Fantasy Football Player Notes

Johnson should be the Panthers' clear WR1 this season. Last year, once he returned from injury in Week 7, he continued to gobble up targets like usual, ranking 14th in target share (23.7%), sixth in air-yard share (41.6%), and 20th in FD/RR (0.109). In that span, he was the WR33 in fantasy points per game. Last year, New Orleans utilized single-high on 53.9% of their defensive snaps. Among 85 qualifying receivers last season, Johnson ranked 19th in TPRR and 21st in YPRR against single-high. Johnson should line up across from Marshon Lattimore (58.7% catch rate and 77.9 passer rating) and Paulson Adebo (56.8% catch rate and 69.9 passer rating) for most of the game. Johnson is a volume-based WR3.

With Jonathon Brooks still recovering from his torn ACL, Hubbard should carry the mail for Carolina until he's ready. Last year, as the Panthers starting tailback, he was the RB24 in fantasy points per game, he averaged 19.2 touches and 77.7 total yards. Hubbard wasn't an efficiency maven, though, ranking 30th in explosive run rate, 32nd in missed tackles forced per attempt, and 31st in yards after contact per attempt. Last year, with Dave Cannales, the Bucs utilized zone on 46.7% of their snaps. The Panthers should be a zone-heavy team this year after utilizing it on 53% of their rushing plays last year (Hubbard 57.1% zone). The Saints allowed the 10th-highest yards per carry to zone runs last year. Overall, they allowed the 13th-highest missed tackles per attempt and the 10th-highest yards after contact per attempt. Hubbard is flex-worthy in Week 1 and could easily be a strong RB2 when it's all said and done against the Saints.

Thielen has to prove in 2024 that he still has something left in the tank before I'm willing to slide him into a fantasy lineup. Last year, after Week 8, he faded badly. In Weeks 9-18, Thielen surpassed 80 receiving yards only once, as he averaged 8.9 fantasy points per game with 1.29 YPRR. Thielen is a sit and not worthy of a roster spot right now in most conventional fantasy leagues.