49ers running back Christian McCaffrey was again the target of plays Sunday night that are expected to result in significant fines from the NFL.
McCaffrey leads the NFL with 510 yards and seven touchdowns on 99 carries through five games while playing a big role in the 49ers’ 5-0 start.
He could also lead the league in falling victim to illegal hits.
In the last three games, McCaffrey has been knocked to the ground by his facemask three times, absorbed two illegal helmet-to-helmet hits and was taunted by an opponent while on the ground after one of those penalties.
McCaffrey was asked Sunday night after the 49ers’ 42-10 win over the Dallas Cowboys if he felt like teams were targeting him?
“I don’t know. Maybe. I have no idea,” McCaffrey replied. “I don’t know what’s intentional and what’s not. It’s hard to tell when you’re out there live.”
On Monday, coach Kyle Shanahan said in a conference call with Bay Area reporters that he didn’t believe anything nefarious was afoot. He said McCaffrey’s aggressive style makes it difficult for would-be tacklers.
“I don’t think teams are trying to hit him in the helmet or put a face mask on him,” Shanahan said. “I think people are desperate to take him down.”
Cowboys safety Donovan Wilson was penalized at the end of McCaffrey’s first rushing attempt Sunday night for grabbing McCaffrey’s face marker.
In the previous two games, Arizona’s Ezekiel Turner ($10,927) and New York Giants’ Jihad Ward ($8,153) were penalized for facemask penalties against McCaffrey.
Shanahan said Turner saved an easy touchdown when he held onto McCaffrey’s facemask. Two plays later, McCaffrey scored on a 1-yard run.
“When you run that hard, guys will do everything they can to take you down, and sometimes they’ll grab the face marker,” Shanahan said.
Wilson faces another hefty fine for hitting McCaffrey at full force as the intended receiver. Wilson was penalized for unnecessary roughness in the game. Then teammate Jayron Kearse was cited for taunting while standing over McCaffrey while he was on the ground.
Shanahan said it can be difficult for defenders to get legal hits when McCaffrey runs good routes and quarterback Brock Purdy fits his throws into tight windows.
“When you have a great player like Christian who is fearless, guys will do everything they can to stop him, and when they do that, sometimes they get penalties,” Shanahan said.
The NFL fined Arizona’s Jalen Thompson ($18,222) last week for leading a running play with the helmet on McCaffrey in the 49ers’ Week 4 win.
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