Carolina Panthers News

As a sixth-round rookie in 2025, Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jimmy Horn Jr. failed to make an impact while playing in one of the more wide-open receiver rooms in the league, finishing the year with 108 yards and no scores on 11 receptions. Heading into 2026, the Panthers made minimal additions to a room that falls off quickly behind 2025 Offensive Rookie of the Year Tetairoa McMillan, signing John Metchie III in free agency and spending a third-round pick on Chris Brazzell II, but at only 174 pounds, Horn could still struggle to find the field in an offense that ran the ball at an above-average rate in 2025. With the sturdier Jalen Coker returning from injury in Week 7 and reclaiming primary slot responsibilities, Horn did not top a 31% snap share in any game as a rookie, and there's little reason to believe the diminutive wideout will see a substantial uptick in year two. At RotoBaller's dynasty WR143, he is not a player who needs to be rostered in even the deepest of dynasty leagues.

Carolina Panthers tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders (leg) looks freshly healthy during OTA practices this week and was cutting laterally like he did before suffering a season-ending leg injury in 2025, according to Alex Zietlow of The Charlotte Observer. Sanders played in 13 games (five starts) last year in his second season in the NFL before suffering a broken right fibula in December that required surgery. The 23-year-old former fourth-rounder (101st overall) in 2024 out of the University of Texas caught 29 of his 34 targets for 190 yards and one touchdown before his injury. He's batting Tommy Tremble for the title of top pass-catching TE in Carolina, but Sanders has more fantasy upside long-term if he can stay on the field. Tremble is the better blocker of the two, and Sanders caught 33 passes for 342 yards and a score in 16 games (eight starts) in his first year in the league for the Panthers. Until we see more from Sanders in Year 3, he'll merely be a TE streaming option when bye weeks hit in 2026. RotoBaller currently has Sanders ranked as the No. 39 TE going into the upcoming campaign.

Carolina Panthers running back Trevor Etienne was a non-factor for fantasy after being selected in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, but the door remains at least partially open for him to claim a role in his second season. With the team's leading rusher from 2025, Rico Dowdle, signing a two-year deal with the Steelers, the lead back job has been turned back over to Chuba Hubbard, who did what he could to fight through injuries but ultimately disappointed in the first year of the four-year extension he signed in 2024. Behind him on the depth chart is 2024 second-round pick Jonathon Brooks, who was the first running back selected in his draft class but has become a giant question mark after tearing his ACL for the second time in 13 months as a rookie and missing the entirety of his sophomore campaign. With Hubbard one of the least efficient pass-catching backs in the league over the past two seasons, how much Brooks can provide as a receiver will prove to be the single biggest obstacle to Etienne finding work in 2026. Etienne was a capable receiving back in college, and if he can carve out any sort of third-down role with the Panthers, he at least has a chance to outplay expectations as RotoBaller's dynasty RB95.

Carolina Panthers second-year wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan (undisclosed) is not practicing with the rest of the team during OTA practice on Tuesday and is working with the training staff, according to Joe Person of The Athletic. The Panthers haven't announced a specific injury for McMillan, but it's expected to be a minor ailment as the club begins their OTAs this week. The 23-year-old impressed in his first year in the NFL in 2025 after Carolina selected him with the eighth overall pick out of the University of Arizona. McMillan quickly developed a strong relationship with quarterback Bryce Young and was his go-to target all year, leading the team with 70 receptions, 1,014 yards, and seven touchdowns on 122 targets across 17 regular-season starts. He finished as the WR15 in half-PPR scoring and will be a high-end WR2 target in fantasy drafts this fall with upside to become a true WR1 in his sophomore season for the Panthers. The arrow is pointing directly up after McMillan was named the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2025.

Entering 2026, Carolina Panthers wide receiver John Metchie III will be playing for his fourth team in four NFL seasons. The 25-year-old started 2025 with the Philadelphia Eagles, earning just four targets across seven games with the team. A midseason trade to the New York Jets allowed him more playing time, and he hauled in 29 catches for 256 yards and two scores on 44 targets across nine games with New York. With the Panthers, Metchie III's playing time is far from guaranteed. However, outside of 2025 first-round wideout Tetairoa McMillan, no Carolina wideout has ever recorded 50 receptions in a season. Metchie III should also have existing chemistry with Panthers quarterback Bryce Young, as the two of them played their college football together at the University of Alabama. In deeper dynasty formats, Metchie III could be a worthy buy-low dart throw for fantasy managers entering 2026.

Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard has seen his dynasty value fluctuate wildly since coming into the league as a fourth-round pick out of Oklahoma State in the 2021 NFL Draft. After beginning his career as a backup to Christian McCaffrey, Hubbard broke out with an RB15 finish in 2024 in a year that most presumed the Carolina backfield would run through second-round pick Jonathon Brooks. With Brooks missing the entire 2025 season after re-tearing the ACL in his right knee, presumptions shifted again, and Hubbard came into the year as the RB19 in consensus dynasty rankings. Unfortunately, injuries and inefficiency saw him take a backseat to Rico Dowdle for much of the year while he averaged less than four yards per carry and fell as low as RB42 in those same rankings. With Dowdle signing a two-year deal with the Steelers in free agency, lead back duties in Carolina again appear to belong to Hubbard. That said, little has gone as planned for Panthers running backs of late, and Brooks should be close to full health to begin a season for the first time in his professional career. Hubbard is in the second season of the four-year extension he signed in 2024, and while the team could save $6 million by moving on from him before 2027, he appears to be part of the team's plans both presently and moving forward. At RotoBaller's dynasty RB33, the soon-to-be-27-year-old sixth-year veteran finally feels appropriately priced.

Carolina Panthers tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders has quietly flown below fantasy radars for much of his first two seasons in the league, and while it's entirely possible that is where he'll remain, he's shown just enough to consider throwing a late-round dart his way in dynasty startups or inquiring about his acquisition cost in existing leagues. Since coming into the NFL as a 2024 fourth-round pick out of Texas, Sanders leads all Panthers tight ends with 62 receptions and 532 yards. While the competition is not particularly steep in dedicated blocker Tommy Tremble and 2025 fifth-rounder Mitchell Evans, the Panthers obviously felt strongly enough about the room to bypass the position entirely in a 2026 NFL Draft in which they made seven total selections. It's possible that Dave Canales' Carolina offense simply isn't designed to involve its tight ends in the passing game, but with the Panthers depth chart thinning quickly behind 2025 Offensive Player of the Year Tetairoa McMillan and the exciting, but still relatively unproven Jalen Coker, there is an opportunity to be had. At only 23 years old, if Sanders can stay healthy in 2026, something he was unable to do last season, he could see his usage spike, and with it his dynasty value.

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Xavier Legette has yet to finish higher than WR61 in either of his two NFL seasons, and that trend could continue given his outlook for 2026 and beyond. The Panthers have Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Cooker firmly established as their top two receivers, leaving Legette battling for the No. 3 role, which means he's unlikely to earn many starting reps. He also faces competition from other players on the Panthers' roster, such as rookie Chris Brazzell II, a third-round pick out of Tennessee. Legette has the early advantage over Brazzell, given his experience in the NFL and the Panthers' offense, but that could change if Legette has another disappointing season. The former first-round pick caught just 35 passes for 363 yards and three touchdowns in 15 games last year, and he has fallen to WR115 in RotoBaller's latest dynasty fantasy football rankings.

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker was one of the buzzier names in fantasy circles last summer, but he suffered a quad injury in late August that caused him to miss the first six weeks of the 2025 season. Coker posted modest numbers upon his return, recording 33 receptions for 394 yards and three touchdowns on 43 targets across 11 games. However, Coker played some of his best football down the stretch of the season, logging 244 of his receiving yards and all three of his touchdowns over his final five contests. The 24-year-old also posted a huge performance in the NFC Wild Card Round against the Los Angeles Rams, hauling in nine catches for 134 yards and a touchdown on 12 targets. 2025 first-rounder Tetairoa McMillan is locked in as the WR1 in Carolina, and the team added wide receiver Chris Brazzell II in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Still, Coker is well-positioned to earn the Panthers WR2 role and could be in for a breakout year.

Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks is persevering through two torn ACLs in his knee and could have a path to being the Panthers' No. 2 back in 2026 behind Chuba Hubbard, making him an intriguing player to consider targeting in dynasty formats this offseason. The 22-year-old former second-round pick (46th overall) in 2024 out of the University of Texas -- he was the first RB taken that year -- has been fully cleared for the offseason program after missing the entire 2025 campaign in Carolina. Brooks only played in three games in his rookie campaign before re-tearing his right ACL, which at the time was considered potentially career-threatening. Before his knee issues, there was a lot to like about Brooks because of his elite burst, elusiveness, and strong pass-catching skills out of the backfield. It's unlikely that Brooks will ever be a featured back in the NFL, especially after his knee injuries, but if he can stay healthy going forward, there's plenty of reason to believe that he can win the No. 2 job in Carolina over the likes of AJ Dillon and Trevor Etienne now that Rico Dowdle is gone. Brooks should be considered a riser in dynasty/keeper formats, and he's currently ranked as RotoBaller's No. 36 back in those formats.

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Chris Brazzell II finds himself in a crowded position group, but his unique skill set could allow him to contribute as a rookie. Brazzell, a third-round pick, possesses the acceleration needed to make plays downfield, which could help him earn snaps in his first NFL season. He currently projects as the No. 4 receiver behind Tetairoa McMillan, Jalen Coker, and Xavier Legette, but he could take on a bigger role through good production or a teammate's injury. Brazzell is no stranger to contributing against top-tier competition. Facing SEC defenses at Tennessee last year, he exploded for 62 catches, 1,017 yards, and nine touchdowns. Now that he's a Panther, he ranks as the overall WR67 in RotoBaller's latest dynasty fantasy football rankings, and he projects as a mid-second-round pick in 2026 rookie drafts.

Carolina Panthers president of football operations/general manager Dan Morgon told the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero on Tuesday that the organization will continue to "talk through" a potential long-term contract extension with quarterback Bryce Young. Morgan added that the team "will figure it out at the right time," and that the team "loves him" as he works hard to improve year after year. Carolina unsurprisingly picked up the 24-year-old's fifth-year option for the 2027 season, so they don't exactly have to be in a rush to sign him to an extension. The former first overall pick in 2023 out of Alabama looked overmatched as a rookie and was benched in favor of Andy Dalton in Year 2, but he took a big step forward in 2025, throwing for 3,011 yards, 23 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions in 16 regular-season starts. Young's physical attributes don't exactly jump out at you, but he has shown in the last year and a half that he has what it takes to at least be a competent starter in the NFL. His dynasty stock is on the rise, but RotoBaller still has him ranked only as the No. 28 QB in those formats.

After winning the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award in 2025, Carolina Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan has risen to WR9 in RotoBaller's dynasty rankings. The 23-year-old pass catcher out of Arizona hauled in 70 receptions for 1,014 yards and seven touchdowns in his first season, and while playing with one of the weaker supporting casts in the league, he reached or exceeded a 20% target share in 14 of 17 games. Third-year receiver Jalen Coker comes into the season healthy after missing the first six weeks of 2025, but having shown a late-season connection with Bryce Young. Otherwise, the Panthers have made very few changes at wide receiver or tight end, spending a third-round pick on Chris Brazzell II after adding John Metchie III in free agency. McMillan should again be locked in for a hefty workload, and if Young can take another step forward as a passer, as he has done incrementally since his 2024 benching, the second-year receiver could secure his position as a true WR1 to build around in dynasty leagues.

After logging 1,366 scrimmage yards and 11 touchdowns in 2024, Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard saw his production dip in 2025. Across 15 games, the 26-year-old recorded just 734 scrimmage yards and four scores. Hubbard opened the year as the Panthers RB1, but an early-season injury opened the door for Rico Dowdle to take over the lead rusher role in Carolina. However, Dowdle signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers in March, which could provide Hubbard an opportunity to reassume a three-down role. The Panthers did not add any running backs in the 2026 NFL Draft, leaving the oft-injured Jonathan Brooks and the unproven Trevor Etienne as Hubbard's primary competition. In dynasty formats, Hubbard's stock is rising following Carolina's offseason moves.

Carolina Panthers tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders can arguably be thrown into the category of 2026 offseason winners, but how that actually translates to his dynasty value remains to be seen. The Panthers were considered one of the most tight end-needy teams in the league, but in an NFL Draft that saw 21 tight ends come off the board, not one of them went to Carolina. Sanders led all Panthers tight ends with 29 receptions in 2025 and finished within 60 yards of Tommy Tremble despite missing five games with a high ankle sprain and later a broken ankle to end his season. All reports have him recovering well, and while calls are growing louder for a Jalen Coker breakout, there is still a serious lack of target competition behind 2025 Offensive Player of the Year Tetairoa McMillan. If Sanders can beat out Tremble and 2025 fifth-round pick Mitchell Evans as the team's primary pass-catcher at the position, there should be enough opportunity to make a modest fantasy impact. At RotoBaller's dynasty TE37, expectations are low, but if Sanders can take a step forward in year three, as used to be the norm before the recent tight end resurgence, he could be a low-cost add who offers usable depth moving forward.

A first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Carolina Panthers wide receiver Xavier Legette has struggled to live up to his draft status through the first two years of his professional career. Across 15 games in 2025, the 25-year-old recorded 35 receptions for 363 yards and three touchdowns on 64 targets. Legette also lost playing time down the stretch of the season, lining up for 55% or fewer of his team's offensive snaps in their final three contests. While the Panthers don't have an overwhelming depth of talent in their wide receiver room, Legette enters 2026 behind both Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker on the pecking order for targets. Carolina also used a third-round pick on University of Tennessee wide receiver Chris Brazzell II in the 2026 NFL Draft, who could put pressure on Legette for the Panthers WR3 role. In dynasty formats, Legette's value is at an all-time low heading into his third NFL season.

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker had the start of his 2025 season delayed by a quad injury, which caused him to miss the first six games of the year. Upon his return, the 24-year-old hauled in 33 receptions for 394 yards and three touchdowns on 43 targets across 11 games. The Panthers added some talent to their wide receiver room this offseason, drafting University of Tennessee wide receiver Chris Brazzell II in the third round of the 2026 Draft and signing former New York Jets wideout John Metchie III in free agency. Still, Coker appears set to open 2026 as the number two pass-catcher in Carolina alongside Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan. If Coker can put together a fully healthy season, he could be in line for a breakout in his third NFL campaign. Coker's dynasty stock is rising entering 2026.

The Carolina Panthers officially picked up quarterback Bryce Young's fifth-year option for the 2027 season on Wednesday, according to Darin Gantt of the team's official website. It was a no-brainer move for the Panthers after Young set new career-highs in passing yards (3,011), touchdowns (23), completion percentage (63.6), and passer rating (87.8). He also had six of his 12 game-winning drives in the fourth quarter or overtime in 2025, and his 12 comeback wins are the most of any QB in the NFL since 2023. While Young still shouldn't be viewed as a legitimate QB1 in fantasy football in 2026, he has proven in recent seasons that he is improving, and he was especially effective late in games and in close contests. The former first overall pick in 2023 is now under contract for the next two seasons in Carolina and has plenty of receiving weapons in Tetairoa McMillan, Jalen Coker, Xavier Legette, and rookie Chris Brazzell II to take another step forward as a passer in 2026. Young is a rising high-end QB2 in superflex and dynasty/keeper leagues.

Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) said he's been fully cleared by his surgeon to take part in the team's offseason program and feels "close to 100 percent," according to Joe Person of The Athletic. Brooks is returning from a second ACL surgery on his right knee and could have a pretty decent role in the Panthers' backfield in 2026 behind Chuba Hubbard if he can stay healthy. The 22-year-old was a second-round selection in 2024 out of the University of Texas, but he has only played in three games and has had nine carries for 22 yards since being drafted by Carolina due to continued knee issues. Rico Dowdle departed in free agency to look for a bigger role elsewhere, which leaves Brooks to compete primarily with AJ Dillon for RB2 duties behind Hubbard. Brooks will most likely go undrafted in most single-year leagues later this year, but in dynasty/keeper formats, he might be a savvy buy-low candidate for RB depth.

The Carolina Panthers have selected University of Tennessee wide receiver Chris Brazzell II with the 83rd overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. The 6-foot-4 pass catcher opened his collegiate career at Tulane before transferring to Tennessee. In 12 games last season, he caught 62 passes for 1,017 yards and an SEC-leading nine touchdowns. Brazzell was a vertical receiver who stretched the field at school, but he's capable of flashing versatility and occupying a variety of roles. That will fit nicely in a Carolina receiver room that already features Tetairoa McMillan, Jalen Coker, and Xavier Legette. Brazzell might not have fantasy relevance as soon as Week 1 in his rookie season, but there's plenty of long-term upside here. He ranks as the WR68 in RotoBaller's latest dynasty fantasy football rankings.