Carolina Panthers Team Preview 25-26

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  • By Patrick Leary

    Last Updated on June 16, 2025 4:39 pm by Jon Mosales | Published: June 16, 2025

     

    The league has laughed at the Carolina Panthers for much of the 2020s, but since late last season, signs of a potential turnaround have emerged. The hire of former Tampa Bay offensive coordinator Dave Canales didn’t immediately pay dividends, but by midseason, Canales unlocked something within quarterback Bryce Young, who previously seemed headed for historic bust territory. The Panthers made a massive splash in the draft this year, taking the first true wide receiver off the board in Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan, who projects as the best receiving weapon the Panthers have had since trading DJ Moore in the deal to land the No. 1 pick they spent on Young. While the Panthers could once again flounder due to their undertalented defensive unit, this offense contains several intriguing, underrated fantasy options, from running backs Chuba Hubbard and newcomer Rico Dowdle, to still reliable old head Adam Thielen. Another step forward from Young in 2025 could produce several solid value picks in this year’s fantasy drafts.

    Player most likely to beat ADP: WR Tetairoa McMillan (ADP 53, WR27)

    I don’t feel McMillan’s ADP, WR27, is a possible outcome for him in his rookie season. To me, it seems much more likely McMillan will finish as a Top 20, borderline WR1 or some problems within the Panthers apparatus undermines him to the point where he’s much closer to the WR40. The Panthers present about as strong as an immediate opportunity as McMillan could have possibly received in his rookie season. He’s drafted into a WR filled with WR3 types, offering a clear path to an alpha WR1 role, and his head coach is known as a QB guru who appears to be reviving Young, who McMillan has a built-in rapport with from growing up on the high school football circuit in California. I’m extremely bullish on McMillan the player, and a fifth-round pick feels like an unusual discount for a Top-10 rookie WR.

    Player most likely to fade based on ADP: RB Chuba Hubbard (ADP 54, RB19)

    The real answer is “nobody,” as all of the Panthers are underpriced, but only McMillan and Hubbard are being drafted with any sort of significant capital, and of the two, I doubt Hubbard’s profile more. Hubbard was the RB12 in points per game last year in half-PPR, and so RB19 feels a tad light for him. That said, last season was an outlier for Hubbard, especially in terms of touchdowns, when he doubled his previous career high in just 15 games. Additionally, Rico Dowdle did secure the RB1 job for the Cowboys last season, so it’s possible the Panthers ease Hubbard’s workload a bit instead of giving him another 230-250 carries. His ADP is totally fine, since he’s underrated relative to his 2024 performance, but he’s really the only option other than McMillan here.


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    June 16, 2025, 3:10 pm