ROYCE FREEMAN NEWS

Garners four touches Freeman rushed three times for 18 yards and caught one of two targets for one yard in Sunday's 25-3 loss to the Giants.

Impact Freeman played just five fewer offensive snaps than starting tailback Chuba Hubbard, but his mere four touches paled in comparison to the rookie's 16. Freeman is yet to garner more than six touches in a game this season, so although star Christian McCaffrey (hamstring) will still be sidelined in Week 8 versus the Falcons, Freeman remains without much fantasy value.

OCTOBER 25, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Just one touch Freeman rushed once for three yards in Sunday's 34-28 overtime loss against the Vikings.

Impact Freeman played nearly a third of Carolina's offensive snaps but was only given the ball once. Conversely, rookie Chuba Hubbard finished with 16 rushes for 61 yards and a touchdown, and hauled in a four-yard pass as well. Although star tailback Christian McCaffrey (hamstring) being on IR should keep Freeman in the gameday backfield rotation, it's clear that his spare usage pales in comparison to Hubbard, who's been trusted with a starter's workload the past couple weeks.

OCTOBER 18, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Limited usage Sunday Freeman rushed three times for two yards and caught one of two targets for six yards in Sunday's 21-18 loss to the Eagles.

Impact Freeman's first touch came on Carolina's opening drive, but the veteran was incorporated sparingly with rookie Chuba Hubbard going for over 130 scrimmage yards on his 29 touches. Overall, Freeman played 20 percent of the offensive snaps compared to Hubbard's 65 percent. With Christian McCaffrey (hamstring) seemingly likely to return in Week 6 versus the Vikings, both Freeman and Hubbard could see their respective roles reduced, but unlike Freeman, Hubbard showed enough Sunday to potentially remain in the mix to limit McCaffrey's exposure upon his return.

OCTOBER 11, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Just three touches Freeman rushed three times for 12 yards in Sunday's 36-28 loss to the Cowboys.

Impact Freeman was listed as Carolina's second option at tailback with Christian McCaffrey (hamstring) sidelined, but that role still didn't offer him much usage. Overall, the veteran played just 12 offensive snaps, trailing both starter Chuba Hubbard (33 snaps) and fellow reserve Rodney Smith (26 snaps). If McCaffrey remains sidelined for Week 5's matchup against the Eagles, Freeman would have another shot at helping fill in, but his spare involvement Sunday should keep expectations tempered, especially with Smith factoring in behind Hubbard.

OCTOBER 4, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Future waiver wire: A look ahead to Week 5 — and the possible breakouts of Royce Freeman and Sammy Watkins Royce Freeman, Marlon Mack and Sammy Watkins are three of the players David Gonos says you should add now, before the waiver frenzy.

OCTOBER 1, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Slated for top backup role Week 4 Panthers head coach Matt Rhule said Freeman will serve as the top backup to starting running back Chuba Hubbard in Sunday's game in Dallas, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.

Impact With Christian McCaffrey (hamstring) expected to miss several weeks, Hubbard and Freeman will both temporarily bump up a spot on the depth chart. Following McCaffrey's early exit in the Panthers' Week 3 win over the Texans, Hubbard finished the night with a 39-10 edge over Freeman in terms of snaps, with the latter carrying five times for 17 yards and catching one ball for eight yards. Though Hubbard may not to take on the 90-plus-percent snap shares that a healthy McCaffrey has typically handled in competitive contests, the rookie has demonstrated the sort of three-down skill set that could make him the clear No. 1 back over Freeman rather than Option 1A in a timeshare. If that's the case, Freeman may struggle to see enough volume to have fantasy relevance even while McCaffrey is sidelined.

SEPTEMBER 30, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Panthers' Hubbard stepping in for McCaffrey

As the Carolina Panthers were preparing to make their pick in the fourth round of this past April’s draft, coach Matt Rhule received an unexpected text message from his wife

SEPTEMBER 29, 2021 • Associated Press

Panthers won't place McCaffrey on injured reserve

Panthers coach Matt Rhule said the team has decided not to place running back Christian McCaffrey on injured reserve while he recovers from a strained hamstring

SEPTEMBER 27, 2021 • Associated Press

Injuries to McCaffrey, Horn sour Panthers' 3-0 start

Normally teams would be fired up after starting the season 3-0

SEPTEMBER 24, 2021 • Associated Press

Opportunity arises Thursday Freeman rushed five times for 17 yards and caught his only target for eight yards in Thursday night's 24-9 win over the Texans.

Impact Freeman hardly saw the field on offense in his first two games with the Panthers, but after superstar tailback Christian McCaffrey (hamstring) exited in the second quarter Thursday, Carolina's recent signing suddenly was forced into the fray. Although Freeman saw fewer opportunities than rookie fourth-rounder Chuba Hubbard, who finished with 79 scrimmage yards on 14 touches, he still had some opportunities, including on an unsuccessful one-yard touchdown leap in the fourth quarter. Should McCaffrey be sidelined or limited in Week 4's matchup versus the Cowboys, Freeman would again figure to help Hubbard fill the void, bringing his fantasy stock to life as he now embarks on an extended preparation period prior to that contest.

SEPTEMBER 24, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Fast starts have propelled surprising Panthers to 2-0 record

The Carolina Panthers are using fast starts to start fast this season

SEPTEMBER 20, 2021 • Associated Press

No offensive snaps Freeman did not play an offensive snap in Sunday's 19-14 win over the Jets.

Impact Freeman has only been with the Panthers for just over a week, so he was restricted to special-teams duty, playing four snaps overall. With superstar Christian McCaffrey leading the charge, Carolina rarely calls upon its backup tailbacks, and rookie fourth-rounder Chuba Hubbard currently sits atop Freeman on the depth chart anyway. Unless either of those factors change, Freeman's fantasy value should remain limited.

SEPTEMBER 15, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Ravens tried to claim former Broncos RB Royce Freeman on waivers The Ravens tried to claim a former Denver Broncos running back off of waivers

SEPTEMBER 3, 2021 • USATODAY.COM

Panthers add depth at running back, claim Royce Freeman

The Carolina Panthers have claimed running back Royce Freeman off waivers from the Denver Broncos, giving them some veteran experience behind Christian McCaffrey

SEPTEMBER 2, 2021 • Associated Press

Claimed off waivers The Panthers have claimed Freeman off waivers from the Broncos.

Impact In a corresponding move, the Panthers waived fellow running back Trenton Cannon. Freeman, who spent the last three seasons with the Broncos after being taken in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft, gives Carolina some valuable depth and experience behind star back, Christian McCaffrey. Also in the team's backfield mix is rookie fourth-rounder Chuba Hubbard.

SEPTEMBER 2, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Teddy's Time? Bridgewater solid as Broncos thump Seahawks

Teddy Bridgewater made another strong statement in his case to be Denver’s starting quarterback, leading a pair of touchdown drives in the Broncos’ 30-3 preseason win over the Seat...

AUGUST 22, 2021 • Associated Press

Gets seven touches in win Freeman carried the ball five times for 33 yards, while also catching both of his targets for 14 yards in Saturday's 33-6 win over Minnesota.

Impact Freeman was active with limited touches in both the rushing and passing game. The veteran running back has been the beneficiary of a quadriceps injury suffered by Denver's presumed No. 3 running back Mike Boone, as he could take on more of a workload in Boone's absence. With starter Melvin Gordon sitting Saturday, Freeman and rookie Javonte Williams handled most of the carries early in the contest. Although the 25-year-old didn't exactly turn heads with his performance, he didn't do anything to hurt his cause for retaining the third spot on the depth chart while Boone is out. Either way, Freeman appears on track to serve as a complementary back behind Gordon and Williams to start the season, a context that limits his fantasy upside.

AUGUST 19, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Following RB Mike Boone's injury, Royce Freeman 'ready to step in and make it happen' Plus, find out which player GM George Paton said "looks like a different guy" this year.

AUGUST 13, 2021 • DENVERBRONCOS.COM

Could be busy Saturday Freeman could see plenty of work in Saturday's preseason game against the Vikings once Melvin Gordon and Javonte Williams are done for the day, Nick Kosmider of The Athletic repo...

Impact Whereas Freeman had potentially been on the roster bubble, he's now looking at starting the coming season as Denver's No. 3 back, with Mike Boone on track to miss time early due to a quad injury. That's an assignment with limited fantasy utility; however, if either Williams or Gordon misses time for any reason, Freeman could subsequently emerge as a factor in deeper formats.

AUGUST 13, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Could be done in Denver Freeman is on the roster bubble after Denver added running backs Javonte Williams and Mike Boone in the offseason, ESPN.com's Jeff Legwold reports.

Impact Williams was a second-round draft pick, and Boone signed a two-year contract that includes $2.6 million guaranteed. Even if the latter move was more about special teams than offense, it gives Boone a level of security that Freeman doesn't have. Freeman has averaged only 4.0 yards per carry and 5.9 yards per catch in 46 games for the Broncos, failing to meet expectations after coming off the board 71st overall in the 2018 NFL Draft. If Freeman does make the team, it might just be as a third-down specialist behind Williams and Melvin Gordon.

JULY 6, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Denver Broncos: Team should try to get what it can for Royce Freeman Denver Broncos running back Royce Freeman is starting to become a fading light on the roster. Once a promising prospect after being drafted...

JUNE 9, 2021 • PREDOMINANTLYORANGE.COM

New Broncos GM Paton brings RB Mike Boone over from Vikings

New Broncos general manager George Paton is bringing a familiar face with him to Denver

MARCH 18, 2021 • Associated Press

Declines in rough 2020 campaign Freeman ran for 170 yards on 35 carries and added 81 yards on 12 catches during the 2020 season.

Impact Freeman's workload took a hit following the Broncos' acquisition of Melvin Gordon. Though he averaged 4.9 yards per carry, a full yard above his career average, Freeman seldom garnered many touches with Gordon serving as the bell cow more often than not and Phillip Lindsay also a factor in the 11 games he played.  With the exception of Week 13's game against the Saints, in which Freeman took snaps at wildcat quarterback, the 2018 third-rounder never topped 35 yards and didn't log more than nine touches in any contest. Freeman may still offer value as a third-down back, but depending on what the Broncos do in the offseason, his role is far from guaranteed heading into 2021.

JANUARY 15, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Picks up three touches Freeman ran for 21 yards on two carries and added a one-yard catch during Sunday's 32-31 loss to Las Vegas.

Impact Freeman set up the Broncos' first touchdown late in the first quarter, rumbling for 20 yards to bring Denver into Las Vegas territory. Still, perhaps still bothered by a nagging hip, he garnered just two touches to Melvin Gordon's 30. The third-year back often was lost in the shuffle this season as Gordon took Freeman's role as the passing-game back. Absent a shake-up in the offseason, a similar role likely awaits Freeman in 2021.

JANUARY 4, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Garners four touches in loss Freeman caught both of his targets for seven yards and had two carries for 16 yards during Sunday's 19-16 loss at the Chargers.

Impact Freeman had an opportunity to be RB2 behind Melvin Gordon on Sunday after Phillip Lindsay (hip) went on injured reserve. It didn't work out that way as Freeman still was visibly bothered by his own hip, leaving four touches for rookie LeVante Bellamy. Freeman will have another opportunity to enjoy an uptick in touches in the season finale against the Raiders on Sunday. He totaled 26 yards on four touches in Week 10's loss in Las Vegas.

DECEMBER 29, 2020 • ROTOWIRE