If we were making roster decisions simply based on palpable charisma, it’d be Legette in a boat race, here. But, unfortunately, it’s not, and both Xavier Legette and Jonathan Mingo are fantasy football ambiguities. They both ran the same number of routes last week. They tied for second on the team behind Diontae Johnson.
The Panthers are a trendy offense. Andy Dalton is back, and a full-scale campaign for CPOY seems to be underway. Chuba Hubbard is a flex darling right now. And longtime Diontae Johnson apologists (like this writer) are clicking their heels, because what does Dalton do if not feed the most talented receiver on the team? This could be A.J. Green-era stuff in Carolina.
For every A.J. Green, there’s a Mohamed Sanu/Marvin Jones/Tyler Boyd. A solid WR2 who puts up a solid, low-end WR2 season with some explosive weeks, and some counterbalancing duds.
Who’s it going to be in Week 5?
Analysis
Xavier Legette’s fantasy season seems to just be beginning. He had a clutch catch in Dalton’s first game against the Raiders, and ended last week’s contest with a line of six receptions on ten targets for 62 yards. He added two carries for ten yards on the ground.
More than anything: he’s passing the eye test.
Fans of Legette’s should be thrilled he’s got Andy Dalton as his quarterback for his rookie year. There’s a stability in that which Legette never would have had this season with Bryce Young at his quarterback.
Mingo’s athleticism will put him in positions to attack weak spots in opposing secondaries, but Legette, as a rookie, is going to establish himself in the way Mingo wishes he could have in 2023. Mingo is currently the Panthers’ second-worst-rated receiver, according to NFL Next Gen stats, who give him a 70.6 overall.
Legette, on the other hand, is the Panthers’ highest-graded receiver, with a score of 98.5. And, in terms of their team value, Legette’s EPA/tgt is 0.25; Mingo’s is -0.26.
There’s a clear alpha, here.
Bottom Line
I’m expecting a big week from Legette against Chicago. I’d start him over Mingo, and start him, generally, with confidence.
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