FIRST TO 2,000:
Carolina running back CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY leads the NFL with 1,811 scrimmage yards through 12 games in 2019.
With at least 189 scrimmage yards on Sunday at Atlanta (1:00 PM ET, FOX), McCaffrey would tie for the fewest games to reach 2,000 scrimmage yards in a season in NFL history.
The players to reach 2,000 scrimmage yards in a season in the fewest games in NFL history:
| PLAYER | TEAM | SEASON | GAMES TO REACH 2,000 |
| Jim BrownHOF | Cleveland | 1963 | 13 |
| Priest Holmes | Kansas City | 2002 | 13 |
| Chris Johnson | Tennessee | 2009 | 13 |
| Walter PaytonHOF | Chicago | 1977 | 13 |
| O.J. SimpsonHOF | Buffalo | 1975 | 13 |
| Christian McCaffrey | Carolina | 2019 | 12* |
| *Has 1,811 scrimmage yards entering Sunday | |||
NFC SHOWDOWN IN BIG EASY:
The NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (10-2), who clinched the NFC South last week, host the SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (10-2) on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, FOX) in a matchup of two of the league’s most talented backfields.
Since entering the NFL in 2017, New Orleans running back ALVIN KAMARA ranks second among running backs with 1,979 receiving yards and ranks fourth across all players with 4,177 scrimmage yards.
Kamara – who has 587 rushing yards and 444 receiving yards this season – needs 56 receiving yards on Sunday against San Francisco, to become the third player with at least 500 rushing and 500 receiving yards in each of his first three seasons in NFL history.
The players with at least 500 rushing and 500 receiving yards in each of their first three seasons in NFL history:
| PLAYER | TEAM | SEASONS |
| Abner Haynes | Dallas Texans | 1960-62 |
| Herschel Walker | Dallas Cowboys | 1986-88 |
| Alvin Kamara | New Orleans | 2017-18* |
| *Has 587 rushing yards and 444 receiving yards in 2019 | ||
Meanwhile, San Francisco features one of the most balanced rushing attacks in the NFL this season. Led by running backs MATT BREIDA (542 rushing yards), RAHEEM MOSTERT (539) and TEVIN COLEMAN (454), the 49ers boast the NFC’s top rushing offense (148 yards per game) in 2019.
With 46 rushing yards from Coleman, San Francisco would become the first team with three running backs to each have at least 500 rushing yards in a season since the 2004 KANSAS CITY CHIEFS, when PRIEST HOLMES (892 rushing yards), LARRY JOHNSON (581) and DERRICK BLAYLOCK (539) accomplished the feat.
Additionally, if Coleman reaches 500 rushing yards for the season on Sunday, San Francisco would become the first team to have three running backs with at least 500 rushing yards each in its first 13 games of a season since the 1978 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS.
