2022 Fantasy Upside
After a breakout first season in Carolina in 2020, Anderson struggled to get quality targets and ended up with just 519 yards last year. However, Anderson was still targeted 110 times and led the team with five receiving touchdowns. Anderson has always had speed, but he’s worked intermediate and shorter routes with more frequency since arriving in Carolina. That bodes well for his potential with new quarterback Baker Mayfield, who throws nice quick-slants and can buy additional time in the pocket to open up deeper routes. Anderson should benefit from an improved Carolina offense and almost can’t be less efficient than he was a year ago.
2022 Fantasy Downside
Anderson’s struggles last year make him hard to trust again, and Baker Mayfield only produced three good fantasy seasons from a wide receiver in three years as the full-time starter. With D.J. Moore already locked into the WR1 role, there may not be enough volume for Anderson to finish with more than a few boom weeks. Additionally, the Panthers drafted Terrace Marshall in the second round last year and it’s possible he pushes Anderson for snaps. He’s also entering his age-29 season, so it’s possible some of the speed that has helped him separate in the past could start to wane a bit.
2022 Bottom Line
Anderson isn’t worth investing a lot of draft capital into, but since he’s going at the end of drafts, it’s worth considering him as the final addition to your wide receiver corps. Anderson’s job seems safe for at least one more year given his hefty price tag – $19 million in dead money if Carolina cuts him according to Over the Cap. At a more expensive cost, I’d say to stay away, but the upside is enough to make him worth drafting as a late-round dart throw.
