Heisman Trophy Watch 2016: Top 5 candidates after Week 4

Christian McCaffrey stays put in our watch list as he was No. 2 last week as well. It’s tough to find a reason to move a guy down after he posts a 100-yard rushing week, but his silence in the passing game was a bit surprising.

McCaffrey was one of the runner-ups for college football’s top award last year and it looked like he might be the favorite this season. He’s making a solid run at the trophy through four weeks, and three games, but he needs to post more video game-like numbers such as the ones he had in 2015.

The junior running back faced off against a tough UCLA team in Week 4, rushing the ball 26 times for 138 yards and catching two passes for 13 yards. For the first time in recent memory, the talented back didn’t reach the end zone, but he will get back there in Week 5, almost assuredly.

Stanford might be one of the top title contenders in the country and most definitely the best from the Pac-12, but if McCaffrey plays well enough, the Cardinal are going to be difficult, if not impossible, to beat in the regular season.