The Carolina Panthers have not been a team that Fantasy Football managers turn to often. Since trading Christian McCaffrey, there hasn’t been much to get excited about when it comes to this offense.
Last season, the Panthers were abysmal on that side of the ball as No. 1 pick Bryce Young adjusted to life as an NFL quarterback. It wasn’t all his fault as to why the team performed so poorly, but he certainly didn’t help elevate his teammates.
That should change in 2024 given the upgrades that were made. Taking over as head coach is Dave Canales, who was the offensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2023.
Canales was a major reason that Baker Mayfield had a career resurgence last season. The Carolina Panthers are hoping that he can have a similar impact on Young, who has all the tools to be a successful quarterback.
The skill position groups around Young have been upgraded as well. Fantasy Football managers will take a closer look at the Panthers this year as there is some good talent on the roster.
At wide receiver, Diontae Johnson is a major upgrade after being acquired from the Pittsburgh Steelers in a trade. He joins veteran Adam Thielen and rookie first-round pick Xavier Legette atop the depth chart.
In the backfield, the team has veterans Miles Sanders and Chuba Hubbard to lean on. However, running is one position that the Carolina Panthers have a top sleeper at as well.
Rookie Jonathan Brooks is a name to remember in Fantasy Football circles. A second-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft out of Texas, Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report believes he is the best sleeper at this point in training camp.
“As the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator last season, Canales leaned heavily on running back Rachaad White. As a result, White racked up 1,539 scrimmage yards, 64 receptions and nine touchdowns. Brooks can have similar numbers as a rookie if he wins the starting job.
With an ADP of 78, Brooks is trending as RB25. in point-per-reception (PPR) leagues. It’ll be a surprise if 24 backs out-produce him in 2024,” Knox wrote.
Brooks was the first running back off the board in the 2024 NFL Draft. He will be competing with the veterans early on, but the Carolina Panthers should get him involved early and often.
Neither Sanders nor Hubbard are long-term options for the team in the backfield. As Knox shared, it is hard to believe 24 running backs will outproduce Brooks in the Fantasy Football world given the situation he is entering.
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