CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- There was a time early last season when Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera was worried about overworking then-rookie running back Christian McCaffrey.
"It's like getting that new toy at Christmas," Rivera said at the time. "You open up the box, and there's what you'd hoped for. But you also have to be wise and smart about when you play with it."
Apparently, the Panthers weren't working McCaffrey enough. Or in the right way.
After what some called a disappointing first season for the No. 8 pick of the 2017 draft, McCaffrey has emerged as arguably the best all-purpose back in the NFL as the Panthers head into December.