With the No. 8 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, the Panthers select running back Christian McCaffrey out of Stanford.
- Draft Tracker: Round 1
8. Carolina Panthers
Pete Prisco's Grade: D
"I like his skill set with the way the game is played, but again, it's a back in the top 10. Hate that."
Instant analysis
Throughout the draft process, the Panthers were connected to two running backs in Leonard Fournette and Christian McCaffrey. On Thursday, the Panthers got McCaffrey after Fournette went to the Jaguars at No. 4 overall. The son of former Broncos receiver Ed McCaffrey, Christian McCaffrey is the best all-around back in this draft. In his past two seasons at Stanford, he averaged 2,288.5 yards from scrimmage. He'll likely be used as both a traditional running back and as a receiver (he'd be an absolute mismatch against linebackers in the slot). The only question is if the 5-foot-11, 202-pound McCaffrey will be durable enough to last in the NFL. The Panthers still have Jonathan Stewart, 30, on the roster.
Fantasy impact
"He goes to a great spot with the Panthers, and he could work well with Jonathan Stewart and get plenty of work. And he makes Cam Newton better on easier completions. McCaffrey should be considered a low-end No. 2 Fantasy running back in standard leagues and a solid No. 2 option in PPR in seasonal leagues. And he's a top-five overall rookie-only pick in dynasty leagues." -- Jamey Eisenberg
NFL comparison
LeSean McCoy: McCaffrey is similar to McCoy in that he's so shifty, he's nearly impossible to tackle in space. He's also been compared to Tiki Barber by NFL.com.
