The complete 2022 Carolina Panthers fantasy football guide
By Brian Emory
Carolina Panthers RBs
Regarding the running back position, the crown jewel of Carolina Panthers’ fantasy players is running back Christian McCaffrey. But his draft stock will be heavily disputed across the fantasy football world this offseason.
Skeptics will claim that McCaffrey has stayed hurt over the past two years and will never be able to endure an entire season again. However, there will also be plenty of optimists that believe he is due for an injury-free year.
If McCaffrey remains healthy, he has a very real opportunity to finish as fantasy football’s RB1 as he did in 2019.
When healthy, McCaffrey is a special talent that receives a steady workload in the rushing and passing attacks. The offense is quite literally built around him, which ensures a steady workload and consistent production when he’s on the field.
Regarding his current fantasy draft stock, McCaffrey will probably slip out of the top five in some drafts while being the No. 1 overall selection in others.
Drafting McCaffrey obviously comes with risk at this point, but the ceiling remains enormously high. It’s also important to remember that the former first-round pick hasn’t sustained serious, debilitating injuries. It’s primarily been a culmination of nagging ailments, nothing that makes you concerned that he’s lost a step.
If McCaffrey can stay healthy, he’s the type of player league-winning rosters are built around. I understand the argument for him being selected anywhere in the top five, even first overall. If he falls out of the top five in your draft and you have the opportunity to pounce, don’t overthink it.
Don’t sleep on D’Onta Foreman, either. Obviously, if McCaffrey goes down again, he will likely be receiving the lions-share of touches out of Carolina’s backfield.
If you select the Stanford product, it could be smart to spend a later-round choice on Foreman as a handcuff selection.
Even if McCaffrey stays healthy, Foreman could have some value. After two years of frustrating injuries, perhaps the Panthers’ coaching staff to try and ease his workload some.
Foreman is a bruising back that performed admirably in Derrick Henry’s absence last year, averaging 4.3 yards-per-carry. Perhaps he gets some work around the goal line even with a healthy McCaffrey. Think how the Green Bay Packers use A.J. Dillon with Aaron Jones.
If McCaffrey remains healthy he is a foundational, league-winning piece. His fantasy ceiling is so high he could even be justified as the first overall selection again.
He’s a great piece to start your team with, even if he carries a substantial injury risk at this point in his career. Considering McCaffrey’s growing injury history, Foreman also is worth a pick later in your draft.