Christian McCaffrey is the starting running back for the Carolina Panthers. His three-year career at Stanford University included a 2,000-rushing yard campaign that helped him become a Heisman Trophy finalist, a 50.7-percent (99th-percentile) College Dominator Rating, an 18.7-percent (98th-percentile) College Target Share, and an NCAA-record 3,864-total-yard season. His opting to skip Stanford’s Sun Bowl game at the end of the 2016 season to prepare for the 2017 NFL Draft was, at the time, a controversial one that was met with mixed reactions.
After an NFL Combine that saw him record a 4.48 (82nd-percentile) 40-yard dash and 10.79 (98th-percentile) Agility Score, Christian McCaffrey was selected by the Carolina Panthers with the eighth pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. Splitting time with veteran Jonathan Stewart as a rookie, McCaffrey only logged 117 carries for 435 rushing yards. However, on the strength of his 80 receptions and 651 receiving yards, he finished the year with a 14.3 (No. 12) Fantasy Points Per Game average. He spent the next two seasons breaking fantasy football. Rushing for over 1,000 yards and catching over 100 passes in each year, he averaged 24.1 (No. 2) FPPG in 2018 and an absurd 29.3 (No. 1) FFPG the following season.
Following a year that had many christening him “The Next Marshall Faulk,” McCaffrey signed a four-year, $64 million contract extension through 2025, making him the highest-paid running back in league history. The deal includes a $21.5 million signing bonus, $38,162,500 guaranteed, and a $16,015,875 average annual salary. He carries a maximum cap hit of $17,709,500 in the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
McCaffrey’s 2019 was truly special. Aside from the productivity metrics, he led the position in Snap Share (98.4-percent), Opportunity Share (91.5-percent), and Weighted Opportunities (396.7). As far as advanced receiving metrics, he also led all running backs with a 23.7-percent Target Share and 405 Routes Run. Efficiency? He had that too. Highlighted by 415 (No. 12) Yards Created, a 45.8-percent (No. 2) Dominator Rating, and +56.7 (No. 2) Expected Points Added. His 1.03 (No. 43) Yards Created Per Touch was slightly concerning, though he was seeing a legendary amount of volume.
The 2020 season began, and McCaffrey picked up right where he left off. After scoring 28.5 (No. 5) and 24.8 (No. 2) fantasy points in each of the first two games, he suffered a high ankle sprain that landed him on injured reserve. He returned in Week 9 to put up a whopping 37.1 (No. 2) fantasy points against the Chiefs, before promptly being ruled out with a shoulder injury, ending his season with a technically career-high 30.1 Fantasy Points Per Game average. McCaffrey’s 2021 season was again hampered by injuries. He was limited to seven games with hamstring and ankle ailments, though he did log fantasy performances with 27.7 (No. 1), 24.7 (No. 3), 26.1 (No. 4), and 24.9 (No. 3) points. The 2022 season represents something of a make-or-break campaign for Carolina’s dual-threat franchise player, and he needs to stay healthy to avoid potentially becoming the latest in a string of modern-day cap casualties.
