The Carolina Panthers drafted running back Christian McCaffrey with the eighth overall pick and immediately started featuring him in the offense. While he plays a big role in the passing game, McCaffrey’s rookie season is mostly a mixed bag so far.
Fantasy football start/sit: What to do with Christian McCaffrey on ‘TNF’
McCaffrey is still looking for that breakout game. We break down the fantasy implications.
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Through four games, McCaffrey has just 34 carries for 96 yards, averaging 2.8 yards per carry while splitting touches with Jonathan Stewart. His big contribution is in receiving, with 27 catches for 237 yards and a touchdown. Despite Cam Newton playing much better the past two weeks, McCaffrey has struggled. He managed only 38 total yards on eight touches in the Week 5 win over the Detroit Lions.
Fantasy impact: Stewart isn’t going away any time soon, which puts a big cap on McCaffrey’s fantasy ceiling. While he’s still a quality asset in PPR leagues, the volume hasn’t been quite there for McCaffrey’s fantasy owners.
The Panthers take on the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday night in what could be a shootout, but McCaffrey will be a risky start regardless. Philly’s defense allows the third-fewest points to running backs and is getting Fletcher Cox back from injury. McCaffrey is shaping up as a major boom-or-bust option this week.
Recommendation: Start if you’re desperate
