5 Panthers who must get more playing time in Week 7 at the Giants
By Dean Jones
Royce Freeman – Carolina Panthers RB
With head coach Matt Rhule insisting that the Carolina Panthers are going to be a run-focused team moving forward, asking rookie Chuba Hubbard to accumulate Christian McCaffrey-type touches is just too much at this stage of his development.
Fortunately, they do boast a competent veteran on the roster in Royce Freeman to pick up the slack until McCaffrey is fit enough to return.
Freeman has been used sparingly after he was claimed off waivers following his release by the Denver Broncos. He’s mustered just 34 rushing yards from 12 carries this season and although this isn’t stellar by any stretch, perhaps a two-back approach is the most realistic option for Carolina if they want to take the game out of Sam Darnold’s hands in Week 7 and beyond.
One thing Freeman does have is proven production when he’s allowed to get into a rhythm with multiple touches. He was the odd man out in Denver after they selected Javonte Williams out of North Carolina, but there’s nothing to suggest he cannot make difference for the Panthers.
Whether Rhule goes through with this threat or not is unclear. And Joe Brady might not be the man for the job with his pass-first instincts.
But if the scenario does come to fruition, expect Freeman to be far more involved than he has of late.