Carolina Panthers DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Xavier Legette (wrist) said he will likely undergo surgery to repair ligaments in his left wrist following the Week 18 season finale. The rookie said his wrist injury dates back to his 2021 season with South Carolina, but he is not using it as an excuse for his critical drop against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 14. Legette, the No. 32 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, has hauled in 39 of his 47 targets for 432 yards and four touchdowns in his first 13 games. It hasn't been a record-breaking rookie campaign, but he has shown flashes in a subpar offense. He could be a sleeper pick in next year's fantasy drafts, but it will depend on how he finishes his 2024 season.

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker (quad) practiced in full for a second straight day on Thursday. The rookie out of Holy Cross has missed each of the last three games due to a quad injury, but he could return in Week 15 to face the Dallas Cowboys. Coker caught nine of his 17 targets for 155 yards and a touchdown in his last three active games, but the return of Adam Thielen likely puts an end to his time on the fantasy football radar. At best, he'll likely operate behind Thielen and fellow rookie Xavier Legette in Bryce Young's target pecking order. He can be safely dropped in leagues of 12 teams or fewer.

Carolina Panthers rookie wide receiver Jalen Coker (quadriceps) was listed as a full participant for the team's first practice of the week on Wednesday. Coker also began last week with a full practice on Wednesday before being limited on Thursday and sitting out on Friday. The 23-year-old then missed his third straight game in the Week 14 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. If he can avoid a setback this week, he could return to action this Sunday against the visiting Dallas Cowboys. Even if the first-year pass-catcher avoids setbacks later this week and is active for Week 15, fantasy managers will want to avoid him as a starting lineup option. Coker did have a season-high eight targets in his last game played in the Week 10 win over the New York Giants in London, but he's been minimally involved in his first NFL season and has only 17 total catches (26 targets) for 263 yards and one touchdown in seven games played.

The Carolina Panthers officially placed rookie second-round running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) on season-ending Injured Reserve on Tuesday after he sustained another torn right ACL in the Week 14 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. Brooks tore the same ACL while playing at Texas in college last fall, which is why he didn't make his NFL debut until Week 11. The 21-year-old will almost certainly open the 2025 campaign on IR yet again and probably won't make his season debut late in the year, similar to what transpired this year. It's a devastating blow for the youngster and for those with shares in dynasty/keeper leagues, as Brooks may never be the explosive back in the NFL that he was in college. In three games with Carolina before tearing his ACL again, Brooks had nine carries for 22 yards and three catches for 23 yards as the distant No. 2 back behind starter Chuba Hubbard.

The Carolina Panthers signed wide receiver/running back Velus Jones Jr. to the active roster from the Jacksonville Jaguars practice squad, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz. The 27-year-old was a third-round pick by the Chicago Bears in 2022 out of Tennessee and totaled just 135 receiving yards and 165 rushing yards in two-plus seasons with the organization. It will be interesting to see what plans Carolina has for him, as the team could use help and wide receiver and running back. Ball carriers Jonathon Brooks (knee) and Raheem Blacksheer (chest) were both injured in last week's loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Either way, it would be a surprise if Jones ends up on the fantasy football radar.