Carolina Panthers DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen (hamstring) was added to Thursday's injury report as a limited participant in practice due to a hamstring injury. The 34-year-old has been productive over his last four games, catching 27 passes for 295 yards and two touchdowns. He has re-entered the fantasy radar as quarterback Bryce Young has shown signs of improvement, and the Week 17 matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is favorable for wide receivers. Consider the veteran a WR3 option if he can play through the injury. If he's surprisingly out, rookie wide receiver Xavier Legette (hip) could enter the fantasy radar, assuming he's active after missing last week's game with a hip injury.

Carolina Panthers rookie Xavier Legette (groin) is at practice on Thursday and has a chance at returning to play this Sunday against the division-rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 17. Legette was listed as a full practice participant on Wednesday, so the 23-year-old is certainly tracking towards making his return this weekend after missing last week's overtime win over the Arizona Cardinals. Head coach Dave Canales said early this week that Legette would need to make significant improvement in order to have a shot at playing in Week 17. It appears that Legette is making good progress, but it doesn't mean he won't carry an injury designation into Sunday's contest. And even if the rookie is able to get cleared to play against Tampa, it doesn't mean he'll have a significant role on offense behind veteran Adam Thielen. Legette hasn't scored since Nov. 3 and has exceeded 60 receiving yards only once in 2024.

Carolina Panthers running back Miles Sanders (ankle) is going through "return to play" protocols on a daily basis. Sanders was placed on Injured Reserve in late November due to a sprained ankle, but it sounds like he has a shot to return to play in one of the final two games of the season for the Panthers. However, especially at this point in the year, the 27-year-old has no business being rostered in redraft fantasy leagues. He was eligible to come off IR and play in the Week 16 overtime win over the Arizona Cardinals. The Panthers have yet to open Sanders' 21-day practice window to return from IR, but that could come on Wednesday for the team's first practice of Week 17. If Sanders is able to return in the next two weeks, he'll be a clear backup to Chuba Hubbard and will likely see a limited role on offense.

Carolina Panthers rookie wide receiver Xavier Legette (groin) is progressing, and head coach Dave Canales "likes the strides he's making." However, Canales also said Legette needs to make significant improvement to be ready to go for Week 17 against the division-rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. The Panthers want to get the rookie receiver back on the field, but they aren't going to rush him back, either. It's sounding like Legette could be fighting an uphill battle to be active in Week 17, but we'll have a better idea of his status once the team resumes practicing on Wednesday. The 23-year-old was injured in the Week 15 loss to the Dallas Cowboys and was inactive for the Week 16 win over the Arizona Cardinals. If Legette is able to return in Week 17, he should be avoided in fantasy lineups in championship matchups, as he hasn't been a top-50 wideout in his first year in the NFL in 2024.

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker was a non-factor in the Week 16 victory against the Arizona Cardinals, registering two catches for eight yards. He was targeted five times, which tied for second on the team, but he finished sixth on the team in receiving. Carolina tied a season-best with 36 points and resurgent quarterback Bryce Young played his best game of the year, yet Coker wasn't really part of the action. For managers who advance to their fantasy Super Bowls, the rookie is a massive gamble with a great matchup in Week 17 against Tampa Bay.