Carolina Panthers DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

Carolina Panthers rookie wide receiver Xavier Legette caught his third touchdown of the season in Sunday's 28-14 loss to the Denver Broncos. Legette, a striking 6-foot-2, 227-pound figure, is proving to be a solid red-zone threat, with all three of his touchdowns coming inside the 10-yard line. Legette's game has shades of A.J. Brown, as he can physically dominate defensive backs at the point of attack. However, his down-to-down consistency still leaves much to be desired. He finished with four receptions for 34 yards and has recorded just one 50+ yard game this year. Granted, the quarterback situation in Carolina has been among the most questionable in the league. With New Orleans up in Week 9, it would be encouraging if the South Carolina product started to show week-to-week consistency but is on the flex radar in deep league formats.

Undrafted Carolina Panthers rookie wide receiver Jalen Coker recorded the best outing of his young career in Sunday's 28-14 loss to the Denver Broncos. Coker, a Holy Cross product, hauled in four receptions for 78 yards and a touchdowna 15-yard back shoulder catch in the game's waning seconds. With Adam Thielen (hamstring) and Diontae Johnson (ribs) out, Coker took full advantage of his opportunity, becoming a fan favorite and beacon of hope for crestfallen Panthers supporters. The status of Thielen and Johnson is unclear heading into Week 9, and their designation will determine the outlook on Coker's expectations. However, Carolina's diamond in the rough prospect could garner more exposure in next Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints.

Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard recorded his worst fantasy outing since Week 1 in the Panthers' 28-14 loss to the Denver Broncos. Hubbard finished the day with 15 carries for 56 yards and two receptions for 15 yards. He did not reach the end zone. While still the featured back in Carolina, Hubbard has been trending down in recent weeks as he has recorded progressively fewer points since his Week 3 explosion against Las Vegas. Still, this is his first sub-10-point performance since the season opener. Rookie running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) completed his first whole week of practice in the ramp-up to this game, indicating his debut should be on the horizon. Hubbard should remain Carolina's primary back if Brooks doesn't suit up for Week 9's matchup against the Saints.

It had been five weeks since Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales announced the benching of second-year quarterback Bryce Young in favor of the veteran Andy Dalton (thumb). In Week 8, with his two top receivers Diontae Johnson (ribs) and Adam Thielen (hamstring) out, Young got another shot in a Sunday afternoon tilt against the Denver Broncos. While his performance was a mixed bag, Young showed more confidence and capability than in his previous two starts. He finished the day with 224 passing yards, two touchdowns, two interceptions, and a 64% completion rate in a 28-14 loss. His two touchdowns went to rookies Xavier Legette and Jalen Cokeran appropriate snapshot of the infantile nature of this Carolina team. Dalton was inactive, and it is still unclear who will start in Week 9 against New Orleans. When asked postgame, Canales said, "We'll make that decision, and we'll have an answer for you in the next couple of days."

Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle (illness) won't play in Sunday night's matchup with the San Francisco 49ers. The 26-year-old was under the weather when he arrived to the stadium. However, after an examination by team medical staff, Dowdle will sit this one out. He entered Week 8 with 246 yards off 59 carries and 16 receptions for 131 yards and two touchdowns, so he was considered a flex option by some. But now the team will turn to Dalvin Cook and Ezekiel Elliott, although they haven't done enough to instill confidence in fantasy managers.