Panthers WR D.J. Moore trounced the Falcons for 6-152-1 in Week 8. He saw 11 targets — a 30.5% team share — continuing a post- Christian McCaffrey/Robbie Anderson trend. Moore’s highlight came on a 62-yard deep ball that sent the game to OT — and showed off some awful defensive back play. Still, credit Moore for delivering on the type of performance we expected over the summer, especially in a plus matchup. With Walker remaining the starter for the foreseeable future, Moore will stick around as a weekly WR2. Next up is a Bengals squad that was smoked by Amari Cooper (5-131-1) on Monday night.
Panthers interim HC Steve Wilks said Monday that QB P.J. Walker will start this weekend's game vs. the Falcons, even if QBs Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold are ready to return from their ankle injuries. Walker was efficient in Sunday's shocking win over the Bucs, completing 16 of 22 passes (73%) for 177 yards (8.1 YPA), 2 TDs and 0 INTs. Most importantly, he got WR D.J. Moore going. The pair connected on 7 of 10 targets for 69 yards and 1 score. Walker remains a bottom-barrel fantasy option, but Moore is back in the WR3 mix for Week 8.
Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey rushed 13 times for 69 yards and caught 7 of 8 targets for 89 more in Sunday's loss to the Rams. His 158 total yards constituted 77.8% of Carolina's total net yards for the game. No one else on the team collected more than 22 yards. Starting QB P.J. Walker managed just 60 passing yards for the game, with Jacob Eason coming on for 59 more (primarily thanks to a 49-yard completion to McCaffrey). We'll see about Carolina's QB situation for Week 7. D.J. Moore was the only other Panther to see more than 2 targets. He caught 3 of 7 for just 7 yards.
The Panthers fired HC Matt Rhule. His former team is sitting at 1-4 after going 10-23 over his first 2 seasons. Carolina's ranks in total yards: 21st, 30th and 32nd. Defensive Pass Game Coordinator/Secondary Coach Steve Wilks will take over as interim HC, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. He was HC for the Cardinals' 3-13 2018 season. It sounds like OC Ben McAdoo will be sticking around. We're not expecting the change to help Carolina's floundering offense (although it can't hurt).
Panthers WR D.J. Moore tallied 3 grabs for 43 yards and 1 score in a Week 1 loss to the Giants. Moore saw a less-than-thrilling 20.6% target share on a day that turned up only 29 Baker Mayfield passes. Fortunately, Moore scored on an end zone target that found him dusting the CB. Through 2 games, Moore’s oddly posted a pair of games with 6 targets, 3 catches and 43 yards. Moore needs Baker Mayfield — and Carolina’s pass blocking — to improve dramatically if he’s to have a chance at reaching his upside.
Panthers WR Robbie Anderson led the Panthers in targets (8), receptions (5) and receiving yards (102) in Sunday's loss to the Browns, with an 75-yard TD delivering most of that production. WR D.J. Moore checked in 2nd with 6 targets, catching 3 for 43 yards. Anderson claimed nearly 30% of Panthers targets for the game, with Moore garnering 22.2%.
The Panthers officially named QB Baker Mayfield their starter. This was expected since Carolina swung a trade for Mayfield in early July. He started the preseason opener over QB Sam Darnold, going 4-of-7 for 45 yards on 1 series. Mayfield is just a lower-end QB2 for fantasy squads, but we expect him to be an upgrade over Darnold for RB Christian McCaffrey, WR D.J. Moore and the rest of the Panthers offense.
The Browns are trading QB Baker Mayfield to the Panthers for a conditional 5th-round pick in 2024, NFL Network reports. The 2 teams "split the financials to make it happen," according to Ian Rapoport, so Carolina is presumably picking up about half of Mayfield's nearly $19 million 2022 cap hit. Mayfield is coming off a disappointing, injury-riddled 2021 season but played well the previous year, finishing 10th among 32 qualifiers in Pro Football Focus' passing grades. In fact, Mayfield earned higher PFF passing grades in each of his first 3 NFL seasons than QB Sam Darnold has managed in any of his 4 NFL seasons. So Mayfield is a tangible upgrade for D.J. Moore, Robby Anderson, Terrace Marshall and Christian McCaffrey. Mayfield himself looks like just a middling QB2, although those weapons give him some weekly upside. Check out the updated projections for the Panthers offense.
Update: Per NFL Network's Mike Garafolo, Mayfield agreed to shave about $3.5 million off his 2022 salary. The Browns will pay him $10.5 million this year; the Panthers around $5 million.
CBS' Jonathan Jones reports that the Browns and Panthers are involved in trade talks "surrounding" QB Baker Mayfield. Jones reports that there's "urgency" for Carolina to make a move early enough to get Mayfield some minicamp reps with the team. He adds that the Panthers' offer is the best Cleveland has gotten and that the primary sticking point is how much of Mayfield's 2022 salary the Browns would pay. The QB is in the 5th and final year of his rookie contract and will likely face a "prove it" year, with unrestricted free agency ahead in March 2023. He makes obvious sense for Carolina, which currently sports Sam Darnold and Matt Corral as the top 2 options. And the relationship between Mayfield and the Browns looks finished. Mayfield hasn't proved to be a high-upside fantasy QB through 4 seasons, but the Panthers would set him up with nice pass-catching talent -- led by D.J. Moore and Christian McCaffrey. Stacking him with 1 or both players in best-ball tournament lineups now would be a low-risk, high-upside move.
Panthers beat writer Ellis L. Williams believes new OC Ben McAdoo’s “up-tempo and quick-release concepts” should add YAC opportunities for WR DJ Moore. Williams envisions Moore thriving on quick-hitters and downfield routes, similar to how a young Odell Beckham excelled with McAdoo in New York. “It’s long and it’s treacherous, but it’s built for the NFL,” Moore said regarding McAdoo’s playbook. “The playbook is long, like some of the verbiage is long. You just got to be able to study and comprehended. But it worked when he was calling it in New York and all the places that he’d been.” Improved QB play will remain the key to unlocking Moore’s upside. Entering year 5, he’s never topped 4 TDs in a single season.
The Panthers are giving WR D.J. Moore a 3-year extension worth $61.9 million, with $41.6 million guaranteed. That puts Moore under contract for 4 years in total. Now he just needs a QB.
Panthers WR Robby Anderson (quad) is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game vs. the Bucs. He didn’t practice all week, but HC Matt Rhule called him a game-time decision on Friday. Anderson isn’t a Week 18 fantasy option, but his absence would open up more targets for WR D.J. Moore.
Panthers WR D.J. Moore (hamstring) is active for today’s game vs. the Bucs. He was listed as questionable after getting in just a limited practice on Friday. Moore played through this injury last week, catching 6 of 11 targets for 48 yards.
Panthers WR D.J. Moore (hamstring) is expected to play vs. the Bucs today, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Moore is listed as questionable after getting in just a limited practice on Friday. But he was able to play through this injury last week, catching 6 of 11 targets for 48 yards.
Panthers WR D.J. Moore (hamstring) is listed as questionable for this weekend’s game vs. the Bucs. He only got in a limited practice on Friday, and HC Matt Rhule said earlier in the week that Moore would be a game-time decision. We’ll find out if he’s playing around 11:30 am ET on Sunday.
Panthers WR D.J. Moore (hamstring) missed practice again on Thursday. He played through this injury vs. the Bills last week but might have aggravated it. We'll get another update on Moore tomorrow.
Panthers WR D.J. Moore (hamstring) did not practice on Wednesday. He battled through this injury last weekend, posting a 6-48 line on a 91% snap rate in the loss to Buffalo. He should be available for this Sunday's game vs. the Bucs, but we'll keep an eye on him.
Panthers WR D.J. Moore (hamstring) is active for today’s game vs. the Bills. He got in 3 limited practices this week and never really seemed to be in danger of missing this one. Moore is an unexciting WR2 with Carolina sporting an ugly 15.5-point implied total.
Panthers WR D.J. Moore (hamstring) is expected to play vs. the Bills today, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Moore was limited in practice all week and is listed as questionable, but there never seemed to be much doubt about his availability for this one. It's a tough spot for Carolina's offense in Buffalo today, but at least Moore won't need to deal with CB Tre White.
Panthers WR D.J. Moore (hamstring) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game vs. the Bills. He put in 3 limited practices this week, and HC Matt Rhule said that he expects Moore to play. We'll find out for sure around 11:30 am ET on Sunday. Moore's hamstring will add a bit of risk to his Week 15 fantasy outlook.
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