The Carolina Panthers are amid another nightmare season, standing 3-10, bottom of the NFC South and on a three-game losing streak. While a lot has gone wrong for the Panthers this season and they have been dropping a lot of games, they have been playing to a higher standard in recent weeks.
Carolina hosts the Dallas Cowboys in Week 15, which is a hugely important week in fantasy football with the postseason either here or starting next week in most leagues. The Panthers’ weapons are key for many fantasy football managers, so let’s look at their prospects ahead of the game.
Panthers’ Week 15 Fantasy Outlooks & Predictions
QB: Bryce Young
Bryce Young has improved significantly since returning to the starting role, but even with a few promising performances since Week 8 is not putting up enough points to warrant starting. Young’s 23.6 points against Tampa Bay was a much-needed display, but the Cowboys are starting to get themselves together and Young’s 9 total TDs in 2024 stand as a clear warning.
Bryce Young’s points range: 2-25; Prediction: 12.5
RBs: Chuba Hubbard & Raheem Blackshear
One of the lowest moments of the season came in Week 14, with rookie RB Jonathon Brooks re-tearing the ACL that had prevented him from playing for the majority of the campaign. While this was harrowing to watch, Chuba Hubbard, Raheem Blackshear and Mike Boone have to prepare for the upcoming game.
Dallas ranks 28th against RBs in fantasy this season, allowing an average of 25.08 fantasy points per game to the position. This means that Hubbard is a must-start in fantasy unless you are blessed with a tremendous RB corps. Hubbard has put in a terrific season, recording 1,011 yards and 8 TDs rushing, along with another 141 yards and a TD through the air. His usage should remain high without Brooks seeing what had been an increasing workload.
Meanwhile, Raheem Blackshear is questionable after suffering an injury against the Eagles that landed him in hospital, with the good news being that it doesn’t appear to be too serious. Mike Boone will step into the backup role but realistically, you don’t want to be starting Boon or Blackshear (if he is cleared to play) in fantasy this week.
Chuba Hubbard’s points range: 8-25; Prediction: 15.5 (HPPR)
Raheem Blackshear’s points range (if cleared): 1-10; Prediction: 4
Other fantasy outlooks and predictions you might like: Indianapolis Colts, Atlanta Falcons, New England Patriots
WRs: Adam Thielen & Xavier Legette
Given that the Panthers’ passing game has not been spectacular under Bryce Young (zero 300-yard passing games in 2024), their receivers are often regarded as being highly TD-dependent. However, Adam Thielen and Xavier Legette are seeing enough volume to be worthy of consideration, especially in deeper fantasy leagues.
Thielen has 28 receptions for 367 yards and 2 TDs in only 6 games, while Legette has 39 receptions for 432 yards and 4 TDs in 13. Thielen projects to be the better start in fantasy this week, as he has cut into Legette’s targets since returning from injury in Week 12. Legette is probably too great a risk to start in such an important week, as he has not broken 10 points since Thielen’s return.
Adam Thielen’s points range: 7-21; Prediction: 14
Xavier Legette’s points range: 4-17; Prediction: 7.5
TE: Ja’Tavion Sanders & Tommy Tremble
The Panthers are not a team that utilizes the tight end position enough to warrant starting either Ja’Tavion Sanders or Tommy Tremble in fantasy football. Sanders has broken 10 points just once in 2024 and has only 1 TD on the season. Tremble, mirrors that information, so there are likely better players to roll the dice on in free agency.
Ja’Tavion Sanders’ points range: 1-12; Prediction: 6
Tommy Tremble’s points range: 1-12; Prediction: 5
Also read: Week 15 Defense Rankings & Streamers ft. Cardinals, Falcons & Commanders