NFL Insider -- 2008 Team Outlook: Todays Team is : Carolina Panthers

Over the next several days we will take a look at the outlook of the 32 NFL Teams. They will be informative for both the fan of football and also some have information for you fantasy football buffs too. Give us your feedback by leaving your comments. Thank you and have a great season... 2008 Team Outlook: Carolina As per George Bissell, John Fox and GM Marty Hurney have put the pressure to succeed in 2008 on themselves already by trading away Carolina's 1st round pick in 2009 to trade back into the first round of this April's 2008 NFL Draft. They selected mammoth OT Jeff Otah out of Pittsburgh (19th overall) after having taken Oregon RB Jonathan Stewart (13th overall) with their original selection. Fox turned a 1-15 squad around in under two seasons when he took over in 2002 and with all of their moves this offseason, the Panthers seem poised for a breakout season. Carolina invested heavily on offense this offseason after injuries crippled them each of the past two seasons. Gone are veterans RB DeShaun Foster, QB David Carr, OG Mike Wahle, C Justin Hartwig, WR Drew Carter, DT Kris Jenkins, and MLB Dan Morgan. Carolina's biggest moves came during the draft, but they rebuilt their offensive line through free agency by resigning OT's Jordan Gross and Travelle Wharton -- signing guards Milford Brown, Keydrick Vincent, Toniu Fonoti, with sophomore center Ryan Kalil expected to start in 08. Carolina has completely overhauled a majority of their roster with young talent surrounding their strong core players on offense and defense like Steve Smith and Julius Peppers. Jake Delhomme is healthy again and as long as he can stay on the field, the entire offense should have a great year. DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart will share the workload with Stewart supplying the power and Williams as the change of pace home run hitter. Steve Smith, D.J. Hackett, and Mushin Muhammad anchor one of the NFC's strongest receiving cores heading into the 2008 season; the Panthers seemed poised for a turnaround in 08, because if not, there will be plenty of changes next season for Carolina. QB Jake Delhomme, CAR (QB - #16) - Sleeper (undervalued) Jake Delhomme came out of the gate on fire last season putting up excellent numbers by completing 55 of 86 passes for 624 yards with 8 TD's and just 1 INT in just three games before suffering an elbow injury that Delhomme elected to have season ending surgery on. Fantasy owners have learned over the past couple of years that as Delhomme goes, so does the entire Carolina offense. If Delhomme can stay on the field in 2008, teams will be forced to respect Carolina's formidable receivers, which should in turn open up running lanes for talented young backs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. If Carolina can build a strong running game, then more big play opportunities should present themselves for Steve Smith and Delhomme downfield in 2008. If Delhomme comes into training camp healthy, then he is worth drafting in the later rounds as a quality backup with potential to be a big time sleeper candidate that will be starting for plenty of fantasy owners towards the end of the 2008 season. Delhomme's health is a huge gamble, but it is one worth taking if you can draft another solid option earlier in your league's draft. RB Jonathan Stewart, CAR (RB - #30) - Sleeper (undervalued) Jonathan Stewart was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the 1st round (13th overall) and is expected to compete with last year's 1st round pick DeAngelo Williams for the starting job in the Panthers backfield. Stewart and Williams will share carries, but Stewart will have much more value because he is a bruising power runner who fits their zone blocking scheme extremely well. Stewart also has the speed to be a playmaker if he can get in the open field as he was in college (where he returned kicks for Oregon). Stewart rushed for 1,722 yards and 11 TD's as a senior at Oregon and should put up at least 1,200 yards and 8 TD's in his rookie season if he can fulfill the expectations Carolina has for him while splitting carries with Williams. I expect Stewart to put up better numbers than DeAngelo Williams and have a greater fantasy value; because of his size and strength he will be Carolina's primary red-zone option in 2008. The only concern fantasy owners should have is if Carolina uses him as their primary kick returner next season because there is always a possibility he could get injured on special teams; if Stewart wins the starting role in training camp this summer, then he is worth drafting as a #2 running back in fantasy drafts in 2008. RB DeAngelo Williams, CAR (RB - #32) - Solid/Safe Pick DeAngelo Williams shared the starting job with DeShaun Foster last season and appeared poised to take over the role this season when Foster was released in February; until Carolina drafted RB Jonathan Stewart in the 1st round of the NFL Draft. Carolina will split carries between Williams and Stewart in a running back by committee situation similar to the one they had back in 2003 with Stephen Davis and DeShaun Foster. Coach John Fox recently stated "We may have been one of the first to have the tandem deal way back in '03," Fox said. "It helps to have a change of pace guy. I think a lot of people are starting to do that now and we kind of want to follow suit ourselves." Williams appears to be the change of pace guy with the home run hitting ability and ability to catch out of the backfield that will make him an appealing option fantasy wise in 2008. While Stewart appears to have more fantasy value, Williams is a nice selection if you can get him as a #3 option in the middle rounds. Williams ran for 717 yards and 4 TD's on just 114 carries while averaging 5 yards per carry (which indicates that when he was getting carries, he was running well as a rookie). With more opportunities, Williams would be a low end #1 or a solid #2 option; but with Stewart stealing touchdowns, Williams shouldn't rush for more than 1,000 yards and 4 TD's in 2008. WR D.J. Hackett, CAR (WR - #44) - Quality Backup Hackett agreed to a 2 year $3.5 million dollar deal after being guaranteed that he would be the #2 receiver for Carolina. The 6 foot 2 Hackett provides Carolina a perfect compliment as a big target opposite small and speedy Pro Bowl WR Steve Smith. Hackett had an injury plagued 2007 season (playing in just 6 games), but still managed 32 receptions for 384 yards and 6 TD's. Hackett had a big game in the postseason versus the Redskins in which he caught 6 balls for 101 yards and 1 TD. Hackett may not be the playmaker Steve Smith is, but his presence will free up Smith downfield because Hackett and Muhammad are big possession receivers that will stretch the defense over the middle of the field in 2008. If Hackett can avoid the injury woes that have plagued him in the past, he will be a solid middle-to-late round option in 2008 capable of catching 65 passes for 900 yards and 7 TD's. WR Muhsin Muhammad, CAR (WR - #76) - Quality Backup Muhammad signed a two year contract with the Carolina Panthers in February shortly after being released by Chicago after just three seasons with the Bears. Muhammad spent his first nine seasons in Carolina and is the franchise all time leader in receptions. Muhammad had his best year in 2004 (the year after Carolina reached the Super Bowl), recording 93 catches for 1,465 yards and 16 TD's. Muhammad's greatest assets are his size and strength, previous connection with QB Jake Delhomme, and (most importantly from a fantasy perspective) the ability to take attention away from All Pro WR Steve Smith. Ever since Muhammad's departure, Carolina has failed to effectively replace him with the likes of Keyshawn Johnson, Drew Carter, and Keary Colbert. At 6 foot 2 and 215 pounds, Muhammad has a unique combination of size and strength and is an excellent possession receiver who will have a big impact in the red-zone for the Panthers. Muhammad gives Carolina a quality #3 receiver who will free up Steve Smith and allow him to be a playmaker again. Muhammad won't put up incredible fantasy numbers, but he should record 50 catches for over 800 yards and score at least 5 TD's in 2008 -- making him a nice option to fill in if you have a bye week or if Muhammad has a nice matchup. WR Steve Smith, CAR (WR - #7) - Stud (low risk) Steve Smith started the season on fire with Jake Delhomme under center, catching 16 passes for 281 yards and 4 TD's. In the next 12 games Smith started he caught 71 passes for 721 yards and 3 TD's. Clearly Smith is much more productive with Delhomme under center, making his health in 2008 critical to the success and fantasy value of Steve Smith. Fortunately for Smith, Carolina brought back Muhsin Muhammad, as well as signed D.J. Hackett from Seattle to help take some of the defensive attention away from Steve Smith. If Jake Delhomme can stay on the field, I would expect Smith to continue to put up excellent fantasy numbers again in 2008. Expect Smith to catch over 100 passes for over 1,400 yards and 12 TD's in 2008. Smith should be drafted as a #1 wide receiver worthy of a selection in the 3rd round of all fantasy leagues next season. TE Jeff King, CAR (TE - #24) - Bye Week Fill-in Carolina hasn't placed an emphasis on the tight end position since John Fox was the Head Coach, but that seems destined to change after Jeff King's strong showing in 2007 in which he caught 46 passes for 406 yards and 2 TD's. King has the size (at 6 foot 3 253 pounds) to be a target in the red-zone and over the middle of the field, but King's lack of speed and Carolina's other receiving options will limit King's fantasy value to a minimum. Also don't rule out competition for the starting job from Dante Rosario, who had 6 catches for 108 yards and 2 TD's last season. King should put up similar numbers in 2008 as he did last season, but unless he becomes a bigger part of Carolina's passing game with Jake Delhomme at QB, then he's not worth drafting. King has plenty of value as a bye week fill-in and is a possible sleeper at the position in the deepest of fantasy leagues.