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NBC Sports
an hour ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
2025 Carolina Panthers Fantasy Preview: Crunch time for Bryce Young
Panthers head coach Dave Canales had one job as Carolina's head coach in 2024: Fix Bryce Young. He made the decision to bench the former No. 1 overall pick by Week 3, seemingly sealing the fate of the Bama passer. Young eventually returned to the lineup after Andy Dalton suffered a thumb injury, giving him a second lease on life as the starter. Young's time on the bench served him well and he finally started to turn the corner at the end of the year, giving Panthers fans hope for the 2025 season. 2024 Carolina Panthers Stats (Rank) Points per game: 20.1 (23rd) Total yards per game: 298 (29th) Plays per game: 58.4 (31st) Dropbacks per game: 39.2 (17th) Dropback EPA per play: -0.04 (26th) Rush attempts per game: 24.1 (27th) Rush EPA per play: -0.04 (11th) Bryce Young gets on track Young was a disaster out of the gates in 2023. He ranked 22nd in completion percent over expected and 29th in EPA per play among 30 qualified quarterbacks. Frank Reich was fired midseason and the Panthers landed the first overall pick… which was in the hands of Chicago via Carolina's trade up for Young. The meltdown continued into the 2024 season and Young was benched after two games. Canales was put in an impossible situation, choosing between losing the locker room with more dreadful Young starts or cutting bait on the player he was tasked with fixing. He went with the former, granting Andy Dalton five starts before he injured his thumb in a car accident. Young came back better than ever, went 4-6 to close out the year, and took both Super Bowl participants to the brink with one-score losses to Kansas City and Philadelphia. While the Panthers didn't solve all of their problems on offense, Young and Canales made herculean strides by the end of the season. The same can't be said for DC Ejiro Evero's defense. Carolina ranked dead last in EPA per play allowed. They ranked 32nd against the run and 31st against the pass. Evero was a rising star in the coaching ranks and Canales chose to retain him from Reich's staff after the latter was canned. To Evero's defense, the Panthers didn't spend one of their first two picks on defense for three consecutive drafts before this year. Their investments in free agency have also been focused on offense, leaving the cupboard bare for Evero. Still, if his side of the ball doesn't improve in 2025, he will be looking for work elsewhere next offseason. Passing Game QB: Bryce Young, Andy Dalton WR: Tetairoa McMillan, Jalen Coker WR: Adam Thielen, Hunter Renfrow WR: Xavier Legette, David Moore TE: J'Tavion Sanders, Tommy Tremble Young's late-season resurgence was the story of the season for Panthers fans, and it was just as real in the spreadsheets as it was on tape. He was PFF's No. 7 graded passer from Week 8 onward. He had the second-highest Big Time Throw rate over that stretch and scored five rushing touchdowns in his final six games. Bryce Young knew it. Young was not making throws with this kind of confidence as a rookie. His top receivers down the stretch were 34-year-old Adam Thielen and UDFA rookie Jalen Coker, both of whom missed three games. Despite drastically increasing his ability to create explosive plays, Young didn't concede more turnovers or sacks amidst his breakout. His pressure to sack rate of 14.9 percent and Turnover Worthy Play rate of 2.3 percent were both below his career averages. The sample of Young turning the corner is small, but the impact was massive and earned him a spot at the back of the QB2 ranks in early fantasy drafts. Tetairoa McMillan was brought in with the eighth overall pick to be a true alpha for Young. As a true junior, McMillan ranked second in the country in receiving yards (1,319) while averaging 2.9 yards per route run. He earned 472 yards on deep targets in 2024, the third-most for a Power Four wideout. As a sophomore in 2023, McMillan racked up 533 yards on intermediate targets (10-19 yards downfield), the highest mark among P4 wideouts. McMillan finds himself in contested situations more often than you would like to see from a target dominator, but he wins those high-leverage looks at a high clip, giving him the 'always open' factor. The aforementioned Thielen missed seven games with a hamstring injury but was as good as ever when on the field. He rebounded in 2023 after a few stagnant years in Minnesota and upped the ante in 2024, averaging 2.1 yards per route run with a 17-game pace of 82 catches for 1,046 yards and nine scores. Thielen isn't a fun click, but he's the perfect WR4/5 for fantasy managers who want to load up on rookies and other high upside bets. With Thielen penciled in for a heavy dose of slot work and McMillan guaranteed a starting role, Coker and Xavier Legette are fighting for the final position in three-receiver sets. Carolina was counting on Legette to be an immediate playmaker after spending the No. 32 overall pick on him. He labored through toe, wrist, and shoulder injuries en route to 497 yards at a dreadful 1.2 yards per route run. Legette's stiff route-running was an issue and he failed to show anything after the catch. He was a high-risk prospect who showed only the floor as a rookie. Coker was a hidden gem in Charlotte, nearly matching Legette's yardage output on 139 fewer routes. PFF graded him as their No. 5 rookie. The UDFA status will follow Coker into his second season, making Legette a better bet for routes early in the season, even if the former is a more exciting bet heading into year two. There isn't much happening at tight end on this roster. Rookie J'Tavion Sanders split work with Tommy Tremble as a rookie and will likely do so again this year. Sanders will also have to keep fifth-round rookie Mitchell Evans at bay. Sanders is worth a dart throw in deep best ball leagues but isn't near the redraft radar. Running Game RB: Chuba Hubbard, Rico Dowdle, Trevor Etienne, Raheem Blackshear OL (L-R): Ikem Ekwonu, Damien Lewis, Austin Corbett, Robert Hunt, Taylor Moton Carolina entered the 2024 season expecting Chuba Hubbard to hold down the starting job until second-round rookie Jonathon Brooks was ready to take over. Brooks was coming back from the torn ACL he suffered in his final season at Texas and was expected to be the team's future at running back. Instead, he tragically suffered another torn ACL after just nine carries. The injury paved the way for Hubbard to see the bulk of the backfield work for the entire season. Hubbard was one of four backs to see over 80 percent of their team's running back carries last year. He made good on the role with a 250/1,195/10 rushing line and strong efficiency marks. Pro Football Focus graded him as a top-10 runner with an equally impressive 3.5 yards after contact per attempt. He was even more dominant in NFL Next Gen's data with an NFL-high 51.2 percent success rate and 1.16 rush yards over expected per carry. Hubbard did it all on the ground. He was explosive, elusive, and consistent. The Panthers rewarded him with a four-year, $33.2 million contract midseason. Brooks has already been ruled out for 2025 and the Panthers are returning all five starting offensive linemen from last year. Hubbard isn't much of a threat as a pass-catcher out of the backfield, but his rushing workload and efficiency should put him in the RB1 conversation this summer. Carolina signed Rico Dowdle off a breakout season in Dallas and drafted pass-catching specialist Trevor Etienne on Day Three to round out their backfield. Dowdle stepped up last year with 1,000 rushing yards and solid peripherals, but the NFL didn't buy into the breakout on the open market. The Cowboys let him walk and Carolina only gave him a one-year, $2.75 million deal. Dowdle averaged a measly .88 yards per route run and was a good but not great runner. He was likely viewed as a two-down backup by GMs, including Dan Morgan of Carolina. Etienne peaked at 131 carries and hit 20 carries in a game once during three years of college ball. He did, however, catch 32 passes in 10 games as a junior at Georgia. Etienne could work himself into a role on passing downs as a rookie, but fantasy managers shouldn't expect to see much of him early in the season. 2025 Carolina Panthers Win Total DraftKings Over/Under: 6.5 Pick: Over (-125) The Panthers are doing all the right things to turn their franchise around. After their No. 1 overall pick flopped as a rookie, they went out and got him one of the league's best offensive minds as his next head coach before bolstering the line in free agency. When Young showed promise at the end of his second season, first-year GM Dan Morgan doubled down on his ascent by spending the No. 8 overall pick on a wide receiver. If any team was going to make the leap from basement dweller to .500 this year, it would be the Panthers. Matthew Berry looks at Tetairoa McMillan joining the Carolina Panthers and breaks down why the former Arizona receiver is entering a favorable fantasy setup in Dave Canales' offense.
USA Today
12 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Dan Orlovsky makes bold prediction about Panthers QB Bryce Young
Dan Orlovsky makes bold prediction about Panthers QB Bryce Young "I would bet on Bryce Young this season.. I believe in Dave Canales and I love the addition of Tet McMillan.. This is a very good offensive line and I love the way Bryce Young bounced back last year"@danorlovsky7 #PMSLive — Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) June 18, 2025 A former NFL quarterback is ready to bet on Bryce Young. ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky joined this past Wednesday's episode of The Pat McAfee Show. When asked which young quarterback he thinks will make the biggest jump in 2025, he points to Young and the support system that the Carolina Panthers have surrounded him with. Take a listen: Despite some high hopes for his first season under first-year head coach and "quarterback whisperer" Dave Canales, Young got off to a miserable start in 2024. After throwing for 245 yards, no touchdowns and three interceptions in a pair of blowout losses, the former No. 1 overall pick was benched for veteran Andy Dalton beginning in Week 3. Young would get his second chance in Week 8, and he didn't look back. Over the final 10 games of the campaign, he totaled 2,327 yards, 20 touchdowns and six picks while leading the Panthers to four wins. Carolina has since added more help for Young in the form of 6-foot-4, 219-pound Tetairoa McMillan, the eighth overall selection of the 2025 draft. They've also used the offseason to bring back their starting offensive line as well as few key depth pieces including Cade Mays and Brady Christensen. So if continuity is key, then Young and the Panthers will probably make Orlovsky look awfully good by the end of the year. Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content.
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Jimmy Horn Jr. Delivers Clear Statement on Deion Sanders Development
Jimmy Horn Jr. Delivers Clear Statement on Deion Sanders Development originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Former Colorado wide receiver Jimmy Horn Jr. is electrifying when it comes to running routes. His range and deep pass-catching ability should be a benefit to Bryce Young and the Carolina Panthers' offense this season. Advertisement When you have former players like Steve Smith Sr. critiquing your game after being compared to the future Hall-of-Famer, the skies are the limit. Once Horn gets fully acclimated playing at the next level, he'll be able to be a consistent contributor. This comes from being under Deion Sanders and developing into a pro. 'Playing with Coach Prime, he running the program more like a boys to man type of deal,' Horn said. 'You coming in a certain way, and you coming out a certain way.' The Panthers may have drafted Horn in the sixth round, but he was a steal. They understood his potential and saw the explosiveness he has by getting separation from defenders on tape. Many teams didn't get a true read on the former Buffs wide receiver. Smith did before the draft when he saw Horns' route running ability and footwork firsthand. The one thing that stood out to Smith during Horn participation in CU's Pro Day was how quiet his feet were. Many of the receivers in today's game give defenders a bit of a cheat code, alerting them when they are getting ready to break on their routes and expecting a pass from the quarterback. This is something that Horn will be using to his advantage this season, like Lad McConkey does for the Los Angeles Chargers. Advertisement Related: Shedeur Sanders Labeled 'Loser' Following Browns Minicamp The former Buffs receiver brings speed, agility, athleticism, and versatility on special teams. What would be great to see in the Panthers offense is end arounds and double reverses. Horn's ability to stretch the field is a big positive for Carolina's receiving core to keep opposing defenses guessing. Also, he could be used in the return game, which is something he has experience doing as well. Related: Jaxson Dart's Terrible OTAs Left Fans in Disbelief About Skipping Shedeur Sanders Horn has definitely left an everlasting impression on the Panthers coaching staff and the Carolina fanbase after minicamp. Because of his work ethic and attention to detail, he should get significant playing time this upcoming NFL season. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 14, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bryce Young Named Breakout QB by ESPN Analyst
Bryce Young Named Breakout QB by ESPN Analyst originally appeared on Athlon Sports. After a rocky rookie season, and an up and down second season that left many questioning if the Carolina Panthers had made the right call with the No. 1 overall pick, ESPN NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky is throwing his full support behind Bryce Young, and he's not doing it quietly. Advertisement 'If I had to bet on one, it would be Bryce,' Orlovsky said during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show earlier this week. 'I just think what he went through last year and not breaking… and then the success he had at the end of the season, it says a lot.' That statement should jolt Panthers fans wide awake. Orlovsky, a former NFL quarterback himself, is known for his detailed film breakdowns and thoughtful analysis. And his praise for Young goes well beyond platitudes, it's rooted in what he sees as real growth and, more importantly, a far better environment in Year 3. A Stronger Foundation Around Young Much of Orlovsky's confidence comes from the changes Carolina has made this offseason. He specifically pointed to the arrival of first-round pick Tetairoa McMillan, a 6-foot-4 wideout from Arizona known for his physicality and catch radius. Advertisement 'You're talking 6'4' and 6'4' on the perimeter, they're just physically a problem,' Orlovsky said, referencing McMillan and former first round pick Xavier Legette. 'I love the Tet McMillan addition.' That duo, paired with an improved offensive line and a more stable offensive scheme under head coach Dave Canales, has Orlovsky drawing comparisons to the Arthur Smith led 2019 Titans offense that featured A.J. Brown and Corey Davis, both big-bodied targets that elevated quarterback play through sheer physical dominance. Arizona Wildcats wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan is selected by the Carolina Panthers as the number eight pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft at Lambeau Field.© Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Canales: The Underrated Catalyst While Young's raw talent is no secret, the former Heisman Trophy winner was taken No. 1 overall for a reason. Orlovsky believes the Panthers' biggest X-factor might be their new head coach. Advertisement 'Canales is a really good coach,' Orlovsky said. 'We've got three different places where he's gone and been their coach, and he's had success.' Canales helped revive the careers of both Geno Smith in Seattle and Baker Mayfield in Tampa Bay. Now, he's tasked with unlocking Young's full potential, and Orlovsky believes he's just the man to do it. Time to Believe? Young's rookie numbers, 2,877 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, 10 interceptions weren't eye-popping. But Orlovsky argues context matters. The offensive line struggled, and Young was frequently left running for his life. During his sophomore campaign Young improved tremendously over the second half of the season. He showed flashes late in the season that suggested he hadn't lost confidence or command. Advertisement 'Bryce was the number one pick not because he wasn't talented,' Orlovsky said. 'He just went through some tough times his rookie year. I think Bryce is on the board to take a really big jump.' For Panthers fans, that might be the most encouraging breakdown yet. This is not just hype, but hope grounded in real, observable progress. Related: Ja'Tavion Sanders Primed for Breakout Season as Panthers' TE1 This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 19, 2025, where it first appeared.
Forbes
a day ago
- Sport
- Forbes
Xavier Legette On His Goal With Carolina Panthers This Season: ‘Get To The Playoffs'
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Xavier Legette is making quite the rounds these days. The 24-year-old wide receiver is notable for his thick Southern accent — he has ties to Mullins, South Carolina — and his name has grown in popularity in recent weeks due to his appearances at The Kentucky Derby and a recent Carolina Hurricanes hockey playoff game. His love for Southern culture and foods combined with his fun-natured personality has made him a popular fan favorite. However, he's also a great football player, having been a first-round pick in last year's draft. The 6-foot-3 Legette was Second-Team All-SEC selection during the 2023 season after posting 71 receptions for 1,255 receiving yards and seven touchdowns during his senior season. However, he disappointed during his rookie season, posting just 49 receptions for 497 receiving yards. Legette struggled with drops during his first year, posting seven drops, ranking among the top 22 in the NFL. "No problem's getting open," says Legette in a one-on-one interview. "I just had a couple drops. If I can just turn old negative plays into positive plays, it's going to go the way how I needed to go." Legette only caught 58.3% of the passes thrown his way, with 84 targets thrown his way. Those number of targets led the team by 22 targets — Adam Thielen was the next closest at 62 targets — as it was clear that young quarterback Bryce Young honed in on him as his favorite target. While Legette led the team with 49 receptions, he only had one more than Thielen, who finished the season with 48 catches for 615 receiving yards and five touchdowns, with the last two categories leading the team. "Hone into that ball," Legette says when asked how he can lessen his drops. Legette is 11 years younger than Thielen, who will turn 35 years old before the start of the season. The two-time Pro Bowl receiver is the oldest wideout in the league. Although he's only played a year with the veteran receiver, Legette has already learned a ton from Thielen. "It's a whole lot," says Legette of Thielen's influence. "Ways of how I'm going to read the defense, because the way I was taught, it's a different way of how he was taught. The way he talks about that, the way how he goes about taking care of his body, he's on a different level, he's doing everything. It's a lot that I learned from him." He says he's already using some of Thielen's techniques at the age of 24. "It's a lot of machines that he uses that I've never heard of," says Legette. "He does a good amount of stuff to keep his body right. If I can go ahead and get a head start on it, I'm going to jump on it now." One of the objectives for Legette this season is to make it to the playoffs. It's a sentiment that has also been echoed by his teammate, Chuba Hubbard. Hubbard recently said the Panthers are "sick and tired" of losing. Hubbard's been a member of Carolina since 2021 and they haven't made it to the playoffs or posted a winning season since 2017. "That's only thing I want to do for the team, we're just trying to work to get to the playoffs and potentially make it to the Super Bowl," says Legette when asked what his season objectives are. As Legette prepares for his second season, he's partnering up with Lidl US, a premium private-label meat line. Lidl US has 20 new items as part of their Butcher's Specialty meat line – which features beef, chicken and pork. The partnership makes sense considering Legette's Southern background and his affinity for good protein meats. 'The meat, high protein for the body, high quality meat,' says Legette of why he's partnering with Lidl US. 'Oh, I need it. I feel like it helps me. You can never go wrong with the steaks.' Legette names "tomahawk" steak as his favorite protein meat and says he's "frying" out the grill with the Butcher's Specialty. 'We're frying out the grill every cookout.,' says Legette. "They're helping me push that out to my people, so it's good vies and good times."
