Carolina Panthers DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

According to David Newton of ESPN, Carolina Panthers rookie wide receiver Xavier Legette (hip/wrist) was a full participant during Wednesday's initial practice session. Legette sat out during Week 16 and was listed as questionable for Week 17 but was able to suit up. In this game, the rookie wideout brought in five of his nine targets for 28 yards. During Weeks 1 through 15, Legette saw an average of 5.0 targets per game while tallying 31.4 yards per game. However, during Weeks 4 through 10, Legette found the end zone four times. Fantasy managers should monitor his status during the week in case he faces a setback. However, he should be slated to operate as the No.2 wideout in their final game against the Atlanta Falcons.

Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales said on Monday that quarterback Bryce Young and the team's other starters will play in Week 18 against the division-rival Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. "We have one more week to finish strong," Canales said. The Panthers were eliminated from postseason contention a while back, but their regular-season finale isn't without playoff implications. If the Panthers knock off the Falcons, they will eliminate them from a chance to win the NFC South. Aside from playing spoiler, the Panthers would also like to finish strong after a nice second-year bounce-back season from Young and the offense under a new coaching staff. The 23-year-old former first overall pick got off to a horrendous start and was benched for Andy Dalton after two games. But since returning, Young has been serviceable and a top-10 fantasy QB. Carolina will look for more growth in Year 3 in 2025.

Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales said on Monday that running back Chuba Hubbard (calf) will not require surgery for his strained calf. Hubbard was placed on season-ending Injured Reserve last week and will miss the final two games of the 2024 regular season. It's a downer to end what was a brilliant campaign for the 25-year-old in his fourth year in the NFL. He set career-highs in rushing attempts (250), rushing yards (1,195), rushing touchdowns (10) and receptions (43) while recording 171 receiving yards and an additional touchdown in his 15 starts. In terms of half-PPR points per game (14.9), Hubbard was the RB12 in fantasy. Although the Panthers have another promising back they drafted in 2024 in Jonathon Brooks, he has yet to be healthy, and Carolina also signed Hubbard to a four-year extension last month. Hubbard should enter 2025 as the team's unquestioned RB1.

Carolina Panthers rookie tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders earned one target in Week 17 and turned that into a five-yard reception in Sunday's 48-14 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In this one, Sanders took a clear backseat to the Panthers' receivers, Adam Thielen and Xavier Legette. In addition, the Buccaneers dictated game flow in this one, as they dominated the game and time of possession with 41 minutes compared to the Panthers' 19, making it difficult for Carolina's playmakers to make a difference in this contest. Sanders became fantasy-relevant in the middle of the season with 18 catches for 212 yards and a touchdown from Week 6 through Week 10. However, since Week 14, he has only earned three total targets, making him nothing more than a dynasty stash for fantasy managers. The Panthers will travel to Atlanta this week to take on the Falcons, and Sanders should be on your bench.

Carolina Panthers wide receiver David Moore was unable to get much going in the team's 48-14 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. The 29-year-old registered one catch for 17 yards on one target while playing 32% of the offensive snaps. This was the first game he saw fewer than three targets since Week 7 when he didn't get targeted at all. Moore's next chance to bounce back will be against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 18.