When the 49ers traded for Christian McCaffrey, the play-caller, quarterback, and tight end each got better. In the analytics community, the value of a running back doesn’t exist. In their eyes, running backs are hardly people.
But what the internet fails to grasp is that not all running backs are created equal. If you look at statistics from the Carolina Panthers before and after the trade, your argument will be supported that you shouldn’t pay top-tier money for running backs.
But when you look at the 49ers, a team that already had weapons, drop an electric talent like CMC into their offense, you can see the results.