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…
Vegas Just Went ALL-IN On This Rookie RB
Long-time Las Vegas gambler and ranked high-stakes fantasy player Frank Taddeo (@RespectedMoney on X) is always watching Vegas oddsmakers to identify best bets and fantasy values. This NFL rookie running back is projected to have a MAJOR IMPACT by Oddsmakers, making him a BIG VALUE for Zero RB builds A major component of my success playing high-stakes fantasy football at the FFWC is incorporating player projections of oddsmakers into my NFL model. I began creating my model back in 2010 when I created the only over-the-counter DFS program offered to date in a Las Vegas sportsbook. Over the next several months here at Fulltime Fantasy, I will be highlighting players that are witnessing significant movement in their 2024 NFL betting markets. In my first installment, I will be focusing on Carolina rookie running back Jonathon Brooks. The Panthers traded up in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft to draft the former Texas standout as the first running back off the board at No. 46 overall. Jonathon Brooks is one of the best RBs in College Football 💨 The #1 RB Prospect according to PFFs Big Board 🔥 pic.twitter.com/DS67d4q5nx — College Football Report (@CFBRep) February 1, 2024 While many fantasy managers may be hesitant to invest in a back coming off a torn ACL last November, it is wise to pay attention to new coach Dave Canales’ intent of his offense to focus on running the ball. Check out our detailed Rookie Scouting Profile of Jonathon Brooks here. VEGAS ODDSMAKERS RESPOND TO COACHES RECENT COMMENTS Dave Canales to Jonathon Brooks: “The intent of our offense is to run the ball.” — Joe Person (@josephperson) May 10, 2024 Oddsmakers are paying attention to Canales’s offensive game plan. The talented back, who was installed with a rushing yards betting projection of 500.5, has witnessed the biggest move of any running back in the rushing yards market. The 6-foot-1, 216-pound physical back now sits with a betting demand of 775.5 yards at DraftKings. “A MOVE THIS BIG IS ABSURD, YOU DON’T SEE IT VERY OFTEN.” -Frank Taddeo When oddsmakers make a move of 275 yards, fantasy managers need to take note. Brooks, who currently has an ADP of RB28, came off the board at 7.12 in a Circa Las Vegas Fantasy Championship Draft held on May 30. Due to playing behind Bijan Robinson in his first two collegiate seasons, Brooks only enjoyed one season as the featured call carrier for the Longhorns. In 2023, Brooks rushed for 1,139 yards and 10 touchdowns in just 10 games before suffering the season-ending knee injury. In Carolina, Brooks only finds veterans Chuba Hubbard, Miles Sanders, and Rashaad Penny on the depth chart. That is far from an imposing backfield which will easily result in Brooks taking over lead duties by the start of the season. Canales’s vow to focus on the rushing attack to help Bryce Young, combined with the sizable move by oddsmakers, means fantasy managers should not be afraid to invest in the powerful rookie as a viable RB2/Flex option this season with only middle-round draft capital demand. For the past 15 years, Football Contest Proxy has provided the leading service to submit picks in major Las Vegas football contests from anywhere in the world and built FootballContest.com into the top online destination for football contest info. All you need to do to enter is sign up in person sometime before football season kicks off. FCP does the rest as your proxy – it really is that easy. Simply plan your trip to Vegas and schedule a time with FCP to get signed up for whatever contest(s) you want to enter. As a proxy partner of FullTimeFantasy, you can also SAVE $50 through September 2 by clicking here. Just enter promo code FANTASY at checkout for instant savings, so make your best pick and go with the pros at FootballContest.com!