Fantasy Upside

Christian McCaffrey will be one of the most exciting rookies in the league this season. He has tremendous hands and playmaking ability, and he should impact the Carolina offense and special teams units in a variety of ways. The Panthers expect to use him on special teams, as a runner, and also in the passing game, where he’ll provide much-needed speed to an offense full of size. McCaffrey’s lofty draft status and unique skill set should make him a key contributor. His ability to catch the ball and run precise routes might make him a PPR demon.

Fantasy Downside

While McCaffrey may be a great addition to the Panthers' offense, it’s very possible he has limited fantasy value, particularly with his ADP in the second and third round. Our own Stephen Andress wrote an article about his bust potential, mentioning the history of the Panthers using multiple backs. The Panthers will try to use him in many ways, but the overall impact might be middling fantasy numbers.

2017 Bottom Line

McCaffrey is likely to be a very good player and viable fantasy option at the running back position, but his ADP makes it hard to suggest targeting him in drafts. As a complementary player in the Carolina backfield, and the likely third option in the passing game, McCaffrey may not touch the ball enough to be a top-level RB2, which is how he’s being drafted. If he’s available in the fifth round, especially in PPR leagues, then he’s a valuable addition to your roster. If you’re hoping he becomes an elite RB1/RB2 type and you’re drafting him higher, you may be disappointed by his overall fantasy production.