2025 Carolina Panthers Fantasy Preview
2025 Carolina Panthers Fantasy Preview After bottoming out in 2023, Carolina made some strides in Dave Canales’s first season. The offense improved from 32nd (265.3 yards per game) to 29th (298.0). However, the defense fell to last in 2024, and was a big focus for GM Dan Morgan in free agency and the draft. Tershawn Wharton, Tre’von Moehrig, Bobby Brown, and Pat Jones were all veteran additions, along with edge rushers Nick Scourton and Princely Umanmielen via Day Two draft selections. The club’s long rebuild made strides in Year One. Now, the young Panthers are looking to approach respectability. “All faces, all the voices blur. Change to one face, change to one voice. Prepare yourself for bed, the light seems bright and glares on white walls. All the sounds of Charlotte, sometimes.” After a rough start, Bryce Young was benched. Instead of pouting, he took it as an opportunity to learn from Andy Dalton. It worked. Young returned to the lineup in Week 8 and looked like a completely different player, especially in his deep-ball accuracy. In his final 10 starts, Young tossed 15 touchdowns compared to only six interceptions. This included three QB1 weeks in his final six outings. With an improved roster, Young has salvaged his dynasty appeal. There is hope the momentum will carry over into 2025, but Young is a lesser QB2 with some streaming potential in redraft. Chuba Hubbard (1,195 yards, 5.0 YPC) leads after a breakout 2024, with 41.8% of carries gaining 5+ yards. Hubbard received a four-year extension, cementing him as the club’s starter. He ranked 3rd with a 77.3 percent snap share and 7th in expected fantasy points per game. Hubbard is shaping up to be a solid mid-round target for #ZERORB drafters. Rico Dowdle (1,328 all-purpose yards) and fourth-rounder Trevor Etienne complement, with Etienne’s 6.2 yards after contact and return ability (9.8 yards/punt return) projecting him as a change-of-pace back. Dowdle’s 43% success rate bolsters depth, especially with Jonathon Brooks out (ACL). First-round pick Tetairoa McMillan (No. 8, Arizona) joins Adam Thielen and Xavier Legette in an improving wide receiver corps. McMillan’s 3.1 yards per route run and 12.8 yards per catch make him a good fit with Young’s downfield ability. Thielen, 34, adds reliability (4.8 catches/game), while Legette’s 14.1 yards per catch shifts to WR2. Jalen Coker, Hunter Renfrow, and sixth-rounder Jimmy Horn Jr. deepen a group with 2.6 yards per route run (12th in NFL). Tommy Tremble and Ja’Tavion Sanders will form a committee for Canales. Tremble was in on 68.4 percent of Carolina’s snaps last season and tops the depth chart. However, no Carolinas tight ends eclipsed Tremble’s 32 targets in 2024, so there is not a ton of fantasy appeal. Fantasy Grade: D QB Young, Bryce, CAR [QB1] Sitting behind Andy Dalton proved to be a valuable break for Bryce Young and a good tactic for head coach Dave Canales. Young handled the benching like a pro and looked like a brand-new quarterback by the time he reclaimed the starting job in Week 8. From that point on, Young began pushing the ball downfield and totaled 20 touchdowns. Additionally, the Panthers added the draft’s top wideout in Tetairoa McMilliam, giving Young a solid young nucleus. The hope here is that Young’s momentum carries over. If that happens, he will be a solid QB2 who will produce multiple top-10 weeks. ADVICE: Target Young as a backup with some streaming value. RB Hubbard, Chuba, CAR [RB1] Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers’ lead RB, is a high-end RB2 for 2025 after a breakout 2024. He amassed 1,195 rushing yards, 10 TDs, and 43 receptions for 171 yards (RB12 in half-PPR, 14.9 PPG). Hubbard averaged 4.8 YPC and boasted an average of 2.1 yards after contact (top-10) on a 77.3 percent snap share. Hubbard’s four-year, $33.2M extension cements his role, despite Rico Dowdle’s backup presence. Fourth-round rookie Trevor Etienne will also be in the mix for touches. Hubbard’s volume-driven output and improved offensive line make him a solid target on an offense trending up. ADVICE: Hubbard remains a quality Zero RB target with top-15 upside. RB Dowdle, Rico, CAR [RB2] ADVICE: Dowdle was a feel-good story from last year, but his move to Carolina, where he’s behind newly extended Chuba Hubbard, is a significant downgrade to his fantasy value. WR McMillan, Tetairoa, CAR [WR1] The Carolina Panthers landed the 2025 NFL Draft’s top wideout, former Arizona star Tetairoa McMillian. Standing at 6-4 and weighing 220 pounds, with a 4.50 40-yard dash time, McMillan’s size and speed make him a formidable red-zone target for quarterback Bryce Young. Projected as a WR3 in his rookie season, he bolsters a passing game that, in 2024, saw 210 receptions for 2,453 yards and 18 touchdowns on 339 targets. McMillan’s big-play potential elevates Carolina’s offense, promising a dynamic aerial attack that will improve from its 30th ranking of last season. ADVICE: McMilliam gives the Panthers an alpha presence they were missing. WR3 with weekly WR2 upside. WR Legette, Xavier, CAR [WR2] Despite Carolina ranking 30th in passing last year, Xavier Legette had a decent rookie season. The former Gamecock became the Panthers’ deep threat, ranking 29th with a 12.3 ADOT and 21st with 19 deep-ball targets. Drops (5) were an issue, but Legette’s 2025 value was rising. That is, until the club selected Tetairoa McMillian with the 8th pick in the NFL Draft. That will take some of the targets away, and for Legette to blossom into a decent fantasy option, he must be utilized closer to the line of scrimmage. Not sure that’s going to happen this season. ADVICE: Legette struggled against man coverage and must develop a more nuanced route tree before he can be a reliable fantasy target. WR Thielen, Adam, CAR [WR3] Thielen remains a reliable slot receiver for the Panthers despite a 2024 hamstring injury limiting him to 10 games (48 receptions, 615 yards, 5 TDs). His 77.4 percent catch rate and chemistry with Bryce Young ensure a PPR floor, but
2024 Carolina Panthers Fantasy Preview
2024 Carolina Panthers Fantasy Preview 2023 will go down as one of the most disastrous seasons for any franchise in NFL history. After going all in to acquire the top overall pick, Frank Reich’s tenure lasted all of 11 games,
2023 will go down as one of the most disastrous seasons for any franchise in NFL history. After going all in to acquire the top overall pick, Frank Reich’s tenure lasted all of 11 games, and top pick Bryce Young posted one of the worst rookie campaigns since the 2000 NFL season. Now missing their own No. 1 selection in 2024, Dave Canales has a tough task trying to turn around one of the worst rosters in football.
Young was unequivocally awful in Year One, averaging the fewest fantasy points per start for any signal-caller who started more than 12 games. Coaching, lack of supporting cast, and a poor offensive line played a big part, but the Panthers ranked dead last in passing and total offense. Young ranked 40th in adjusted completion rate and surpassed 250 yards once all season.
It is too soon to write Young off, but his career trajectory is in trouble. He is only a middling dynasty QB2 in Superflex leagues and should be left on the waiver wire in all other formats.
The Panthers had more success running the ball. Carolina ranked 20th in rushing, led by Chuba Hubbard’s 1,135 scrimmage yards and team-high five scores. However, second-round rookie RB Jonathon Brooks was the first running back selected in the 2024 NFL Draft and will be the heavy favorite to lead the backfield in touches when he is healthy.
Surrounding Young with better weapons was paramount for Canales. In March, the Panthers acquired disgruntled WR Diontae Johnson from the Steelers. Johnson was a target magnet in his first four seasons and enters 2024 motivated to ball out in a contract season.
Johnson will likely play from the perimeter as incumbent slot man Adam Thielen ranked fourth in the NFL with 82 slot targets. Carolina’s top two wideouts should warrant enough targets to be fantasy-relevant as potential flex options.
Carolina traded back up into the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft to select promising South Carolina WR Xavier Legette. The No. 32 pick has sub-4.4 speed and projects to be a perimeter threat once he can consistently defeat press coverage.
At tight end, Carolina will stick with a committee approach that is far from fantasy-friendly. Hayden Hurst and Tommy Tremble led the group with a meager 32 targets. Fourth-round rookie Ja’Tavion Sanders has a real shot at leading the way in 2024, mixing in with Tremble.
Carolina is in a full-blown rebuild with more questions than answers. That makes the Panthers an undesirable roster to target in fantasy football drafts. Some mid-to-late-round options offer some volume appeal on this roster, but Bryce Young must make huge strides in his second season.
Quarterbacks
QB BRYCE YOUNG – DYNASTY ONLY
Any way you look at it, Bryce Young was horrendous as a rookie. Young failed to eclipse 200 yards in 11 of his 16 starts. Young was limited to single-digit fantasy outings 11 times and ranked dead last with an appalling 5.5 yards per attempt. A new regime in Carolina will try to right the ship but it won’t be easy. The Panthers are projected to win the fewest games in the league. Fortunatley, reinforcements are on the way with Diontae Johnson, Xavier Legette, Jonathon Brooks, and Ja’Tavion Sanders. But even with a new staff and supporting cast, Young should be viewed as a total fade except for patient dynasty managers. ADVICE: Not a reliable QB2…
2024 Fantasy Football Team Outlooks
Welcome to our 2020 Fantasy Football Team Outlook series. Check out our statistical and in-depth analysis for EVERY player on EVERY NFL roster!
Thursday Night Football Preview: Week 10
Thursday Night Football Preview: Week 10 Predictably, Week 9’s Steelers/Titans game lacked fantasy firepower. And that appears to be applicable again in Week 10 as the offensively-challenged Panthers travel to Chicago to take on the last-place Bears. Our Thursday Night
Predictably, Week 9’s Steelers/Titans game lacked fantasy firepower. And that appears to be applicable again in Week 10 as the offensively-challenged Panthers travel to Chicago to take on the last-place Bears. Our Thursday Night Football Preview: Week 10 breaks down the fantasy prospects in a game that seemingly lacks talking points.
The Panthers mustered only 275 yards of offense and 13 points in a home loss to the Colts. Now, the 1-win Panthers must travel on short rest. Carolina is 0-4 on the road and has yet to win a game against an NFC rival.
Meanwhile, the Bears have quarterback concerns. Tyson Bagent has been adequate, but Chicago’s offense lacks scoring upside without Justin Fields. Last week, the Bears out-gained New Orleans but dropped to 1-2 without Fields under center.
This game opened with the home team favored by just 1.5 points with a total of 41. However, early action on the Bears pushed the line to -3 and the total dipped to 39.
Matchup
| TEAM | OFFENSE | PASS | RUSH | YDS/PLAY | POINTS |
| Carolina Panthers | 30 | 27 | 24 | 31 | 26 |
| Chicago Bears | 14 | 24 | 4 | 15 | 19 |
Scoring has been an issue all season for the Panthers, and Carolina’s offensive line has been a big culprit. The Panthers rank 31st in passing yards per attempt and have allowed the fifth-most sacks. LT Ikem Ekwonu has struggled, leading to a lack of time and no ability for plays to develop downfield.
Carolina has only topped 250 passing yards once all season and their defense has allowed the second-most points and forced just seven turnovers. Subsequently, it is difficult to rely on the Panthers for points or fantasy production. Even when facing a Chicago defense that ranks 26th.
For the Bears, they will focus on keeping the ball on the ground. Chicago’s rushing attack ranks fourth and matches up well with a Carolina D that has surrendered the fifth-most rushing yards and allowed a league-worst 14 rushing touchdowns so far in 2023.
However, the biggest question for the Bears will be the health of quarterback Justin Fields. Tyson Bagent has filled in well for three games. But, Fields brings potential as a passer and runner that has been lacking.
Finally, weather should not be a factor. The forecast calls for 48-degree temperatures, with no precipitation or abnormal wind.
Carolina Offense
Bryce Young is being overshadowed by…
How will Thursday’s Panthers vs. Bears game go?
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NFL Week 1 Panthers at Falcons: DFS & Fantasy Preview
NFL Week 1 Panthers at Falcons: DFS & Fantasy Preview Betting Line: Falcons – 3 Over/Under: 42 Last year, the Falcons led the NFL in rushing attempts, leading to 2,718 yards and 17 scores on the ground. The addition of Bijan Robinson bodes well for repeated success running the ball, but Atlanta needs Desmond Ridder to prove he can move the chains with his arm. Carolina opens up the season with a rookie quarterback (Bryce Young), who had plenty of success in his time in Alabama. The Panthers don’t have a true WR1, with multiple options vying for targets each week. In 2022, they ran the ball 483 times (12th), leading to a fast-moving clock. Note: The fantasy points per $1,000 are based on the early projections for Week 1. The above grid shows the top players excepted to contribute in Week 1 in the fantasy games. I listed each player’s salary at DraftKings and FanDuel, plus their fantasy points expected per $1,000 of salary invested. In GPP (grand prize pools) events, the goal is to find players with a chance to score four times their salary at DraftKings ($50,000 salary cap and three times at FanDuel ($60,000 salary cap). Atlanta Falcons Desmond Ridder Over his first four NFL starts, he went 2-2 while averaging 177 passes. He has two career passing touchdowns (none on the ground). I expect him to be active in the run game. He must snipe a rushing score to support his lower-tier salary. The Falcons only have one competitive receiving option (Drake London) in Week 1, as I expect the Falcons to limit the snaps of Kyle Pitts early in the season. A Ridder/London requires about 42.00 points at DraftKings and 38.00 at FanDuel to be in play. I need to see Ridder have success passing the ball before riding in the daily games. Bijan Robinson He has the fourth-highest running back salary at DraftKings and sixth at FanDuel. For the running backs on the main slate in Week 1, Robinson has the highest rating in FP/1000 (2.55) at FanDuel while ranking well at DraftKings (2.68). I view him as a strong play in Week 1. He offers three-down ability with a high probability of scoring vs. the Panthers. With a pair of touchdowns, Robinson has a good chance of being on the winning ticket in his first NFL start. Must start in all formats in the season-long games. Tyler Allgeier Last year, he played well over the final four games (79/431/2 with six catches for 52 yards). The Falcons will rotate him on about 35% of their plays, but Allgeier needs a blowout game to be a viable option at his current price point. Drake London In the early draft season in the high-stakes market, London is the 24th wideout off the table. He played well in his rookie season (72/866/4 on 117 targets), highlighted by his final five starts (6/95, 7/70, 7/96, 5/47, and 6/120). The last four outcomes came with Desmond Ridder at quarterback. London needs a 6/90/1 game to fill his salary bucket. I’m starting London in all leagues that use three wide receiver slots in their starting lineup. Mac Hollins In his fifth season in the NFL, Hollins posted his best year (57/690/4) with the Raiders. Over his previous 65 games, he only had 56 catches for 750 yards and six touchdowns. Hollins had one impact game (8/158/1) in 2022. I don’t see a high volume of targets requiring him to hit on a long score to pay off. Kyle Pitts In his rookie season (68/1,026/1 on 110 targets), Pitts was a big part of the Falcons’ offense. Atlanta threw the ball 573 times in 2021, compared to 415 last season (a drop of 27.6%). Based on this path, Pitts would have finished with 49 catches for 744 yards with the same opportunity in 2022. I don’t see a significant jump in pass attempts for the Falcons this year, and Pitts is coming off a significant knee injury. I expect him to be limited out of the gate, but his salary is low enough to be in play with a 3/40/1 game. Coin toss only while waiting for an update on his role/opportunity in Week 1. Here are some notes from my preseason write-up for the Carolina Panthers Defense. 18th vs. the run in 2022 with 17 rushing touchdowns 23rd against the pass with 25 scores, 10 interceptions, and 35 sacks Weakness on the defensive line, with the linebacking corps being a strength. Their secondary has some question marks coming into 2023. Carolina Panthers Bryce Young First NFL start after tossing 79 touchdowns and 12 interceptions over his final 27 games at Alabama. He won’t be a significant player rushing the ball. To reach a playable number at DraftKings and FanDuel, Young needs at least 250 passing yards and two scores with some value on the ground. His receiving lacks a star out of the gate, leading to him spreading the ball around to multiple receiving options. Miles Sanders In both formats, Sanders needs about 22.00 fantasy points to fill his fantasy bucket. He reached that level (29.60, 31.00, and 28.50) three times in 202s, helped by scoring six of his 11 touchdowns in those matchups. The Panthers will rotate in a second running back, requiring Sanders to be more active in the passing game (28, 26, and 20 catches over the past three seasons) to post a winning score. He can sometimes hit on a long TD, keeping him alive in some matchups if Carolina can play from the lead. I view him as overpriced in the daily games in Week 1. Chuba Hubbard Hubbard had three catches in three of his final five games in 2022. He led the Panthers in running back snaps from Week 15 to Week 18 last season. His best two games (18.90 and 15.30) in fantasy points in PPR formats barely support his opening salary while taking a back seat in touches
2023 Fantasy Football Team Outlooks
Welcome to our 2020 Fantasy Football Team Outlook series. Check out our statistical and in-depth analysis for EVERY player on EVERY NFL roster!
2023 Carolina Panthers Outlook
2023 Carolina Panthers Outlook The 2023 NFL season is right around the corner and that means fantasy football drafts are underway. Before you assemble your championship dynasty, redraft, or high-stakes squad, FullTime Fantasy members will have an in-depth, player-by-player preview
2023 Carolina Panthers Outlook
The 2023 NFL season is right around the corner and that means fantasy football drafts are underway. Before you assemble your championship dynasty, redraft, or high-stakes squad, FullTime Fantasy members will have an in-depth, player-by-player preview of all 32 teams from football legend Shawn Childs.
Also, check out Jody Smith’s NFL offensive line rankings and exclusive 2023 Strength of Schedule analysis.
Up next in our extensive NFL and fantasy football preview series is Shawn’s deep dive into the 2023 Carolina Panthers Outlook.
— Quarterback —
Bryce Young
Over his final two seasons at Alabama, Young completed 65.9% of his passes for 8,200 yards with 79 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He posted his best season in 2021 (4,782/50) while showing growth as a runner last year (49/185/4).
Young has a grip and rip-it feel after the snap, but sometimes he doesn’t throw a crisp ball. His throws do have more carry downfield than they appear after his release. Young played with top receiving talent at Alabama behind a winning offensive line. His completion windows will be smaller in the NFL, and his playground style when the pocket breaks down will lead to fewer big plays.
Fantasy Outlook: The structure of the Panthers’ receiving corps has a combination of veteran experience and some young developing options. Carolina will try to establish the run and let the progression of Young determine the number of passing attempts per game. I only see a newer version of Mac Jones in his rookie season with similar overall receiving options (NE has better tight ends, while CAR may have a higher ceiling at WR2, WR3, and WR4). My starting point is 4,000 combined yards with 22 to 26 touchdowns.
Matt Corral
Over his final two seasons at Mississippi, Corral completed 69.2% of his passes for 6,686 yards with 49 touchdowns and 19 interceptions. He gained 9.4 yards per pass attempt while also being active as a runner (112/506/4 and 152/614/11). Almost one-third of his rushing yards two years ago came in one game (30/195). Over his final nine full games in 2021, Corral failed to deliver more than two passing touchdowns in any matchup. In his meeting vs. Malik Willis (173 passing yards with no touchdowns and three interceptions plus 27/71/1 on the ground) on November 6th, he gained 333 combined yards with one touchdown.
Corral also took the snap out of the shotgun on most plays, but Mississippi ran play-action run/pass options to keep defenses on their heels. He showed the ability to stick quick passes on time on a tight line while doing some dirty work in the run game. Corral must improve his decision-making on his run plays to avoid taking big hits at the next level. His desire to fight for extra yards on the ground can be a win at the goal line. Corral offered touch when asked to drive the ball downfield in the passing game, but some passes had a high vertical, which may lead to more interceptions.
I expect him to control the first 20 yards past the line of scrimmage while only using his legs when asked to move the chains. In addition, Corral will make his share of big passing plays in an offense with a top-tier run game.
Fantasy Outlook: After missing his rookie season with a left foot injury that required surgery, Corral will start 2023 holding a clipboard as the Panthers’ QB3.
Other Options: Andy Dalton
— Running Backs —
Over the first six games, Christian McCaffrey gained 670 combined yards with three touchdowns and 33 catches. Their other running backs held the fort after the McCaffrey trade, leading to 2,020 combined yards with 11 scores and 39 catches. Overall, the Panthers’ back set three-year highs in rushing attempts (435), rushing yards (2,013), and yards per carry (4.6). They averaged 24.94 FPPG in PPR formats.
Miles Sanders
It’s hard to imagine that Sanders didn’t score in 2021 when looking at Philly’s backs finishing with 16 touchdowns. He rushed for an impressive 5.5 yards per carry but only 6.1 yards per catch. Over the first six weeks, Sanders gained 391 yards with 18 catches on 75 touches (12.5 per game). He left Week 7 with an ankle injury that led to three more missed games. When Sanders returned to the lineup, the Eagles were much more active in the run game, leading to 446 combined yards with six catches on 73 touches. A broken hand in Week 16 ultimately ended his regular season. His stats projected over 17 games came to 1,292 combined yards with 37 catches.
Last season, Sanders played at a similar level in the run game (259/1,269/11), but his stats looked much better due to him playing an entire year. The Eagles scored 32 rushing touchdowns, helping him set a career-best in scores (11). His biggest strike was the decline in his chance in the passing game (20/78 on 26 targets). Sanders rushed for more than 100 yards in three matchups (27/134/2, 21/143/2, and 17/144/2). Philadelphia gave him more than 20 carries in only two contests. His production lost value over the final four games (55/201 with two catches for minus seven yards).
Fantasy Outlook: In the early draft season in the high-stake market, Sanders ranks 20th at running back, five spots lower than his finish in fantasy points (220.20) in 2022 in PPR formats. He has a 50-catch season on his resume, and Carolina ranked higher than the Eagles in running back production last year. If Sanders can stay healthy, I expect 275 touches with 1,300 combined yards, 10 touchdowns, and 40 catches.
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT OUT OF THE PANTHERS IN 2023?
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2022 Fantasy Football Team Outlooks
Welcome to our 2020 Fantasy Football Team Outlook series. Check out our statistical and in-depth analysis for EVERY player on EVERY NFL roster!
2021 Fantasy Football Team Outlooks
Welcome to our 2020 Fantasy Football Team Outlook series. Check out our statistical and in-depth analysis for EVERY player on EVERY NFL roster!
AFC East
- Buffalo Bills – One of the hottest fantasy connections in 2020 was Josh Allen to Stefon Diggs. Will they repeat, who will be favorite target #2 (Beasley, Davis or Sanders) and can they find an every down player in 2nd year RB Zach Moss? … To continue reading this article, you must have an active subscription to our Seasonlong Fantasy Subscription.
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Fantasy Football: Week 6 Statistical Highlights
A look at some of the biggest NFL statistical highlights from Week 6, produced by one of the most accurate experts in the industry, Bill Enright!