Carolina backfield taking shape

In addition to Jonathan Stewart, Mike Tolbert has yet to play in a preseason game as he recovers from a hamstring injury. Panthers HC Ron Rivera said he is hopeful – “fingers crossed” – Tolbert will be back for the Week 1 game against Seattle.

Rookie running back Kenjon Barner, the sixth-round pick from Oregon, has been out since spraining his ankle last week against Baltimore. Barner is still wearing a protective boot, and Rivera called his status day-to-day.

That leaves DeAngelo Williams, the franchise’s career rushing leader, and a pair of undrafted backs in Tauren Poole and Armond Smith, who have six career carries between them – all by Smith.

Rivera doesn’t anticipate the Panthers signing any free-agent backs.

“We feel good about DeAngelo and the young running backs that we have in place right now,” Rivera said. “And we’ll go forward with those guys.”

Fantasy Impact: 

Williams' ADP has risen into 6th round, but if Stewart returns, Williams would be basically useless. He has posted the #7 and #4 FP/touch over the past two seasons, so there's upside here, but late-season uncertainty of workload should temper full-season expectations.

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