It took two games for Carolina Panthers first-year head coach Dave Canales to make a change under center.
2023 No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young was benched Monday in favor of the Red Rifle, Andy Dalton, for (at least) Carolina’s Week 3 game in Las Vegas.
“When I came here, I wasn’t sure if I was going to get another opportunity, and so I’m really looking forward to it,” Dalton told the Associated Press.
Through two games, Young is 31-for-56 with 244 passing yards (122 per game average) and one total touchdown (rushing).
For what it’s worth, the Panthers have parts on both sides of the ball that can dominate. While Canales did not publicly say what led to the swap, but giving offensive weapons a veteran quarterback usually helps.
While Canales and the Panthers made the change to make their games closer – and pick up their first win – the change benefits the fantasy football community, too.
So, who does this directly benefit and what can we expect?
Diontae Johnson, Adam Thielen should benefit the most in your lineups
Diontae Johnson is no stranger to a revolving door of quarterbacks. Leaving Pittsburgh for Carolina in the offseason, the 28-year-old Johnson brings experience and a presence that could last for many seasons for a rebuilding franchise.
Carolina has scored one touchdown on the season – a rushing score from Young. But, Johnson leads all Panthers receivers with 12 targets. While production hasn’t come off those targets – 34 receiving yards – averaging six looks per game in an offense that can barely remain on the field is already a good sign.
Dalton, on the other hand, has already played a game with Adam Thielen.
Rewinding to last season, Dalton’s only Panthers start was probably a game plan Thielen wanted to have long-term. Carolina lost to Seattle, but Thielen collected 14 balls for 143 yards and a touchdown.
It’s also important to note that Thielen quietly had a 1,000-yard season during his first season with the Panthers last year, too. He only found the end zone four times, but that’s something that can be built upon with Dalton – who should sustain longer drives and reach the red zone more frequently. Dalton has the sixth-most touchdowns among active NFL players.
Is rookie TE Ja’Tavion Sanders suddenly relevant?
Well, not yet. But even as a rookie, Ja’Tavion Sanders should get the starting nod over Tommy Tremble who has been basically only a body in a sweater at the position since 2021.
Sanders has the most catches as a tight end in Texas Longhorns history – something Carolina took notice of after its three tight ends combined for 40 catches in 2023. Sanders’ combined 99 catches in two seasons for 1,295 is also the second-most in Texas history.
Canales also had tight end Cade Otton running routes like crazy in Tampa Bay. Otton ran the second-most routes, 651, by a tight end last season.
Otton’s success was also a product of Canales’ quarterback development. For the second time in this career, Canales helped turn around a quarterback’s career and help earn him a contract. Baker Mayfield was playing on a one-year deal last season and signed an extension this offseason. The same happened for Geno Smith in Seattle.
Carolina hasn’t been relevant in the position since Greg Olsen’s Pro Bowl season in 2016. But, the Panthers also didn’t make a big push to improve the position until this offseason either.
Sanders may be used as a blocker for the time being after Carolina made two big offensive line splashes and wants to sure-up that part of its game. But going out and getting Johnson, retaining Thielen and drafting a productive tight end, makes Roto Street Journal see a ceiling instead of a floor. I also like knowing Jermaine Gresham was a Red Rifle favorite more than a decade ago. Dalton likes his tight ends.
Add Dalton himself in fantasy?
The NFL has seen its fair share of quarterback injuries through two weeks. Especially in Super Flex leagues you at least might be hurting depth-wise.
Canales was non-commital about Dalton long-term. Hopefully, us fantasy footballers get to see how Dalton fares across one week or two, but this development could see multiple Panthers’ players suddenly not free agents.
Keep tabs on The Wolf’s Week 3 Rankings to see where the Panthers end up before they kick off on Sunday.
