The Carolina Panthers have won four of their last five games coming into Week 10’s home game against the free-falling Saints. They could be without standout rookie receiver Tetairoa McMillan, who is questionable with a hamstring issue. In his potential absence, several other receivers could step into a larger role, including Jalen Coker, Xavier Leggette, and Jimmy Horn Jr.
In this post, we’ll take a look at the latest on McMillan’s injury and break down the fantasy football sleeper potential of the Panthers’ receivers in what should be a fantasy-friendly matchup in New Orleans on Sunday afternoon.
Tetairoa McMillan injury update
McMillan wasn’t dealing with the injury at all recently, and the first-round receiver has played in all nine games for the Panthers this season, averaging 4.6 catches on 7.7 receptions for 62 yards per game and scoring two touchdowns in his nine games. He leads the team in targets, receptions, and receiving yards.
His injury just became an issue and is something that “just popped up,” according to coach Dave Canales, who said there is some level of concern for the rookie on Sunday.
The team will evaluate his status tomorrow after listing him as questionable for Week 10.
Jalen Coker fantasy football outlook
Coker was in line to be the team’s second receiver after the trade of Adam Thielen this preseason, but he landed on IR for the first six games of the season with a quad contusion. He returned in Week 7 but hasn’t been able to really get on track yet, producing only a total of four catches on seven targets over his three games for 45 receiving yards.
Last week in Green Bay, he only had one catch for nine yards, but some of that was due to poor weather conditions and quarterback Bryce Young throwing for just 102 yards in the team’s upset of the Packers.
Coker flashed a very high ceiling last season as a rookie, hauling in 32 catches on 46 targets for 478 yards and two touchdowns in 11 games.
Coker has been playing behind McMillan and Legette, which has limited his upside, but McMillan’s injury may be just the opening he needs to post a monster game against the Saints to re-establish his fantasy football sleeper status for the rest of the season.
Xavier Legette fantasy football outlook
Legette has been getting more snaps than Coker this season and has had boom-or-bust upside. He had a huge game with nine catches for 92 yards and a touchdown in the Panthers’ win over the Jets, but in his two games since then he has been held to two catches for 17 yards and one catch for 22 yards.
The second-year receiver left Week 9’s game for a short time in the second quarter to be evaluated for a possible concussion but was able to return and take on his normal workload after that.
Legette hasn’t shown quite as high a ceiling as Coker flashed last season, but he has been getting more consistent work. Coker has the higher ceiling but Legette the higher floor for Week 10 as a result of his slightly more consistent workload.
Jimmy Horn Jr. fantasy football outlook
Horn is even more of a flier than Coker or Legette, but the Panthers have been incorporating the rookie more into their offense over the last few weeks.
He’s had a least one rushing attempt in each of the last five games and has drawn multiple targets in four of those contests as well.
He had a 36-yard catch against the Cowboys in Week 6 and has flashed some big-play ability, but his role has limited as the team’s no. 4 receiver. He also dealt with a shoulder injury in Week 8, but was healthy enough to play in Week 9 and could get more work in Week 10 if McMillan is out.
The Bottom Line
With any mid-week addition to the injury report, there is definite concern that the player could miss time. If McMillan is sidelined Sunday, it could dramatically impact the slate since the Panthers’ pass-catchers are indoors in a great environment against the Saints. Both Coker and Legette are desperation FLEX options in season-long formats, with Coker bringing more upside but Legette more safety. If you’re in a really deep league or dynasty format, Horn is an interesting option to watch as well.
For one-week contests on DraftKings like the NFL $2.75M Fantasy Football Millionaire [$1M to 1st], Legette is only $3,800, Coker only $3,300, and Horn only $3,000, the absolute minimum for wide receivers. They all have flier potential and are touchdown-dependent plays, and Coker at only $3,300 is my favorite fantasy football sleeper of the bunch, who is loaded with potential but just hasn’t had a chance to break out yet this year. Week 10’s matchup and McMillan’s injury could be just the chance he needs. Be sure to check the latest on McMillan’s status leading up to kickoff on Sunday.
