No matter the metric you use, one thing is abundantly clear about Christian McCaffrey:
He's absolutely capable of shouldering the offensive load for the Carolina Panthers _ and then some.
Running the ball? McCaffrey racked up 1,098 rushing yards in 2018, his second season, and did so averaging 5 yards per carry. Catching the ball? He also had 861 receiving yards, courtesy of an NFL-record 107 receptions by a running back. Dependability? He played 91.3% of the team's offensive snaps, more than any other running back in the league.
Heck, he even threw for a 50-yard touchdown.
McCaffrey, perhaps as much as Cam Newton, is what makes the Panthers offense go, from his rushing and receiving to just being a decoy on certain plays. But for as versatile and talented as he is, McCaffrey's also not a machine.
So, which backup running back is prepared to help shoulder the load this season?
Coach Ron Rivera said this spring that adding a secondary runner behind McCaffrey was a goal for the offseason.
"(McCaffrey) Him touching the ball was no concern," Rivera said. "It was just the extra plays. So we have to look at that and find a way to take that load from him."
The team responded by re-signing free agents Cameron Artis-Payne and Elijah Hood, the latter of whom missed last season with a knee injury. Carolina then drafted Florida's Jordan Scarlett in the fifth round of the NFL draft. To round out their running back room, the Panthers scooped up undrafted rookie free-agent Elijah Holyfield from Georgia.
One of those players must emerge as a competent complement to McCaffrey this season. For as good as McCaffrey is, the Panthers don't want to (literally) run one of their most talented players into the ground.
