Jonathan Stewart is expected to command the bulk of the Panthers' rushing attempts this season, but Carolina coach Ron Rivera maintains interest in continuing a two-back system, ESPN.com reports.

Stewart is expected to command the bulk of the Panthers' rushing attempts this season, but Carolina coach Ron Rivera maintains interest in continuing a two-back system, ESPN.com reports.

Analysis:

Stewart has split touches with DeAngelo Williams in recent seasons, but with the Panthers releasing Williams this offseason, Stewart is clearly Carolina's top running back heading into the upcoming campaign. Nonetheless, at the NFL owners meeting last week, coach Rivera projected an ideal situation in which Stewart receives around 15 carries per game, while another rusher gets 8-to-10 attempts. In doing so, the Panthers would hope to keep their ball carriers fresh throughout the season, thus benefitting Stewart's durability. At the moment, Fozzy Whittaker and recent signing Jordan Todman appear to be the primary candidates to spell Stewart this season, but the Panthers could very well add another running back during next month's draft as well.