The Panthers were going for size when they made Devin Funchess their second round pick in the draft this year. The 6’4 receiver out of Michigan will look to replace the injured Kelvin Benjamin, lost for the season with an ACL tear, and the Panthers are hoping Funchess can have a similar impact this year to what Benjamin did a year ago.
Fantasy Upside
Funchess has strong hands, excellent ball location ability, and the potential to be an elite red zone threat in the NFL, despite only averaging five touchdowns per season in college. He also will have every opportunity to earn a starting job in Carolina with a slew of young players and journeyman veterans all fighting for snaps to replace the injured Benjamin. Funchess should be the most talented option for the Panthers, and he could see playing time early on.
Fantasy Downside
There may only be so many targets to go around in Carolina, with tight end Greg Olsen getting most of the looks. The Panthers will likely try to pound the ball on the ground as much as possible, which may limit Funchess’ ability to get more than four or five targets per game, even if he wins the starting job. Funchess also lacks explosiveness, relying on his size. Time will tell whether he can get off the line against press coverage, which is sometimes a problem for bigger, slow-footed receivers.
Bottom Line
Opportunity rules, and since Funchess could be in line for a starting role, he deserves to be on fantasy radars. However, his ability to make a huge impact in his rookie season may be affected by a ground and pound team concept. His value improves dramatically after the Kelvin Benjamin injury, but it remains to be seen if Funchess will be able to make a great impact early on. He should be targeted as a priority bench WR in fantasy leagues due to the opportunity in front of him.
