NFL 2018: Biggest obstacle each team must overcome

Carolina Panthers: Help McCaffrey handle new, larger role

Expectations were high for Christian McCaffrey heading into his rookie season last year, as the Carolina Panthers were excited to use him in multiple ways not just on offense, but special teams as well. During his time at Stanford, McCaffrey was always considered a dangerous threat with his playmaking abilities, and after sharing time with Jonathan Stewart in 2017, the Panthers running back is ready for a larger role during his sophomore campaign.

Since Stewart is no longer in the picture after joining the New York Giants in the offseason, McCaffrey will look to prove that he’s ready to be the full-time No. 1 running back in Carolina’s offense.

Carolina did their best to keep it a secret before the draft in 2017 when it came to expressing interest in selecting McCaffrey in the first round, and now that he has a full year of experience under his belt, the sky is going to be the limit. Plus, the presence of McCaffrey in the backfield helps take some of the pressure off Cam Newton under center since he can always dump off a quick pass to his running back, and let him take care of the rest on the football field.