Fantasy Insider Report: Panthers QB Job Is Bryce Young’s to Lose

Rookie should be the Week 1 starter, but he’ll need receivers to step up.

The Athlon Sports 2023 Fantasy Football Annual magazine reached out to team insiders at all 32 NFL clubs to ask them three key fantasy questions heading into the season. As we count down to training camp, Sports Illustrated will publish their answers here. Today’s team: Carolina Panthers 

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Does the quarterback job belong to Bryce Young already, or will he have to beat out Andy Dalton?
The Panthers will begin training camp with Dalton the official No. 1 because they don’t want Young to feel like he’s entitled to anything. But there’s hardly any doubt they want Young to start and want him to do it right away. Barring an injury, expect Young to be the Panthers’ starter for Week 1.

• 2013 Team Outlook: Carolina Panthers

How do you expect the RB rotation to shake out with Miles Sanders and Chuba Hubbard?
The Panthers have sold Sanders on the idea of being a three-down back. Early in his career at Philadelphia, Sanders was a decent pass-catcher (50-509-3 on receptions as a rookie in 2019). The Eagles phased him out of that role, but the Panthers want Sanders to resume being a back who can stay on the field and help Young out of third-and-7 situations. Hubbard doesn’t have great hands and is more of a typical two-down back. Sanders should touch the ball at least 20 times a game.

Are the Panthers concerned about playmakers at wide receiver?
The Panthers are so concerned that they have remade the entire receivers room. After trading away their best receiver, DJ Moore, to Chicago, Carolina is in search of a WR1. They’d like it to be Terrace Marshall Jr., who’s had a mostly disappointing first two seasons but did flash late in 2022 and averaged 17.5 yards per catch, although he’s scored only one TD in two years. Adam Thielen has lost a step, but he’s still an excellent red zone target. Frank Reich loves to use the tight end, and Hayden Hurst will be a decent option for fantasy owners because he’s going to get five to seven targets a game

—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer

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