Fantasy Football Player Notes

Last year, Tetairoa McMillan had a strong rookie season as the WR20 in fantasy points per game despite a limited passing volume offense and up-and-down quarterback play from Bryce Young. Last year, in Weeks 3-18, Young surpassed 35 passing attempts only once, had only two games with more than 225 passing yards, and directed an offense that was fifth in neutral rushing rate. It's concerning for McMillan's floor and ceiling, especially with Jalen Coker being fully healthy entering the season (Coker wasn't a full-time player until Week 8 last season). I don't doubt McMillan's talent for a second. I was heavily invested in him for fantasy purposes last year, but I find making the same investment this season tougher with a limited passing volume offense restricting him and Coker representing improved target competition for McMillan in 2026. Last year, McMillan, among 109 qualifying receivers, ranked 14th in target share (23.1%), 19th in receiving yards per game (59.6), 27th in yards per route run (1.94), 15th in first-read share (28.5%), and 17th in first downs per route run (0.105, per Fantasy Points Data). McMillan could easily finish as a strong WR2 again this season, but he could also see a dip to WR3 status if Coker is able to cut into his target share and touchdowns, or if Bryce Young face plants again this season.

Jonathon Brooks is a wonderful wild card pick for 2026 with big-time upside. Brooks has had enough time to recuperate from his second torn ACL that he should enter camp this season and Week 1 fully healthy. Chuba Hubbard lost his starting job to Rico Dowdle last season, and Carolina let him walk in the offseason. Outside of Brooks and Hubbard, Carolina has only Trevor Etienne and A.J. Dillon on the roster, so Carolina is heavily betting on Brooks to return to his collegiate form. Brooks could pull an Uncle Rico from last year and steal Hubbard's starting job in 2026. Just to remind everyone about the talent that Brooks has, in 2024 (his final collegiate season), he ranked 21st in yards after contact per attempt, ninth in elusive rating, and 21st in yards per route run (per PFF). I'll be drafting Brooks a ton this season.

Chuba Hubbard followed up his big breakout 2024 season with a stinker in 2025. Last year, Chuba Hubbard fell apart as the RB40 in fantasy points per game. Yes, he dealt with a calf injury for part of the season, but he also lost his starting job during the season to Rico Dowdle. Hubbard was arguably the most inefficient running back in the NFL last year. Among 49 qualifying backs, he ranked dead last in missed tackle rate and explosive run rate (zero explosive runs) while also sitting at 47th in yards after contact per attempt (per Fantasy Points Data). If Jonathon Brooks is fully healthy (I think he will be), he could easily be the backfield leader coming out of camp. I'll be avoiding Hubbard in drafts this year, especially with him also dealing with a hamstring injury in camp now.

The Carolina passing attack will flow through Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker this season, especially with Chris Brazzell now missing up to eight weeks with a torn LCL. Last year, when Coker was at his healthiest (quad injury early in the year) during Weeks 13-19, he was challenging Tetairoa McMillan for the top spot in Carolina's aerial attack. During that stretch, Coker had a 20% target share (McMillan 18.3%), 2.30 yards per route run (McMillan 1.78), four red zone targets (McMillan, one), and a 28.3% first-read share (McMillan 26.1% per Fantasy Points Data). In those six games played, Coker finished with at least 14 PPR points four times. Coker is a late-round priority for me this season. The massive divide between McMillan and Coker in ADP should not exist. Enjoy the value.

Bryce Young didn't take the fantasy leap that we all hoped for last year. He finished the season as the QB24 in fantasy points per game with only five games as a QB1 in weekly scoring. The rushing floor I was hoping we would get in 2025 after some glimpses in 2024 also wasn't there, as he surpassed 25 rushing yards in only three games. Carolina tried to hide him as he surpassed 225 passing yards only three times and had more than 30 passing attempts only five times. Young is a low-end QB2 again this season that will have some eruption games, but good luck predicting when those will happen. He's only appealing in Superflex formats.

Darren Waller was productive as a part-time player for the Dolphins last year and could be in 2026 for the Carolina Panthers. In his nine games played last season, he scored six touchdowns and had three TE1 finishes in weekly scoring. He had only a 53% route share, which probably drops this season as he'll likely split routes with Tommy Tremble and Ja'Tavion Sanders. Last year, among 54 qualifying tight ends, Waller was tenth in target per route run rate, eighth in yards per route run, and third in first downs per route run (per Fantasy Points Data). Waller could be a streaming option at various points this season for fantasy, but I wouldn't count on him as anything more than that.