From Christian McCaffrey to the rest, a look at the Panthers RBs in 2021
By Jason Huber
When healthy, the Carolina Panthers have arguably the league’s best running back in Christian McCaffrey.
The Carolina Panthers will go as far as Christian McCaffrey takes them in 2021.
He’s their highest-paid player and by far the best player on the Panthers roster. The question is can he remain healthy and will the running backs behind be able to hold it down when he’s not on the field?
Prior to last season, McCaffrey was coming off a historic year in which he became just the third player ever to rush and receive for 1,000 yards. Carolina only went 5-11 that year but the roster was far less talented than it is entering 2021.
The offensive line still has its question marks. But they were present even when CMC has his record year.
The difference is that D.J. Moore is improved, Robby Anderson provides a huge deep threat and the Panthers added rookie receiver Terrace Marshall Jr. and free agent David Moore from the Seattle Seahawks to an already solid offense.
The new weapons alone should allow Joe Brady to limit McCaffrey’s touches.
In 2019, he played in 93 percent of Carolina’s snaps. In the contest he was healthy on the field during the 2020 season, he played in 97% of the Panthers’ snaps.
Health will be the biggest priority for McCaffrey but there shouldn’t be a question about whether he regains his pre-injury form. Even in three games, he scored six touchdowns, which led the team for most of the season.