WR Xavier Legette Fantasy Impact

By T.J. Besler | May 10, 2024

Xavier Legette Fantasy Impact

The Carolina Panthers moved up one spot to select South Carolina WR Xavier Legette at 32nd overall. The Panthers had a clear need at wide receiver going into the draft, even after the offseason acquisition of Diontae Johnson. As a prospect, Legette is a bit enigmatic. Legette, who came into the draft as a fifth-year senior, had limited production in college and could find it difficult to transition to the NFL. Still, Legette boasts the type of incredible blend of size, speed, and overall athletic traits that is getting some fantasy managers excited. The issue is we simply don’t know what the Panthers have in Legette or how high this offense could fly in 2024. The Panthers were one of the worst offenses in the league last season, and although they have done a lot to address their weaknesses it’s advisable to be cautious. So what is the most likely outcome for Legette in 2024 and beyond? Let’s delve into his profile and sift through the possible red flags to determine how his game might translate to the NFL.

Fantasy Value

In season-long redraft formats, Legette is currently going 161st overall in half-PPR leagues. When you watch him on tape it makes sense to take a late-round flier on him and hope he can acclimate to the NFL quickly and become a primary target for second-year QB Bryce Young. Of course, those targets only matter if Young can take a second-year leap. While Legette’s explosiveness is unquestioned it’s impossible to overlook some of the more concerning aspects of his profile. First, while Legette’s final season was full of solid, dominant production, it was preceded by four years of mediocrity. The hope is that he can carry that dominance of his final year into the NFL. But it is just as possible that his final college season was a mirage and he never develops into a consistent or particularly exciting producer. That feels like the definition of a boom-or-bust candidate. Even in the scenario where he transitions well to the pro game, it’s difficult to envision him reaching WR1 status in his rookie season, especially with the talented and pristine route-runner Diontae Johnson getting open and soaking up targets. In redraft leagues, Legette is nothing more than a late bench stash in case he becomes a consistent option for Young.

Dynasty Value

Assessing Legette’s value in dynasty presents a bit of a challenge. It’s unclear whether he’s destined to bloom or wilt. His speed, size, and explosiveness with the ball in his hands could have some salivating at the chance to grab him in a rookie draft. Legette was primarily used on the outside in college but proved versatile enough to be used in the slot as well, a trait that the Panthers could take advantage of as they continue to build an offense around Young that plays to his strengths. Even with these traits, though, it is difficult to feel confident predicting fantasy success for Legette in either the short-term or long-term. The landing spot is not an ideal one. This is not likely to be a high-octane passing game or offense in general. Even if the offense does surprise some people, I would expect Diontae Johnson as well as the run game to be the biggest beneficiaries. But with a WR room that includes the 33-year-old Adam Thielen (who turns 34 in August) and the underwhelming Jonathan Mingo, it shouldn’t take a lot for Legette to ascend the depth chart. I’m just not sure how much value the WR2 on the Carolina Panthers will have, even for dynasty leagues. Right now Legette is being valued as a top-12 rookie WR and should come off the board in the early-to-middle of the second round in 1QB leagues and middle-to-late second round in 2QB/Superflex leagues.

Conclusion

Truth be told, I don’t like being down on a player as athletically gifted as Legette, especially when that player lands on a team with very few playmakers. But I haven’t seen enough from him to get me more excited. As a depth piece in redraft, you could certainly do worse and the middle-to-late second round in dynasty is not bad for a young wait-and-see type of explosive player with very little ahead of him on the depth chart. But his draft capital has risen from just a few weeks ago, and if it keeps creeping up I’m going to go from unexcited to completely out on him. People have compared his game to Deebo Samuel and DK Metcalf, but I don’t see it. For me, he’s closer to Mingo than either of those two players. There are simply too many players with higher upside at around the same draft price that I don’t see Legette making it onto many of my rosters, regardless of format.

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T.J. Besler

A die hard Bears fan and fantasy sports fantastic, T.J. Besler earned his journalism (and theatre) degree from The University of Iowa. When he isn’t busy writing parodies for his YouTube channel Parodies for Charities he can be found either on stage performing or doing all things fantasy football related. Besler has traveled to nearly all 50 states either for work or leisure, and is grateful to everyone who has helped him along the way, especially his lovely wife Elsa, without whom much of this would not be possible. BEAR DOWN!