3 Things Panthers Fans Should Be Thankful For This Thanksgiving
By Luke Tucker
Christian McCaffrey
By far the thing Panthers fans have to be most thankful for is the presence of MVP candidate Christian McCaffrey. During the first 11 games, McCaffrey has racked up an astounding 1,709 yards from scrimmage, and leads the league with 16 touchdowns. To put that into perspective, he’s on pace to challenge Chris Johnson for the single-season record for yards from scrimmage. CMC needs exactly 800 yards over the course of the final five games to tie Johnson’s record. For him, it’s far from out of the question.
One of the most effective ways to win with a backup quarterback is to establish a dominant run game. Fortunately for the Panthers, that’s precisely what McCaffrey has done. So far this season, he leads the league in rushing yards and touchdowns, all while averaging 5.1 yards per carry. Not bad for someone who was doubted in the run game coming into the league. Taking things into the passing game, McCaffrey remains a vital weapon in Carolina’s offensive attack. His 586 receiving yards rank second in the NFL among running backs, and puts him on pace for well-over 800 yards by the end of the season.
No matter how you look at it, McCaffrey is a special player. Regardless of what team he played on, he’d be one of the best–if not the best–on the team. There’s a good chance the 23-year-old will sign a lucrative extension this offseason, meaning Panther fans will have the privilege of watching CMC run wild on Sundays for years to come.