Fantasy Football Player Notes

Tetairoa McMillan wasted no time establishing himself as Carolina's clear-cut WR1, winning Offensive Rookie of the Year after nearly topping 1,100 receiving yards on 126 targets. The rookie standout commanded elite volume immediately, finishing with a 23% target share and massive 41% air yards share despite operating in a run-heavy offense. McMillan consistently delivered as Bryce Young's go-to option and flashed massive upside whenever the Panthers leaned into the passing game. After such a polished rookie campaign, T-Mac looks poised to make the jump into the fantasy WR1 conversation entering Year 2.

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.

Jonathon Brooks is a wonderful wild card pick for 2026 with big-time upside if he is 100% and ready to rock. Brooks has had enough time recuperating 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.

Jalen Coker continued proving he belongs after entering the league as an undrafted free agent, flashing whenever he was healthy enough to stay on the field. The Panthers slot receiver finished the year strong, highlighted by a huge playoff performance and a stretch of consistent production that hinted at a larger role. Coker's strong hands and reliability helped him emerge as one of Bryce Young's trusted options, and he enters 2026 as the favorite for Carolina's No. 2 WR job behind Tetairoa McMillan. If he can finally stay healthy for a full season, Coker has sneaky value in deeper formats. In Coker's last nine games played, he was averaging 10.1 PPG in half-PPR.

Although the Panthers have picked up the fifth-year option on Bryce Young, this still seems like a crossroads season for the former No. 1 overall draft pick. Young has taken small steps forward in his three seasons as the Panthers' starter, but perhaps not enough to secure his status as Carolina's long-term starter. He hit career highs last season in passing yards 3,011, TD passes (23) and completion percentage (63.6%), while reaching a career low in sack rate (5.4%). But Young averaged just 188.2 passing yards per game and 6.3 yards per pass attempt last season. It sometimes seemed as if Panthers head coach Dave Canales was trying to hide his quarterback, with Young attempting 25 or fewer passes in half of his 16 starts. Young's finishes in fantasy points per game (nine games minimum) in his three years with the Panthers: QB29, QB23, QB24. It's hard to see Young as anything but a backup in superflex leagues or extremely deep 1QB leagues.

Chris Brazzell gives Carolina's young offense a much-needed vertical element after the Panthers added the explosive former Tennessee receiver in Round 3. At 6-foot-4 with legit speed, Brazzell profiles as a field stretcher capable of creating splash plays immediately, even if week-to-week consistency takes time. His path to fantasy relevance likely depends on carving out a specialized deep-threat role early while developing the rest of his game. The profile carries some risk given Tennessee receivers' mixed NFL track record, but the athleticism and early-career production make him an intriguing long-term bet.