News & Info/Headlines

As Profootballtalk.com first reported it, "The Panthers had a vacancy for a traditional running back after not finding one in the draft, so they found a 1,000-yard rusher."

The team subsequently announced they have signed former Denver running back C.J. Anderson.

Anderson was released by the Broncos, despite rushing for 1,007 yards last season. A number of teams were interested, but the Panthers might have had the greatest need.

Undrafted in 2013, Anderson first emerged as a factor over the final eight games of the 2014 season, when he combined for 1,057 yards and 10 touchdowns rushing and receiving to earn a Pro Bowl appearance. He had 1,176 yards rushing and receiving and seven rushing touchdowns in 2015 (counting the postseason).

He was on pace for nearly a 1,300-yard rushing/receiving season in 2016 when he was halted by a game 7 knee injury.

He rushed for 4.1 yards per carry last season and added another 224 yards receiving on 28 catches.

For his career, Anderson has rushed for 3,051 yards and 20 touchdowns on 693 carries, averaging 4.4 yards per attempt. He also has 859 yards receiving and four touchdowns on 103 catches.

As 9News.com's Mike Klis noted prior to his release, "Anderson just turned 27 so he figures to have plenty of good football left in his powerful, tackle-breaking legs."

In Carolina, he provides a solid complement to Christian McCaffrey, who has varied skills but may not ever be an every-down back. Otherwise, they had Cameron Artis-Payne and Fozzy Whittaker, a thin group after they released Jonathan Stewart.

The Panthers finished the 2017 regular season ranked fourth in rushing, averaging a healthy 131.4 yards per game. Cam Newton actually led Carolina in rushing with a career-high 754 yards.

So we were all very excited for McCaffrey when the Panthers didn't add to the depth chart during last month's draft; now we're a little less so.

That said, even if Anderson’s presence isn’t good for his ceiling McCaffrey remains a high-end PPR prospect.