Panthers QB Bryce Young threw for 209 yards, 1 TD, and 1 INT in Thursday night's loss to the Packers. He was sitting on a massive dud until connecting with WR Jalen Coker for a 26-yard catch-and-run TD in the fourth quarter. Young was under constant duress in this one, getting pressured on 49% of his dropbacks. Young completed 7 of 17 passes for 41 yards and 1 INT when pressured, per NFL Next Gen Stats. He was sacked 6 times.
2026 Fantasy Football Impact: Young has a Pressure Problem
That's two straight duds from Young, following his 163-1-2 passing line vs. the Buccaneers in Week 7.
Pass protection has been the problem in both games. Young has been pressured on 50.0% of his dropbacks over the last 2 weeks, mustering just 3.2 yards per pass attempt on those plays. Through Week 6, he faced a 39% pressure rate and averaged 6.2 yards per attempt when pressured.
Dating back to the start of last season, Young averages 5.7 yards per pass attempt when pressured vs. 7.0 when not pressured.
The Panthers will get guard Damien Lewis, who missed the Packers game, back from his knee injury at some point. But the tackle play will remain a big question mark, particularly LT Rasheed Walker.
The schedule won't do Young any favors, either. He has the toughest strength of schedule from Week 9 on, with five games vs. top-10 QB defenses and just one against a bottom-14 unit.
If you've been counting on Young as an every-week starter in 1-QB leagues, it's time to make a move for an upgrade.
Other Winners & Losers
Carolina’s protection problems are dragging down its top two WRs, too.
Tetairoa McMillan scraped together a 6-58-0 line against Green Bay. Jalen Coker caught just two balls for 36 yards, salvaging his fantasy night with a TD. That followed a combined five catches for 49 yards for the duo in Week 7.
Both guys need time for their routes to develop. McMillan’s average target depth sits at 11.0 yards; Coker’s is at 13.0. Those downfield shots get tougher to complete with shoddy protection. Young didn't complete a single pass 15+ yards downfield vs. the Packers.
McMillan’s volume remains solid. His 23.6% target share over the last two games is nearly identical to his 23.7% season-long mark. That should keep him in fantasy lineups, but the protection issues push him into lower-end WR2 territory.
Coker’s target share has sunk to 12.5% over the last two weeks. That should rebound, but fewer opportunities and shaky protection leave him looking like a risky WR3.
