KC Chiefs: Running backs drafted before Kareem Hunt in 2017 NFL Draft

CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY – Carolina Panthers

I am going to be straight honest with you, entering the 2017 NFL Draft, Christian McCaffrey was my favorite prospect. The hopes I had for him to fall to number 27 for the Kansas City Chiefs to draft were high. Although I knew it was unlikely for him to fall far in the first round, I still had high hopes.

In Carolina, McCaffrey’s 183 rushing yards is lower than what I expected, but his fellow teammate Jonathan Stewert is sharing the load with McCaffrey, with 121 carries versus McCaffrey’s 130 carries. Although his stats are below his expected performance, I expect McCaffrey to eventually find the official starting spot, and let the man get to work in the backfield on his own.

McCaffrey is being used more as a wide receiver in Carolina than he is as a running back at the moment. He currently has 406 receiving yards with two touchdowns through the air. Sharing the load with Stewart is probably helping with McCaffrey being in that role, but someday, the Panthers might find themselves using McCaffrey in the same way that the Chiefs use Tyreek Hill.