Fansided

Each NFL team’s biggest burning question in 2018

By Brad Weiss

PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 27: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and the invited attendees to the 2017 NFL Draft at the NFL Draft Theater on April 27, 2017 in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 27: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and the invited attendees to the 2017 NFL Draft at the NFL Draft Theater on April 27, 2017 in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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CHARLOTTE, NC – DECEMBER 24: Christian McCaffrey #22 of the Carolina Panthers runs against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during their game at Bank of America Stadium on December 24, 2017 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC – DECEMBER 24: Christian McCaffrey #22 of the Carolina Panthers runs against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during their game at Bank of America Stadium on December 24, 2017 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

Carolina Panthers: Can Christian McCaffrey shoulder the load?

Last year, the Carolina Panthers selected Christian McCaffrey from Stanford with their first round pick. The thought was he could prove to be a nice compliment to Jonathan Stewart as a rookie, giving Cam Newton another weapon in their offense.

Well, that certainly worked out well, as McCaffrey proved to be one of the more productive rookies in the NFL, helping get the Panthers back to the playoffs. The 2017 season was a huge step forward for Carolina, who looked so bad in 2016 after making it to the Super Bowl the year before.

This offseason, Stewart left Carolina for New York, where he will play backup to rookie Saquon Barkley from Penn State. For McCaffrey, it is his time to shoulder the load for the Panthers, but does he have what it takes to be a three-down back in the NFL.

His record would indicate that he can do it, as he is not only explosive out of the backfield, but can also be a game-breaker in the passing game. Newton is finally healthy enough to go back to be an MVP candidate, and McCaffrey can help this team in so many ways in 2018, and beyond.

Carolina was one of three teams out of the NFC South to make the playoffs last season, and it will be interesting to see if they can navigate a very tough schedule again in 2018. McCaffrey will play a huge role in nearly everything they do on offense, and he should have no problem shouldering the load this season.

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