Christian McCaffrey is another one for 2017

Nov 21, 2015; Stanford, CA, USA; Stanford Cardinal running back Christian McCaffrey (5) carries the ball against the California Golden Bears during the second quarter at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

The running back position is coming back!

They say the running back has been devalued but really, there just haven’t been too many Marshawn Lynches and Adrian Petersons. But after the position went two years without a first round pick, Melvin Gordon and Todd Gurley went in the first round in 2015. Ezekiel Elliott and Derrick Henry are scheduled to go in the first round in 2016.

And in 2017, Christian McCaffrey looks more like he’ll be joining Leonard Fournett and Nick Chubb in the first round. Stanford’s 205-pounder leads the nation in all-purpose yards by more than 500 and is averaged almost 50 per game more.  Yes, McCaffery is an elusive runner that is tremendous in space, catching the ball, in the return game.

But don’t mistaken him for a scat-back because he can roll between the tackles. He may not be the biggest back but the youngster is not easy to get on the ground. This season, he is averaging 2.5 yards per carry after contact and has forced 53 missed tackles on his 260 carries out of the backfield.

The sophomore has 9-straight 100-yard games and he’s second in the FBS in rushing to only Fournette. McCaffrey receiver in high school too, making him a nightmare matchup for linebackers. His speed, instincts and ability in the broken field make him a threat to take one to the house at any time too.

You have to be a football historian to appreciate this one but he reminds me of Hugh McElhenny from the 1950. The broken-field moves he made on the screen pass he took for a 49-yard TD were something to marvel. He’s not the beast with the size and speed Fournette and Chubb are but he’s a skilled runner and that counts for just as much.

That’s why McCaffrey is another one for the 2017 draft class.