Panthers' Xavier Legette: Week 3 Waiver Priority List
Rotowire
With Andy Dalton starting for the Panthers, Legette and Adam Thielen (36 percent rostered) are worth taking fliers on to see if better quarterback play in Carolina can make them more productive. I like the upside for Legette better than Thielen, but Thielen likely has a safer floor. And clearly, both guys are behind Diontae Johnson in terms of Fantasy options for the Panthers. Legette had four catches for 35 yards on seven targets in Week 1 but no targets in Week 2. And Thielen has five catches for 69 yards on seven targets through two games. Both are worth adding for up to 5 percent of your remaining FAB.
... See More... See Less
Panthers' Xavier Legette: Disappoints Sunday
Rotowire
Legette wasn't targeted during Sunday's 26-3 loss to the Chargers.
After head coach Dave Canales raved about Legette's Week 1 performance (4-35-0) to reporters Wednesday, the 2024 first-round pick didn't even see a target in Week 2. Legette was on the field for just 20 offensive snaps Sunday, playing behind Jonathan Mingo (30), Diontae Johnson (45) and Adam Thielen (45). With Legette's inconsistent playing time and the Panthers offensive struggles through the first two weeks, it may be tough for the rookie to make an impact as Carolina takes on the Raiders in Week 3.
... See More... See Less
Panthers' Xavier Legette: Impresses coach in debut
Rotowire
Panthers head coach Dave Canales said Wednesday that Legette "played fast" and was "fantastic" in his regular-season debut in last Sunday's loss to the Saints but still has a long way to go, Steve Reed of the Associated Press reports.
Legette played 58 percent of snaps and ran a route on 66 percent of Carolina's pass plays in the Week 1 loss, leading the Panthers in targets (seven) and catches (four) despite splitting playing time with Jonathan Mingo. The rookie caught each of his first three targets for 31 yards, before reeling in just one of four targets in the fourth quarter (for four yards) while presumed No. 1 receiver Diontae Johnson was resting on the sideline. Johnson and Adam Thielen presumably are locked into their roles, but Legette could take more playing time away from Mingo as soon as Week 2 against the Chargers.
... See More... See Less
Panthers' Xavier Legette: Week 2 Waiver Priority List
Rotowire
It was good to see Legette get seven targets in his NFL debut at New Orleans, and he finished with four catches for 35 yards. Better days are ahead for him, but hopefully, the Panthers offense will have a better showing than what happened in the 47-10 loss to the Saints. Legette is worth stashing on your bench in deeper leagues for 1 percent of your remaining FAB.
... See More... See Less
Panthers' Xavier Legette: Four grabs in pro debut
Rotowire
Legette caught four of seven targets for 35 yards in Sunday's 47-10 rout at the hands of the Saints.
The 32nd overall pick in the 2024 Draft led the Panthers in targets in his NFL debut, but Legette's longest gain went for only 18 yards as Bryce Young struggled to get anything going through the air. The rookie was brought in to provide Young with a downfield threat while veterans Adam Thielen and Diontae Johnson handled underneath routes, but Legette may not get many chances to stretch the field if his QB continues to stagnate. The Carolina offense will try to regroup ahead of a Week 2 matchup with the Chargers.
... See More... See Less
Panthers' Xavier Legette: Week 1 Waiver Priority List
Rotowire
Diontae Johnson is the No. 1 receiver for the Panthers, but we'll see how guys like Legette and Adam Thielen (50 percent) work in as secondary options for Bryce Young. I would gamble on Legette over Thielen based on upside, and we'll see if the rookie can make plays right away. By the end of the season, Legette could be a playmaker for the Panthers and Fantasy managers alike.
... See More... See Less
Panthers' Xavier Legette: Likely sitting out Saturday
Rotowire
Legette is not expected to play in Saturday's preseason game against the Jets, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.
The Panthers are opting to keep the majority of their starters out of the preseason contest, including the first-round rookie. Expect Jonathan Mingo and Terrace Marshall to get a bit of playing time until roster bubble wideouts such as Ihmir Smith-Marsette, David Moore and Mike Strachan get their fair share of opportunities.
... See More... See Less
Panthers' Xavier Legette: Returns to practice
Rotowire
Legette (foot) returned to practice Monday morning, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.
Legette left practice early Aug. 4 and missed Thursday's 17-3 preseason loss to New England. He'll now have five days to prepare for the Panthers' second preseason game this Saturday against the Jets, and there's still time to make a run at a starting job. The lengthy list of starters held out of the preseason opener didn't include WR Jonathan Mingo, who played against the Patriots despite repping with the first-team offense in practice this summer. Mingo took one carry for six yards and dropped his only target.
... See More... See Less
Panthers' Xavier Legette: Backup on first depth chart
Rotowire
Legette (foot) is listed behind Jonathan Mingo on the Panthers' initial depth chart released ahead of Carolina's first preseason game Thursday against New England.
Joe Person of The Athletic reports that there's more to be desired in Legette's camp performance thus far, as he hasn't made any "head-turning plays" and has been outperformed by Mingo and Terrace Marshall. Legette missed the last few weeks of spring with a hamstring issue and is now dealing with a foot injury as well, which could be detrimental to building chemistry with Bryce Young before the 2024 season. Person also stated that he expects head coach Dave Canales to find ways to get the ball in Legette's hands throughout the season, but he still has a long way to go and needs all the practice reps he can get at this time. It seems like it'll be an uphill battle for Legette to start the Panthers' 2024 campaign as one of the team's top three wideouts, but that could change if he begins to show out after returning from injury.
... See More... See Less
Panthers' Xavier Legette: Returns for start of camp
Rotowire
Legette (hamstring) was on the practice field Wednesday for the start of training camp, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.
A hamstring injury limited Legette's practice participation this spring after the Panthers took him 32nd overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. He's back in action with plenty of time to secure a top-three role at receiver alongside Diontae Johnson and Adam Thielen, likely competing for perimeter snaps with 2023 second-round pick Jonathan Mingo and 2021 second-round pick Terrace Marshall. Few wide receivers can match Legette's combination of straight-line speed (4.39-second 40-yard dash time) and bulk (6-foot-1, 223 pounds), but he was a non-factor at South Carolina before exploding for 1,255 receiving yards his final season. He now enters the NFL with the usual concerns that come with bigger wideouts: route running and change-of-direction skills.
... See More... See Less
Panthers' Xavier Legette: Missing practice again
Rotowire
Legette (hamstring) isn't practicing Tuesday, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.
Legette first missed practice last Wednesday, with Panthers coach Dave Canales saying the rookie "looked tight" the day before. Legette's hamstring injury doesn't appear too serious, as he's working off to the side with Carolina's training staff Tuesday. He'll likely be ready for the start of training camp in late July even if he doesn't practice again before then.
... See More... See Less
Panthers' Xavier Legette: Dealing with tightness
Rotowire
Legette missed practice Wednesday, with head coach Dave Canales noting afterward that the rookie "looked tight" the day before, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.
The 32nd overall pick appears to be dealing with a minor muscular injury in his lower body. Assuming he doesn't miss too much time, Legette is in good position to earn plenty of snaps as a rookie within a Carolina offense that's badly in need of a downfield target to complement veteran possession receivers Adam Thielen and Diontae Johnson. The Panthers didn't get much from 2023 second-round pick Jonathan Mingo last season, but they went back to the well for a physically similar player this April, hoping Legette's 4.39-second 40-yard dash time in a 223-pound frame will translate to the NFL in a hurry.
... See More... See Less
Panthers' Xavier Legette: Carolina surprises at 32nd pick
Rotowire
The Panthers selected Legette in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, 32nd overall.
Legette (6-foot-1, 223 pounds) is a uniquely explosive athlete (4.39-second 40, 40-inch vertical) for such a heavy receiver, and in 2023 his production at South Carolina went crazy as he made big play after big play downfield. He's more comfortable running in a straight line than sideways, which limits the number of ways you can get him the ball and makes it easier for defenses to stop him once opponents determine which parts of the field he'll avoid. While he showed great hands and even yards-after-the-catch ability in 2023, Legette might face more jamming troubles from NFL corners, which would threaten to delay his otherwise compelling downfield speed. Indeed, it's a red flag that he was so athletically explosive all along but couldn't produce until his fifth collegiate season. Given Bryce Young's 2023 struggles, it is in any case difficult to see much fantasy opportunity for Legette in 2024 specifically.
