San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey is on a legendary touchdown stretch. The 8th-overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft matched Jerry Rice's 49ers record with a touchdown in his 12th straight game on Thursday Night Football. McCaffrey's dazzling touchdown streak has not only set the fantasy football world ablaze, but also opened up enticing opportunities for NFL player props bettors.
Let's delve into the streak's anatomy and how savvy bettors can capitalize on McCaffrey's scintillating form.
McCaffrey's Magic Touch
Christian McCaffrey has been a golden goose for props bettors since being traded to the 49ers last season.
In fact, if you had simply placed $100 on McCaffrey to score a touchdown, starting in Week 13 of last year, and rolled it over through Week 3, you'd have an astounding $78,000.
Make that 12 straight games with a CMC TD ⚡️ @CMC_22#NYGvsSF on Prime Video
— NFL (@NFL) September 22, 2023
Also available on #NFLPlus https://t.co/qDMTitSHZs pic.twitter.com/tvvoMbJ1DS
Actually, McCaffrey will aim to enter mythical territory with a score on Sunday. Should he find his way to the endzone in Week 4 against the Arizona Cardinals, Run CMC will become just the fourth player since 1990 to score a touchdown in 13 straight games (including the playoffs). Joining the likes of Emmitt Smith (who conquered the feat twice), Arian Foster, and LaDainian Tomlinson. That's some mighty fine company. Yes, Tomlinson holds the record for most consecutive games with a touchdown at 18 games, however, he failed to score in the Chargers playoff game in 2004, which technically broke his streak.
The NFL record is 15 straight games with a touchdown, including the playoffs, held by former Washington fullback John Riggins and fellow running back O.J. Simpson. Looking at the Niners upcoming schedule, Run CMC will have his work cut out to break the record. San Francisco plays host to the vaunted Dallas Cowboys front seven next week, before heading to play the Cleveland Browns stingy defense in Week 6. You can bet defenders (and their coordinators) will be extremely motivated to bring McCaffrey's streak to an end.
How to Bet McCaffrey's Props in week 4
Sportsbooks have wizened up to McCaffrey's prowess for getting into the endzone as his anytime touchdown prop for this week's game against the Cardinals now sits at -320. However, there is plenty of value to be found on the 49ers stars' other props.
| Anytime TD Scorer | Rushing Yards O/U | Receiving Yards O/U |
|---|---|---|
| -320 | 77.5 (-114) | 26.5 (-114) |
Interestingly, McCaffrey has gone OVER 77 rushing yards in every game this season. With his lowest total of 88 coming in last week's 30-12 drubbing of the pitiful New York Giants. Entering Week 4, the OVER simply must be the play. C-Mac sits 1st in the NFL in rushing yards at 353 and has received at least 18 carries in every game this season. It's tough to bet against CMC and the dominant 49ers rushing attack.
Additionally, the 8th-year pro hauled in 5 receptions for 34 yards last week, and could be in for a similiar workload on Sunday. The Stanford product could take advantage of a Cardinals defense surrendering an average of 5 catches and a touchdown per game to running backs.
While there's little value in betting on the son of Ed McCaffrey to score a touchdown at the steep price of -320. You can parlay Christian OVER 77.5 rushing yards, with OVER 26.5 receiving yards for a +204 bet on Sunday.
How to Bet McCaffrey and the 49ers Futures
While sportsbooks have noticed that betting on McCaffrey to score a touchdown has been extremely profitable, savvy bettors can still find value on season-long futures. For instance, Run CMC is now the favorite to win the NFL Offensive Player of the Year at +450 odds. If the streak continues and McCaffrey is able to set even more records, he would be a shoo-in fo the award. Perhaps the most enticing futures bet on the board is Christian McCaffrey +950 to score the most rushing touchdowns in the NFL this season. With a consistently dominant offensive line in front of him, and one of the NFL's best playcallers, McCaffrey to score the most rushing touchdowns is a fantastic play.
Christian McCaffrey in his last 12 games:
— PFF (@PFF) September 22, 2023
⛏️ 1,489 total yards
⛏️ 823 yards after contact
⛏️ 45 missed tackles forced
⛏️ 13 total TDs
Tied with Jerry Rice for the most consecutive games with a TD in 49ers history 😎 pic.twitter.com/0M35FYfHCh
Likewise, should the Stanford Cardinal alums' success continue, Kyle Shanahan's squad will be the ultimate beneficiary. At +260 odds, the 49ers are the favorite to win the NFC Championship. But, at this point, if you're invested in an historic San Francisco 49ers season, why not bet them to win the Super Bowl at +600?
