Although it has only been a couple of games into the new season, there are some teams that are trending toward a strong run and those that may potentially fail. In the latest NFL rankings, though, the Carolina Panthers don’t project to be contenders at all as the team was ranked last as the league is entering Week 2.
The Panthers faced a tough start to their season against the New Orleans Saints, resulting in disappointing fantasy performances across the board. Quarterback Bryce Young struggled, scoring just 9.64 points with 161 passing yards and two interceptions. Despite a late rushing touchdown, he missed several open receivers, raising concerns about his readiness in the new offense under Dave Canales.
Running backs Chuba Hubbard and Miles Sanders had limited impact, with Hubbard gaining only 14 yards on six carries and Sanders managing 22 yards on similar attempts. Both players are expected to see more opportunities as the season progresses, but their current performances leave them unreliable for fantasy lineups.
Wide receiver Diontae Johnson, a key offseason addition, had a lackluster debut with only two catchable passes out of six targets, while Adam Thielen led the team in receiving with a mere 49 yards, tallying 7.9 fantasy points. Rookie Xavier Legette showed some promise with four catches for 35 yards, but he, too, is in a waiting pattern for better quarterback play.
Tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders caught one pass for four yards, and Jordan Matthews had minimal involvement with just one target. The Panthers’ defense, expected to be a strength, ended up with a disappointing negative three points, compounded by the loss of Derrick Brown for the season.
Carolina Panthers Drops Down To Bottom of Latest NFL Rankings
Carolina’s loss to the Saints has highlighted their weaknesses and have everyone a general idea on what their roster can do. Their performance, though, has led to two NFL reports placing the Panthers at the bottom of the league from Bleacher Report, which quoted Yahoo’s Frank Schwab, and ESPN’s David Newton ahead of Week 2.
“It’s only one game,” Knox said, “but the Panthers still look like the worst team in the NFL. I had high hopes that an improved supporting cast and the hiring of Dave Canales would help improve the efficiency and confidence of quarterback Bryce Young. Unfortunately, Young looked and performed like the rookie he no longer is against the Saints on Sunday. Between inaccurate passes and bad decisions, he failed to give Carolina’s offense much of a chance,” the Bleacher Report analysis stated.
“If there was a small bright spot in an embarrassing 47-10 loss at New Orleans, it was first-round pick Legette. After a training camp in which he was at best the No. 4 wide receiver, Legette had a team-leading four receptions. They were for only 35 yards, but the Panthers had 161 total yards passing. It’s encouraging that Legette was getting open for QB Bryce Young,” Newton wrote.
The Panthers faced severe criticism following a 47-10 loss to the Saints in their season opener. Young struggled with just 161 passing yards and two interceptions, while the team managed only 58 rushing yards. Fans and analysts question head coach Dave Canales’s abilities, suggesting he may already be on the hot seat as fans demand improvements.
It remains to be seen whether the Panthers can change the narrative before Week 2 is done. In any case, a lot of eyes will on the team and how they’ll perform on the field by then.
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