chiefs are waiting for the first game of the 2026 season. To kill some time, we asked readers at Arrowhead Pride for their first favorite Chiefs player. Personally, my first favorite Chiefs player was running back Larry Johnson. With my die-hard Chiefs memories beginning in 2006, my earliest ones centered on Johnson, who felt like the only player who ever touched the ball. That nostalgic anecdote is backed by the fact that Johnson is the NFL-record holder for most rushing attempts in a season; he carried the ball 416 times in 2006 , which didn’t even include the 41 times he caught passes. He touched the ball 457 times that year. Last season, San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey led the league with 413 touches. No other player reached 370. 457 touches are the second-most in league history in a single season. Only James Wilder of the 1984 Tampa Bay Buccaneers has topped it (480). Here were the best submissions from the readers: Dante Hall. As a kid those kick and punt returns were magic. Deron Cherry – undrafted, originally signed as a punter, converted to safety, 50 career interceptions, six consecutive pro bowls, 1st team all pro thrice. Vision, instincts, intelligence, and range. One of the all-time great free safeties. Wild story. Him and Albert Lewis held it down. Anyone who remembers Deron reveres him. He was my first favorite chef Derrick Thomas was probably the first Chiefs I got really excited about. Got a replica of both his Bama and Chiefs jersey. Still my all-time favorite Chief. Mahomes is closing the gap though and will likely be #1 on my list when it’s all said and done one day. Christian Okoye was also one of my all-time favorites partially because he had a REALLY cool nickname. Dark horse favorite for me was Dan Saleamua. Although he wasn’t originally a Chief, still one of my all-time favorites. Marcus Allen. Im a converted Raider fan when he signed in free agency. Otis Taylor…..the best WR of his era…could dominate in any era…..definately should be in the HOF…..I love pro football but I won’t visit the HOF until Otis Taylor is enshrined. Derrick Thomas on D & Christian Okoye on O were my first favorites and the reasons I became a KC fan! SMASH MOUTH football. That was a really different Chiefs team for sure. Priest Holmes is the sole reason I became a Chiefs fan in the early 2000s. Underrated back with the best 3 year stretch at the position in league history Trent Green. Now as an adult I’ve run into him at work a few times and he’s always been a great guy. Glad to see he returned to the area. Laugh all you want. The chiefs won a Super Bowl the year I was born, but by the time I was old enough to really have a first favorite player, they were terrible. However, I can remember really cheering for Bill Kenney. Just being honest. ALEX SMITH ! Big respect for him turning this franchise around with Andy and teaching Mahomes. Share your first favorite Chiefs player in the comments on The Feed or here!
Data comes from cached Sleeper and KTC snapshots. Values update when the sync jobs run.