Fantasy Football: The 5 Most Efficient Pass-Catching Running Backs in 2018

Christian McCaffrey, Carolina Panthers

Target Success Rate: 61.29%
Target NEP Per Target: 0.34

Concerns regarding McCaffreyy and his ability to shoulder a full-time workload in the NFL were put to bed in spectacular fashion last season. Not content with handling the 10th-most carries in the league (219), he also led all running backs in targets and receptions. McCaffrey was looked to 124 times by Cam Newton and all Carolina Panthers quarterbacks, converting these looks into 107 receptions for 867 yards. He trailed only Hunt in Target Success Rate, while he was fifth in Target NEP per target.

It would not be accurate to suggest that McCaffrey's receiving work came as a result of dump-offs on third (or fourth) downs, either. Of his targets, 47.58% (59) came on first down, along with 50.47% of his yards (404). Four of his six receiving touchdowns came on first down to boot.

McCaffrey was able to translate target volume into efficiency better than any other running back in the NFL last season. None of the other players on this list finished above 19th in terms of carries, although if Hunt had played the whole season it is likely that he would have finished much higher than that. He is one of the best dual threat players in the league and will be relied on heavily in the event Newton misses a large chunk -- if not all -- of the 2019 campaign.