Christian McCaffrey is a Super Bowl reminder that running backs still matter

In an era where the passing game rules, the San Francisco 49ers have chosen to run much of their offense through their wildly talented all-purpose back.

LIVEWIRE: Christian McCaffrey #23 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates with teammates after scoring a 6-yard rushing touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Divisional Playoffs at Levi's Stadium. Pic: Thearon W. Henderson, Getty Images

When the San Francisco 49ers traded for Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey in the middle of the 2022 season, they were going against the grain. 

Conventional wisdom had been working against running backs for a decade or longer, as team after team in the NFL realized that they could find effective tailbacks without using premium draft picks or gaudy free agent contracts to get them. Running backs, the league has come to know, are a relatively fungible group.