The feature back in the offense when Chip Kelly arrived to Eugene as

Offensive Coordinator back in 2007, Jonathan Stewart was beastly enough to

be the 13th overall pick and 1st running back selected in the 2008 draft. The
man known simply as J-Stew has always had to split the carries in Carolina
with DeAngelo Williams. 2015 marks the first year in Stewarts career that he
finds himself as the feature back in an offense that has been perennially
efficient since the arrival of Cam Newton in 2012. He has a coach in
RiverBoat Ron who has always been one to stick to the ground game, as well
as one of the better offensive lines in football. We got a sneak preview of JStew as the feature back during the Last 5 Games of 2014 after DeAngelo
went down with injury. The 510 235 pounder with sneaky quick 4.46 wheels
did not disappoint once given the spotlight. J-Stew ran for an eye-popping
486 yards in the last 5 games of the season, more than any other running
back in the entire league during that span. He also ran for a combined 200
yards in Carolinas 2 playoff games even after D-Will returned. With, in my
opinion, one of the most impressive youtube highlight tapes of any RB from
the 2014 season, Jonathan Stewart is a hands-down RB1 in my book for 2015
IF he can stay healthy.

Injury concerns are the only reason why Stewart is not being considered in
the RB1 ranks by many fantasy analysts, as hes missed 20 games over the
last 3 years and has struggled to remain healthy. It is strongly advised to
insure a selection of stewart with another Cam out of Auburn, 2014 SEC
Rushing Leader Cam Artis-Payne, whom Carolina selected late in the draft
this year to back Stewart up. Be warned that there may be a few times J-Stew
is robbed of TDs in goal line situations, as Cam Newton is bound to steal a
few scores via QB keepers inside the 5. Also, the injury to Kelvin Benjamin
should do nothing but increase J-Stews workload.

If he can stay healthy and is able to play in all games this year, it would be
stunning to see J-Stew as not one of the top 12 running backs in 2015. Given
his current late 4/early 5th round ADP, J-STEW may be the steal of the draft.
*If he can stay healthy*.