Carolina Panthers News

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Jalen Coker • WR • Panthers

Jalen Coker an Intriguing WR2 for Wild-Card Weekend

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker got a late start to the 2025 season while recovering from an injury, but he quickly established himself as the WR2 behind rookie first-rounder Tetairoa McMillan, finishing the regular season with 33 catches on 43 targets for 394 yards and a career-high three touchdowns in 11 games played in his second NFL season. Coker hasn't been flashy by any means and was not a top-50 wideout in terms of half-PPR points per game, but he is rolling into the postseason having scored three times in the last five games. He'll be an interesting low-end WR2 option for fantasy managers against the visiting Los Angeles Rams on Wild-Card weekend this Saturday. Coker caught four of six targets for 74 yards and a touchdown in the upset win over L.A. on Nov. 30, and the Rams defense allowed the 11th-most half-PPR points per game to opposing receivers during the regular season.

5 hours ago

Tommy Tremble • TE • Panthers

Tommy Tremble Set for Bigger Role Going into Playoffs

Carolina Panthers tight end Tommy Tremble will be the team's top pass-catching tight end going into the playoffs with Ja'Tavion Sanders (ankle) on Injured Reserve. With Sanders out in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tremble caught three of his four targets for 38 yards and just his second touchdown of the year. The 25-year-old was the team's third leading receiver in the loss to Tampa. In 17 regular-season games with Carolina in 2025, Tremble caught 27 of his 37 targets for 249 yards and two scores. He'll still be more of a dart throw as a TE streamer in fantasy football playoff leagues when the Panthers take on the visiting Los Angeles Rams on Wild-Card weekend this Saturday. The Rams defense has been in the middle of the pack in terms of fantasy points allowed to opposing TEs this year, and they've allowed the eighth-fewest total yards (775) to the position.

6 hours ago

Chuba Hubbard • RB • Panthers

Chuba Hubbard in a Rut Going into Playoffs

Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard opened the 2025 season with double-digit carries in his first six games. Since then, he's seen double-digit carries just once in nine games as Rico Dowdle has pretty much taken over as Carolina's lead back. The 26-year-old has 134 carries for 511 yards (3.8 yards per carry) and only one touchdown, adding 30 receptions for 223 yards and three receiving touchdowns on 39 targets. Fantasy managers probably won't have much confidence in Hubbard as an RB2 going into the Wild-Card playoff matchup on Saturday against the Los Angeles Rams. In the last four games, Hubbard has just 23 carries for 78 yards (3.4 yards per tote) and seven catches for 29 yards. He'll be stuck in a timeshare with Dowdle again this weekend against a Rams defense that allowed just six rushing TDs to RBs during the regular season, the third-fewest in the NFL.

6 hours ago

Bryce Young • QB • Panthers

Bryce Young Profiles as Low-End Starting QB for Wild-Card Weekend

Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young had a decent showing in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, going 24-for-35 passing for 266 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. It was a nice bounce-back performance after he threw for just 54 yards in the Week 17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. The 24-year-old's 266 passing yards were his third-highest total of the year. He'll get a rematch with the Los Angeles Rams on Wild-Card weekend, after upsetting them in Week 13. Young went 15-for-20 that day for 206 yards and a season-high three touchdowns. Can he repeat the feat this Saturday? It's going to be difficult against a Rams defense that allowed the 10th-fewest points per game, although they were around the middle of the pack in fantasy points allowed per game to QBs. Young averaged only 15.4 fantasy points per game in 2025, placing him as the QB27. His upside isn't great going into Saturday's Wild-Card matchup.

6 hours ago

Tetairoa McMillan • WR • Panthers

Tetairoa McMillan a Strong Receiver in Fantasy Playoff Leagues

Carolina Panthers rookie wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan had a fantastic rookie NFL season, with 1,014 receiving yards and 70 receptions on 122 targets. He also scored seven touchdowns and finished as the WR15 on the season. McMillan clearly established himself as the alpha wide receiver for the Panthers over Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker. McMillan's inconsistencies in 2025 were largely due to third-year quarterback Bryce Young, who was very inconsistent throughout the season. Additionally, for those playing in playoff fantasy leagues, according to Novig, the Panthers have the worst odds (+6150) to win the NFC and are viewed as a guaranteed one-and-done in the playoffs after winning the NFC South with a sub-.500 record at 8-9. Now, this is the NFL, and anything can happen, but it may be smart to stay away from any Panthers players, even McMillan, who is clearly the best fantasy asset to own on this team. That being said, the matchup for him in the Wild Card round against the Los Angeles Rams is a good one, as the Rams have been vulnerable to the wide receiver position in the second half of the season. McMillan should have a good game in the first round.

Yesterday

Chandler Zavala • G • Panthers

Chandler Zavala Designated to Return to Practice

The Carolina Panthers opened offensive guard Chandler Zavala's (calf) 21-day practice window on Tuesday, according to Darin Gantt of Panthers.com. Zavala was placed on Injured Reserve on Nov. 29 with a calf injury, his second time on IR in 2025 after originally going on IR in Week 5 due to a knee injury. Zavala started three games for the Panthers after recovering from his knee injury before hurting his calf and going back on the shelf. The 26-year-old offensive lineman can be activated from IR at any time, but it remains to be seen if that will happen before the team's Wild-Card playoff game this Saturday against the visiting Los Angeles Rams. Before injuring his calf, Zavala was starting at right guard for Carolina. With Zavala out, Austin Corbett has started the last four games at the position. Zavala hasn't played since Week 12.

2 days ago

David Moore • WR • Panthers

Panthers Activate David Moore From Injured Reserve

The Carolina Panthers activated wide receiver David Moore (elbow) from Injured Reserve on Tuesday and waived wide receiver Hunter Renfrow in a corresponding move, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Moore played in only four games with Carolina to begin the year before suffering a serious elbow injury that landed him on IR in late September. The 30-year-old has been practicing in full for several weeks and now appears ready to contribute as WR depth for the Panthers going into the Wild-Card round of the playoffs this Saturday against the visiting Los Angeles Rams. Moore will take Renfrow's spot on the active 53-man roster. In his four games played early this season, Moore had just one catch for five yards on one target. If Moore is active this weekend, he'll be a long shot to return any fantasy value in playoff leagues.

2 days ago

Rico Dowdle • RB • Panthers

Rico Dowdle's Upside Hindered by Timeshare in Week 18

Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle (toe) does not have an injury designation heading into the team's Week 18 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Dowdle appears to be in a 60-40 timeshare with fellow running back Chuba Hubbard, with the latter seeing the vast majority of third downs over the past three games. The Panthers hosted the Buccaneers in Week 16, and Dowdle was held to just 29 yards from nine rushing attempts, but did earn 14 receiving yards from his four receptions off six targets. Even though Dowdle has been absent on nearly every third down over the last two games, he still managed to earn more targets and run six more routes each game than Hubbard. Dowdle profiles as a low-end RB2 against a middle-of-the-road Buccaneers run defense in the 2025 regular season finale.

5 days ago

Tetairoa McMillan • WR • Panthers

Tetairoa McMillan Looking to Bounce Back in Regular-Season Finale

Carolina Panthers rookie wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan is coming off his worst game of the season last week against the Seahawks, catching only one of his four targets for five yards. The eighth overall pick in the 2025 draft has been held below 43 yards receiving in four of his past five games. However, he draws a favorable matchup for a rebound against the division-rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday. He had his second-best fantasy output against the Bucs in Week 16, catching six of 10 targets for 73 yards and a touchdown. McMillan is 71 yards short of reaching 1,000 yards this season and should be in line for a heavy dose of targets again as the Panthers' clear WR1 in a must-win game. He ranks as RotoBaller's WR18 in PPR leagues in Week 18.

5 days ago

Rico Dowdle • RB • Panthers

Rico Dowdle Cleared to Play on Saturday Against Tampa

Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle (toe) practiced in full for the second straight day on Thursday and has been cleared to play in Saturday's Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers, according to the team's official website. Although Chuba Hubbard isn't going to go away in Carolina's backfield, the 27-year-old Dowdle has earned RB1 duties for the Panthers. In an all-important game this weekend that will decide the winner of the NFC South, Dowdle will be on the RB2/3 borderline for fantasy managers. He has certainly slowed down since a strong stretch earlier this year when Hubbard was out with injury, and he hasn't found the end zone in the last two games. In the first meeting with the Bucs two weeks ago, Dowdle had nine carries for 29 yards and caught four passes for 14 yards. Since the team's Week 14 bye, Dowdle has 160 scrimmage yards and a TD on 45 touches.

7 days ago

Rico Dowdle • RB • Panthers

Rico Dowdle Returns to Practice on Wednesday

Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle (toe) is back at practice on Wednesday after missing Tuesday's session with a toe injury, per Joseph Person of The Athletic. Carolina plays the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday in a game that will determine the NFC South champion and the number four seed in the NFC playoffs. Across 16 games this season, Dowdle has recorded 1,343 yards from scrimmage and seven touchdowns on 266 touches. However, his production has tailed off a bit in recent weeks, as he's failed to record more than 59 rushing yards in a game since Week 9. If Dowdle is sidelined or limited against Tampa Bay, Panthers back Chuba Hubbard would be in line for a significant increase in role. Assuming Dowdle is active, he profiles as a high-end flex option for fantasy managers in Week 18. UPDATE: Dowdle practiced in full on Wednesday.

Dec 31

Trevor Etienne • RB • Panthers

Trevor Etienne Not a Part of Panthers Offense

Carolina Panthers rookie running back Trevor Etienne has had few opportunities to contribute as the team's RB3 behind Rico Dowdle and Chuba Hubbard. Etienne has recorded 20 carries for 94 yards to go along with three catches (three targets) for 13 yards as a receiver in 16 games. The rookie fourth-rounder has played mostly on special teams, returning 31 kicks for an average of 23.6 yards per return, roughly two yards below the league average of 25.9. Etienne saw a brief uptick in touches in Weeks 4-6 with Hubbard banged up. He was efficient in his limited opportunity, handling 14 carries for 72 yards while adding one catch (one target) for seven yards. The 21-year-old remains a worthwhile stash in dynasty leagues, but he likely won't be a big part of the Panthers' offense in Saturday's divisional matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to decide the NFC South.

Dec 31

Rico Dowdle • RB • Panthers

Rico Dowdle Misses Tuesday's Practice With Sore Toe

Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales said that running back Rico Dowdle (toe) did not practice on Tuesday due to a sore toe, according to Darin Gantt of Panthers.com. The Panthers are hopeful that he'll be ready for Saturday's big divisional showdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 18 to decide the NFC South. Dowdle is considered day-to-day, and the Panthers wanted to give him a rest day in the first official practice of the week. As long as the 27-year-old can practice on Wednesday or Thursday, he should be fine to play in the regular-season finale. Many teams across the league will be resting players in Week 18, but not the Panthers, as they seek to win the division and secure a playoff spot. Since his last 100-yard game on Nov. 2, Dowdle has gone over 50 rushing yards three times in seven games, although one of those came in last week's loss to Seattle. Dowdle will be on the RB2/3 borderline for fantasy managers this weekend.

Dec 30

Ross Dwelley • TE • Panthers

Ross Dwelley Signs Practice-Squad Deal With Panthers

The Carolina Panthers have signed free-agent tight end Ross Dwelley to their practice squad, per ESPN's David Newton. Newton reports that Dwelley has a chance to be elevated to the active roster for Carolina's Week 18 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in light of tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders (ankle) suffering a season-ending ankle injury in Week 17. Dwelley appeared in 11 games for the Detroit Lions this season, recording two receptions for seven yards on five targets. He's played in 112 career NFL games across eight seasons, hauling in 47 catches for 530 yards and five touchdowns. Carolina still has tight ends Tommy Tremble, Mitchell Evans, and James Mitchell on the active roster, so Dwelley would likely fill a depth role. Tremble appears most likely to serve as the team's primary receiving tight end with Sanders sidelined.

Dec 30

Bryce Young • QB • Panthers

Can Bryce Young Be a Streaming QB in a Huge Divisional Game?

Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young has a chance to get his team to the playoffs, as he looks to bounce back from a rough outing last week against the Seahawks. He only managed 54 passing yards and also threw an interception in tough weather conditions in his team's Week 17 home loss. The 8-8 Panthers can still win the division, though, if they knock off the Buccaneers in Tampa on Saturday afternoon. Carolina will also make the playoffs even with a loss if the Falcons beat the Saints on Sunday. Young and the Panthers just faced and beat the Bucs in Week 16, with the QB throwing for two touchdowns and 191 yards in the 23-20 victory. On the season, Young has 21 touchdowns and 10 interceptions while averaging 183 passing yards per game. If he can duplicate his Week 16 performance, he is a streaming option in two-QB leagues, although the tough matchup on the road keeps him from being a strong play in single-QB formats.

Dec 30

Xavier Legette • WR • Panthers

Xavier Legette Has Little Fantasy Appeal After Week 17

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Xavier Legette caught one pass for three yards in the team's 27-10 loss against the Seattle Seahawks. The Carolina WR finished the game with 1.3 PPR points. It was his fifth consecutive game with fewer than 6.0 PPR points scored. In Week 18, the Panthers face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a winner-take-all game for the NFC South title. The Buccaneers ranked sixth in fantasy points per game allowed to the WR position in the last four weeks leading up to Week 17. In Week 16 against Tampa Bay, Legette had one reception for 12 yards and 2.2 PPR points scored. Legette has seen five-plus targets in only three games since Week 5, and he has averaged 4.3 targets per game this season. Legette is not a consideration for those still playing in Week 18 or DFS bargain hunters. He doesn't have much dynasty appeal, either.

Dec 30

Chuba Hubbard • RB • Panthers

Chuba Hubbard has Another Quiet Outing In Week 17

Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard had four carries for 12 yards in the team's 27-10 defeat in Week 17 to the Seattle Seahawks. He added six yards on three receptions and finished the game with 2.8 PPR points. It was his lowest fantasy total since Week 10, and it was his third consecutive week with less than 5.0 PPR points. Carolina faces the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 18 in an important game to determine the NFC South title. Tampa Bay ranked 15th in fantasy points per game allowed to the RB position in the last four weeks leading up to Week 17. In Week 16 against the Buccaneers, Hubbard had six carries for 27 yards and 4.4 PPR points. Hubbard's volume is too inconsistent to warrant a roster spot if you are still playing in Week 18, and he does not deserve any DFS consideration. Since Week 9, Hubbard had double-digit carries in only one game and eight or fewer carries in each of his last three. Hubbard remains off the fantasy radar for those playing in Week 18 despite the importance of this game against Tampa Bay. There is no need to handcuff him anymore if you roster Rico Dowdle. Cut Hubbard if you still have him on the roster and want to block your opponent from picking up certain players.

Dec 30

Jalen Coker • WR • Panthers

Jalen Coker Could Rebound in Big Divisional Rematch

The Carolina Panthers' offense was virtually non-existent in Sunday's 27-10 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, with quarterback Bryce Young throwing for only 54 yards on the day. Wide receiver Jalen Coker caught both of his targets for only 16 yards, but that was good enough to lead the team. The dud performance broke a string of six straight games in which Coker had at least three receptions. In Weeks 13, 15, and 16, the 24-year-old pass-catcher had a combined 11 receptions on 15 targets for 181 yards and two touchdown grabs as he appeared to be trending towards becoming the No. 2 WR behind rookie first-rounder Tetairoa McMillan. The entire Carolina offense should bounce back this weekend in the Week 18 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with the NFC South title and a trip to the postseason on the line. Don't count out Coker being a serviceable WR4/flex option in deeper fantasy football leagues.

Dec 30

Tetairoa McMillan • WR • Panthers

Panthers Looking to Get Tetairoa McMillan More Involved

Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales said the team is looking to get rookie first-round wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan more involved in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this Saturday, according to Joseph Person of The Athletic. McMillan was under the weather last weekend and ended up catching just one pass for five yards in the Week 17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, his worst performance of his rookie season. "Our focal point is T-Mac. We try to build formations and try to get him into spots to get him the ball," Canales said. "I didn't do a good enough job of that last week, and we'll make sure that that comes alive." McMillan saw a lot of man and press coverage, which was considered his weak spot coming out of college. In the first game against Tampa two weeks ago, McMillan had six catches for 73 yards and a touchdown. Fantasy managers playing for a title in Week 18 will be hoping the Panthers grease the squeaky wheel in the rematch.

Dec 29

Jalen Coker • WR • Panthers

Jalen Coker has Only 16 Yards on Two Catches in Week 17

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker caught two passes for 16 yards in the team's Week 17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. The Carolina WR finished the game with 3.6 PPR points, his lowest fantasy total since Week 9 against the Green Bay Packers. Coker also had back-to-back weeks with fewer than 10 PPR points for the first time since Weeks 9 and 10. In Week 18, Carolina will face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the second time this season. Tampa Bay ranked sixth in fantasy points per game allowed to the WR position in the last four weeks leading up to Week 17. In Week 16 against the Buccaneers, Coker had three receptions for 47 yards and 7.7 PPR points. Although the Tampa Bay matchup is not ideal, the overall volume is a bigger concern for Coker, as he has only been targeted five-plus times in a game twice this year. Coker is not recommended for those playing in Week 18, despite him playing in a division title-deciding game.

Dec 29

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