Right about now, Carolina Panthers QB Bryce Young is probably one of the most nervous signal callers in the NFL.
After trading WR Adam Thielen to the Minnesota Vikings, Young and his Carolina Panthers — whose wide receiving group isn't anywhere near awesome — know they’ll have to rely heavily on rookie Tetairoa McMillan, who recently returned to practice after dealing with a hammy.
Still, a Week 1 start for Tet isn't a guarantee, thus Young's potential nerves.
Young is looking to pick up where he left off at the end of 2024, which seems more-than-a-little likely, as he has a 6’5’’ 212-pound receiver in his back pocket. And the 22-years-old Arizona product could be an explosive weapon, as he racked 2,721 receiving yards in his final two college seasons.
Sure, McMillan had an uneventful preseason campaign, managing just 2 receptions, both of which came in Week 1, his only appearance. But despite the lack of game action, Tet appears to have established a connection with Young.
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Will Tetairoa McMillan Play in Week 1?
Even with his jacked-up hamstring still a bit of a thing. Tet is back on the practice field, giving the him almost two full weeks to get back to 100% for Carolina's Week 1 clash with Jacksonville, so fantasy drafters and Panthers fans alike can be optimistic,but must nonetheless closely monitor the situation.
Tetairoa McMillan: Fantasy Football Outlook
With an average age of 25.0, Carolina is tied with Chicago, Detroit, and Cleveland for the third-youngest batch of receivers in the league.
The baby of the crew, Tet will line up alongside fellow youngsters Jalen Coker (23) and Xavier Legette (24), neither of whom made a significant impact in their 2024 rookie years, with Legette finishing the campaign at WR51, and Coker at WR75. Coker posted 32 receptions for 478 yards and a pair of touchdowns while Legette had 49 receptions for 497 yards and 4 TDs.
Entering the season as the Panthers' clear-cut WR1, there's a whole lot of pressure on the banged-up rookie — but the pressure combined with an underperforming group of WRs bodes well for Tet's fantasy value.
Tetairoa McMillan — 5 Receiving TDs
PrizePicks NFLSZN projects McMillan to rack up 5 touchdowns. During his three-year college career, McMillan found paydirt 26 times, never finishing a season with fewer than 8 TDs. With a 17-game season and an improving Bryce Young behind center, 5 TDs — or more — seems eminently doable.
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