Fantasy Preview: Panthers' Rookie WR Tetairoa McMillan Has Big Upside

By Jack Dougherty

The Panthers are coming off a disappointing 5-12 season in their first season under head coach Dave Canales, but there are some reasons to be optimistic about 2025. Bryce Young, who struggled so much at the beginning of last year that he was benched for Andy Dalton, eventually returned to the lineup and finished the season on a high note. Expectations are high for Young in his second season under Canales with first-round wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan giving him the No. 1 target he desperately needed. Chuba Hubbard also gives the offense a solid rushing floor after going for a career-high 1,195 yards and 10 touchdowns last season.

Defensively, the secondary should be the strength with cornerback Jaycee Horn leading the way and former Las Vegas Raiders safety Tre’Von Moehrig joining the fold. This will be an improved Carolina team, but the roster may not have enough talent or depth to make a playoff push in the NFC South.

Odds to Make Playoffs: +250

• Quarterback: Bryce Young

  • 2024-25 stats: 14 games, 234-384, 60.9% completion, 2,403 yards, 6.3 yards per attempt, 82.2 passer rating, 15 touchdowns, 9 interceptions

  • Young finished 29th among quarterbacks in fantasy points per game last season, but his wide receiving corps and offensive line were some of the worst position groups in the league. With McMillan taking over as the WR1 and an improved line in front of him, Young could be a top-20 fantasy quarterback in 2025. 

• Running Back: Chuba Hubbard 

  • 2024-25 stats: 15 games, 250 carries, 1,195 yards, 4.8 average, 10 touchdowns, 79.7 yards/game, 1 fumble lost

  • Even though the Panthers had one of the worst offenses in the NFL last season, Hubbard still churned out an impressive RB13 finish in the PPR format. There’s no reason to believe he’ll take a step back in 2025 with the upgrades Carolina has made to the offense. Hubbard is a solid draft target in the fourth or fifth round this year. 

• Wide Receiver: Tetairoa McMillan 

  • 2024-25 stats (University of Arizona): 12 games, 84 receptions, 135 targets, 1,319 yards, 15.7 average, 8 touchdowns, 109.9 yards/game

  • McMillan is a big, athletic receiver who will be able to make plays for Young down the field right away. The rookie should be the focal point of Carolina’s passing game in 2025, so fantasy managers should target him as early as the fourth round in drafts. 

• Tight End: Tommy Tremble

  • 2024-25 stats: 12 games, 23 receptions, 32 targets, 234 yards, 10.2 average, 2 touchdowns, 19.5 yards/game, 125 yards after catch

  • Put simply, the Panthers probably won’t have a viable fantasy tight end in 2025. Carolina will mix in three or four tight ends this season, but none of them should be in fantasy lineups. 

• Defense

  • 2024-25 stats: 31.4 points allowed per game, 50.2% 3rd down, 60.0% 4th down, 9 interceptions, 32 sacks, 8 fumbles caused, 8 fumbles recovered, 1 touchdown

  • The Panthers defense averaged just 2.4 fantasy points per game last season to rank dead last in the NFL. Despite the upgrades, this group should never sniff your starting lineup.