Kevin Szafraniec discusses whether Bryce Young’s emergence over the second half of the 2024 season was simply a flash in the pan or a sign of things to come for not only him but also the entire Panthers’ offense.

Few first-overall picks have had as poor a rookie season as Bryce Young in 2023. The Carolina front office faced widespread scrutiny after trading a king’s ransom for the opportunity to select Young. In exchange for their faith, Young gifted the Panthers a QB23 finish and a 2-15 record, a result that earned Carolina the No. 1 pick again in the 2024 NFL Draft. However, the Panthers were unable to benefit from the selection after trading away the pick as part of the deal that helped them land Young.

To be fair to Young, he was surrounded by one of the worst collections of talent of any team in the league in his rookie season, a matter he indirectly had a hand in due to the number of assets that were required to land him. With a new general manager and coaching staff in place for 2024, there was some renewed optimism that Young could make strides heading into Year 2. Sadly, whatever hope remained for Young was quickly squashed when he was benched two games into the season.

Expectations were low for Young when he was reinserted back into the starting lineup in Week 8 after Andy Dalton was injured in a car crash. To the surprise of many, Young’s time on the bench actually seemed to do him good, as the lights appeared to turn on coming down the stretch in 2024. After Young appeared to turn the corner in his second season, should fantasy managers be buying into the Panthers as a breakout offense for 2025, or will heavy fantasy investment only result in another year of heartbreak?

AFC North

• Baltimore Ravens: There is No End in Sight for Lamar Jackson’s Fantasy Domination
• Cleveland Browns: There are Gems to be Found on Kevin Stefanski’s Offense If You Know Where to Look

AFC South

• Houston Texans: Why New Weapons and a New Scheme Will Lead to a C.J. Stroud Bounceback
• Jacksonville Jaguars: 2025 Represents Trevor Lawrence’s Best Chance Yet to Reach His Ceiling 

AFC East

• Miami Dolphins: Whose Fantasy Arrows Are Pointing Up on a Miami Offense Heading in the Opposite Direction?
• New York Jets: A Shift in Offensive Philosophy Could Result in Breece Hall and Isaiah Davis Forming the Best Backfield in the AFC

AFC West

• Denver Broncos: Bo Nix is About to Join the Ranks of the NFL’s Elite QBs
• Los Angeles Chargers: Has Justin Herbert Forced Greg Roman to Rethink His Offensive Approach?

NFC North

• Minnesota Vikings: J.J. McCarthy Finds Himself in the Middle of the Perfect Storm for Fantasy Production
• Green Bay Packers: Why The NFL’s Most Complete Roster is Finally About to Get the Attention It Deserves

NFC South

• Atlanta Falcons: Which Players Are Primed to Help Take the Atlanta Offense to the Next Level?

NFC East

• Philadelphia Eagles: Why Small Changes Could Lead to Even Bigger Fantasy Scoring in 2025 
• Dallas Cowboys: A New Offensive Direction is Exactly What Dak Prescott Needs to Get Back on Track

NFC West

• San Francisco 49ers: Make Sure You Are Rostering The Next Wave of Stars in Kyle Shanahan’s Offense
• Arizona Cardinals: Why Kyler Murray Will Overcome His Doubters and Return to His Elite Ways

Let’s Keep The Good Times Rolling

Early returns from Dave Canales’ first season leading the Panthers are not promising on the surface, with a seven-point increase in average points scored per game mitigated by the defense taking an equal step in the opposite direction. However, Carolina did show significant progress over the second half of the season, particularly on offense.

Following a 1-7 start through Week 8, Carolina put together a more respectable 4-5 record over their final nine games. Having the league’s worst defense did not do the Panthers any favors, but the strides the offense made once Young was reinstated as the starter should be reason for optimism moving forward.

Consistency in the Best of Times and in the Worst of Times