Carolina Panthers DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen will look for more production in Week 3 with Andy Dalton under center as the veteran takes over for Bryce Young. Thielen has been limited in the first two weeks totaling five catches for 69 yards. The veteran receiver can still make plays on the outside and Dalton could be a better option in getting the ball out to him. In Week 3 against the Raiders, Thielen should be looked at as a WR4 option until he proves more productive. Young was not impressive in the first two weeks, but it might not be all on him. Diontae Johnson should lead the team in targets against the Raiders in Week 3 but Thielen is a bit more of a threat for big plays even as the veteran in the wide receiver room. This week will be a big indicator for Thielen's future prospects with Dalton as the starter.

Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard has looked fairly decent to start the season but the Panthers' offense has been in negative game scripts for the first two weeks. Could a switch from Bryce Young to Andy Dalton be the solution in Week 3 against the Raiders? It could but Las Vegas should be playing from ahead in this one, limiting the rushing potential of Hubbard. The running back has 16 carries in two games so far but he was more involved in the passing game in Week 2 against the Chargers with four catches for 12 yards on five targets, which is a good sign. Hubbard is a risky play until the Panthers' offense shows signs of improvement from its disastrous start to the season.

Carolina Panthers quarterback Andy Dalton will take over for Bryce Young in the team's Week 3 game against the Las Vegas Raiders but should not be a fantasy option in fantasy leagues. With some decent offensive weapons in Diontae Johnson, Adam Thielen, and Xavier Legette, Dalton could provide a useful upgrade from Young in NFL terms but it's best for fantasy managers to take a wait-and-see approach with how Dalton looks in this offense. The Panthers have looked like a disaster to start the season and despite benching Young, it's not clear if he was the problem or it was the offense in general. There are better options out there in the quarterback landscape and you would have to be in a desperate situation to consider starting the "Red Rifle".

Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales addressed rumors of a potential trade involving quarterback Bryce Young, stating, "That's not something we're really considering. We have a great situation with our quarterbacks right now." Earlier this week, Canales announced that the Panthers would be benching Young in favor of veteran Andy Dalton, sparking speculation that teams might reach out to inquire about a trade. Canales put those rumors to rest today. The Panthers have a road matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders, who recently upset the Ravens in Baltimore. For now, neither Panthers quarterback should be considered in Week 3 for fantasy purposes.

The Carolina Panthers released tight end Jordan Matthews on Tuesday. Matthews had yet to record a statistic in 2024. Fantasy managers may remember Matthews as the tight end who enjoyed success in Philadelphia from 2014 to 2016 prior to the rise of Zach Ertz. Those days are long gone, however, as Matthews has not been a fantasy factor in several years. The Panthers offense is something that fantasy managers should stay away from anyway, and this move does not affect that assessment.