Fantasy Football Player Notes

Before the switch to Mason Rudolph from Week 7-13 (when Diontae Johnson returned healthy), DJ led the team with a 26% target share and 9.2 points/game. After Johnson returned from his injury in Week 7, he was very effective with a 23% target share while scoring 5 TDs averaging 14 expected fantasy points per game. Despite the Steelers' offensive transitions and his own injuries to overcome, Johnson maintained his productivity, finishing the season with 127.2 fantasy points, averaging 10 points per game - 36th in points per game. Now in Carolina, Johnson will project for a boatload of targets in an offense that fueled Adam Thielen to WR25 finish. Johnson will be at worst a fantasy WR3 with potential ceiling unlocked if Bryce Young can take a step forward in 2024.

Brooks lands in CAR with second-round NFL Draft capital in a wide-open backfield, with his toughest competition being Chuba Hubbard and Miles Sanders. Yes, he's recovering from an ACL tear, but as soon as he's ready to shoulder most of the load for this backfield, it should be his job. Brooks displayed a three-down skillset last year at Texas, ranking 21st in yards after contact per attempt and yards per route run while also finishing ninth in PFF elusive rating. Brooks could begin the season as an RB3/flex after he is activated from the PUP, but he could finish it as a stretch-run hero.

Chuba Hubbard stole the lead back job in Carolina from Miles Sanders last year. Maybe injuries helped pave the way, but Hubbard proved the entire season that he was the better player on a per-touch basis. Hubbard rolled up the volume as Carolina's guy. In Weeks 6-18, as the RB24 in fantasy points per game, he averaged 19.2 touches and 77.7 total yards. His efficiency stats don't paint a pretty picture, as he was 30th in explosive run rate, 32nd in missed tackles forced per attempt, and 31st in yards after contact per attempt last season (per Fantasy Points Data). Look for Hubbard to lead the ground game until Jonathon Brooks is off the PUP is up to speed. Once that happens, Hubbard will be a weekly zero.

Adam Thielen's 2023 season provided the full-body experience of an older veteran WR with zero competition for targets. He started out of the gates red hot, as the WR11 overall through 11 weeks, scoring fantasy points per game at a top-15 rate at 13.7. But alas the 33-year-old could not continue his production with shoddy QB play from his rookie QB. WR51 from Weeks 12-18. Woof. With 103 receptions (10th) on 137 targets (25% target share, 14th), Thielen racked up 1,014 receiving yards, averaging 9.8 yards per reception, and notched 4 touchdown receptions running the 5th-most routes in the NFL. He ended the season with a 10.6 points per game average, securing him as the 25th overall wide receiver in half-PPR scoring. WR31 per game. He's under contract until 2026 and will be entering the offseason as the Panthers' No. 1 WR until they add more WRs in the draft/free agency - the latter of which will likely happen based on the Panthers' interest before this past year's trade deadline.

Bryce Young's rookie season was a bumpy ride. In fairness, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft had one of the worst supporting casts in the league. Still, it's hard to find the silver lining in a rookie season where Young averaged a meager 5.5 yards per pass attempt, threw 11 TD passes and 10 interceptions in 16 starts, and piled up a league-high 477 yards' worth of sacks. The hope is that the arrival of new Panthers head coach Dave Canales, who worked wonders with Baker Mayfield last season as the Buccaneers' offensive coordinator, will get Young on the right track. The Panthers have also added WR Diontae Johnson, giving Young another proven possession receiver.

Xavier Legette, a standout receiver from South Carolina, showcased his skills with exceptional performances, notably in his super senior year. At 6'3" and 227 lbs, his size and athleticism make him ideal for an outside receiver role. With strong hands and the ability to secure catches in traffic, he's reliable even without relying on his body. Despite concerns about consistency as a one-year wonder entering the NFL at 23, his physical traits resemble players like D.K. Metcalf, hinting at his potential. Drafted in the first round by the Carolina Panthers, his success may hinge on how well he's utilized in their scheme under new HC Dave Canales.