After the Carolina Panthers traded up for the first overall pick to select Alabama quarterback Bryce Young in 2023, it seemed to be the start of an upswing. But the last two years have been nothing but a disaster; Carolina’s first overall selection in 2024 went to the Chicago Bears and Young was benched briefly for journeyman Andy Dalton. In recent weeks, Young has looked better, but the Panthers are on a four-game losing streak and are once again in contention for the first overall pick, with a 3-11 record.
One of only silver linings has been the late breakout of undrafted rookie wide receiver Jalen Coker ($4,200 Millionaire). The six-foot-three Holy Cross product caught an 83-yard touchdown pass from Young late in the second quarter of a 30-14 loss to the Dallas Cowboys last Sunday. For the season, Coker has caught 21 passes for 373 yards and two scores despite missing three games with a quad injury. By Pro Football Focus’ metrics, Coker is already the best receiver on the team.
Coker might have a bigger opportunity to put up numbers and reward DFS players on Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals. Xavier Legette ($4,600) suffered a hip injury that looks likely to sideline him for Sunday’s game. If Legette is unable to play, DFS players can expect Coker to garner a bigger share of the targets than normal.
The Panthers operate a fairly egalitarian offense, with targets mostly evenly split between Legette, Coker, and veteran Adam Thielen ($5,600). Thielen leads the team with an 18.6% target share, but Legette (16.4%) and Coker (12.4%) are close behind. In particular, Coker has earned himself a bigger role in the offense, garnering at least six targets in both of his starts. In Carolina’s 20-17 win over the New York Giants on November 10, Coker had more targets than Legette.
With any playoff hopes long gone, the Panthers don’t have anything to play for anymore, and the 34-year-old Thielen isn’t capable of playing every snap. Young should target Coker early and often and provide the young receiver with plenty of opportunity to demonstrate his value. Coker has clearly earned the trust of Carolina head coach Dave Canales, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he has the highest target share on the team on Sunday.
He’ll be hard-pressed to make the most of those targets against a strong Cardinals defense that has allowed just 10.6 yards per reception and 16 touchdowns to opposing receivers, both among the best marks in the league. Still, Coker is a big-play threat with a deeper average depth of target than either Thielen or Legette, and with his elite athleticism — his 42.5-inch vertical led all receivers at the NFL Combine — he could give five-foot-10 Starling Thomas V problems.
Given Thielen’s higher price tag, Coker would’ve always been my favorite Panthers wideout in DFS lineups, regardless of Legette’s health. If Legette is sidelined, he borders on must-play status.
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