Carolina Panthers

Carolina Panthers tight end Jordan Matthews caught all three of his targets for 48 yards in the team's loss to the New England Patriots, leading all pass-catchers in yards on the night. The bulk of his yardage came from a 28-yard pass from Jack Plummer in the second quarter. The 31-year-old spent the majority of last season on Carolina's practice squad. With the addition of rookie tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders, Matthews will likely remain on the practice squad this season and is off the radar from a fantasy perspective.

Carolina Panthers running back Mike Boone rushed the ball eight times for 34 yards in the team's loss to the New England Patriots, leading the team in touches and yards on the night. Boone also reeled in three catches for 13 yards through the air. The 29-year-old signed with Carolina in January of last season but remained on the practice squad for the entirety of the 2023 season. Boone will look to find his way onto the 53-man roster while rookie Jonathan Brooks remains on the PUP list but is firmly off the fantasy radar heading into the 2024 season.

Chicago Bears wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. entered training camp on the roster bubble, although many expect the third-year wideout to be the team's starting kick returner in 2024. In an effort to be more versatile to the team, Jones agreed to spend this week of practice as a running back. He's spent most of camp to this point with the second-team offense while DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, rookie Rome Odunze and Tyler Scott take first-team reps. The 27-year-old's route-running has been erratic in his first two years in the NFL, so switching to RB is the team's creative attempt to unlock his big-play ability. Jones' return abilities on special teams will likely be enough to earn him a spot on the 53-man roster for the regular season, but fantasy managers in deeper leagues shouldn't be expecting much else in what is now a stacked receiver corps in Chicago.

The Carolina Panthers announced on Tuesday that second-year quarterback Bryce Young will not play in the preseason opener this Thursday versus the New England Patriots. A report surfaced on Monday evening that Young may not even play in the preseason at all after a disastrous rookie year in 2023 after he was the first overall pick in draft. Veteran backup Andy Dalton (quadriceps) is also injured, so Carolina will be rolling with Jack Plummer and Jake Luton under center in their preseason opener this week. The 23-year-old Young is still an intriguing dynasty/keeper asset as he heads into Year 2, which really can't get any worse than his rookie season. The additions of receivers Diontae Johnson and Xavier Legette should help Young's cause as he looks to make improvements in 2024. Fantasy managers should consider him a low-end QB2 with upside for more.

Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales said that there's a chance that second-year quarterback Bryce Young won't play in any preseason games. There is value in having Young work with new center Austin Corbett, but the Panthers are still weighing the decision. It seems like an odd decision for a 23-year-old that struggled mightily in his first year in the NFL in 2023. But with veteran backup Andy Dalton (hamstring) already injury, perhaps the Panthers don't want to take any chances, at least this Thursday in their preseason opener versus the New England Patriots. Young should have nowhere to go but up in Year 2, especially after the team added receivers Diontae Johnson via trade and Xavier Legette via the draft. However, he's also learning a new offense, so fantasy managers shouldn't expect Young to be much more than a low-end QB2 with upside in 2024.