Panthers beat writer Ellis L. Williams believes new OC Ben McAdoo’s “up-tempo and quick-release concepts” should add YAC opportunities for WR DJ Moore. Williams envisions Moore thriving on quick-hitters and downfield routes, similar to how a young Odell Beckham excelled with McAdoo in New York. “It’s long and it’s treacherous, but it’s built for the NFL,” Moore said regarding McAdoo’s playbook. “The playbook is long, like some of the verbiage is long. You just got to be able to study and comprehended. But it worked when he was calling it in New York and all the places that he’d been.” Improved QB play will remain the key to unlocking Moore’s upside. Entering year 5, he’s never topped 4 TDs in a single season.

The Panthers are giving WR D.J. Moore a 3-year extension worth $61.9 million, with $41.6 million guaranteed. That puts Moore under contract for 4 years in total. Now he just needs a QB.

Panthers WR Robby Anderson (quad) is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game vs. the Bucs. He didn’t practice all week, but HC Matt Rhule called him a game-time decision on Friday. Anderson isn’t a Week 18 fantasy option, but his absence would open up more targets for WR D.J. Moore.

Panthers WR D.J. Moore (hamstring) is active for today’s game vs. the Bucs. He was listed as questionable after getting in just a limited practice on Friday. Moore played through this injury last week, catching 6 of 11 targets for 48 yards.

Panthers WR D.J. Moore (hamstring) is expected to play vs. the Bucs today, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Moore is listed as questionable after getting in just a limited practice on Friday. But he was able to play through this injury last week, catching 6 of 11 targets for 48 yards.

Panthers WR D.J. Moore (hamstring) is listed as questionable for this weekend’s game vs. the Bucs. He only got in a limited practice on Friday, and HC Matt Rhule said earlier in the week that Moore would be a game-time decision. We’ll find out if he’s playing around 11:30 am ET on Sunday.

Panthers WR D.J. Moore (hamstring) missed practice again on Thursday. He played through this injury vs. the Bills last week but might have aggravated it. We'll get another update on Moore tomorrow.

Panthers WR D.J. Moore (hamstring) did not practice on Wednesday. He battled through this injury last weekend, posting a 6-48 line on a 91% snap rate in the loss to Buffalo. He should be available for this Sunday's game vs. the Bucs, but we'll keep an eye on him.

Panthers WR D.J. Moore (hamstring) is active for today’s game vs. the Bills. He got in 3 limited practices this week and never really seemed to be in danger of missing this one. Moore is an unexciting WR2 with Carolina sporting an ugly 15.5-point implied total.

Panthers WR D.J. Moore (hamstring) is expected to play vs. the Bills today, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Moore was limited in practice all week and is listed as questionable, but there never seemed to be much doubt about his availability for this one. It's a tough spot for Carolina's offense in Buffalo today, but at least Moore won't need to deal with CB Tre White.

Panthers WR D.J. Moore (hamstring) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game vs. the Bills. He put in 3 limited practices this week, and HC Matt Rhule said that he expects Moore to play. We'll find out for sure around 11:30 am ET on Sunday. Moore's hamstring will add a bit of risk to his Week 15 fantasy outlook.

Panthers WR D.J. Moore (hamstring) got in a limited practice on Wednesday. HC Matt Rhule said afterward that he expects Moore to play vs. the Bills this weekend. We'll keep an eye on him leading up to that one.

Panthers WR D.J. Moore "pulled his hamstring" in Sunday's game vs. the Falcons and is "day to day," HC Matt Rhule said. Hamstring injuries are always tricky, but it sounds like Moore's is minor. We'll keep a close eye on his practice participation this week, leading into Sunday's game vs. the Bills.

The Panthers fired OC Joe Brady. It's a quick fall for a guy who was getting head-coaching interviews last offseason. Brady's Panthers finished 17th in Football Outsiders' offensive DVOA last year and are currently sitting 29th in this year's rankings. QB play, of course, has been a problem in Carolina. Senior offensive assistant Jeff Nixon will step in as interim OC, according to The Athletic's Joe Person. Nixon's only OC experience came under current Panthers HC Matt Rhule at Baylor from 2017 to 2019.

The Panthers brass is set to meet with free-agent QB Cam Newton on Thursday, according to The Charlotte Observer's Jonathan Alexander. Carolina is expected to be without QB Sam Darnold (shoulder) for the next 4-6 weeks. Newton would be an upgrade over QB P.J. Walker -- and an upgrade over the Darnold we've gotten the past month. We'll see where this goes.

Updating a previous item, Panthers QB Sam Darnold (concussion, shoulder) is listed as doubtful for Sunday's game against the Patriots. QB P.J. Walker is in line to make his 2nd career start. He went 24-of-34 for 258 yards, 1 TD and 2 INTs in a Week 11 start vs. the Lions last year. Walker has gone 3-for-15 for 33 yards in relief of Darnold this season. As poorly as Darnold has played lately, Walker will likely be a downgrade for this offense.

Panthers WR Terrace Marshall (concussion) is out for Sunday’s game vs. the Giants. The rookie hasn’t been a fantasy factor this season, averaging just 3.7 targets per game. But his absence could mean an extra target or 2 for WRs D.J. Moore and Robby Anderson.

Panthers QB Sam Darnold opened the final preseason game with 6 straight completions against the Steelers en route to a productive night. He finished 19 of 25 for 162 yards and 2 TDs. Darnold found Terrace Marshall and Robby Anderson for 2nd-quarter red-zone scores, while D.J. Moore led all Panthers with 6 catches and 48 yards on a team-high 6 targets. Carolina opens the season with a favorable schedule, including a home date with the Jets in Week 1 and a Week 3 visit to Houston. Keep Darnold in mind as a late-round fantasy football option -- especially if you wait on addressing QB in your draft. As for the WRs, Anderson and Moore operated as the clear leaders, playing 38 snaps apiece among Darnold's 41, according to Pro Football Focus. Marshall worked in for 23. TE Dan Arnold played 30 snaps, with TE Ian Thomas taking the field for 22.

The Panthers added LSU WR Terrace Marshall with the 59th overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft. Marshall brings an elite combination of size and athleticism. He checked into his Pro Day at 6’3, 205 pounds and ran a 4.40-second 40-yard dash with a 39-inch vertical. It earned him a 97th percentile Relative Athletic Score. He was stuck behind Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase for his first 2 seasons at LSU but did well to come away with a 46-671-13 line in 12 games as a sophomore in 2019. With Jefferson off to the NFL and Chase opting out this past year, Marshall emerged as the top dog, averaging 6.9 catches, 104 yards and 1.4 TDs per game. (He missed the Alabama game with an injury and opted out of the final 2.) He soaked up 27.6% of LSU’s catches, 33.3% of the receiving yards and 58.8% of the receiving scores in his 7 games. Marshall is a bit raw as a route runner and has some drop issues. But he plays as athletically as he tested, winning downfield and after the catch with speed and out-jumping DBs for 50/50 balls. Marshall also has extensive experience both outside and in the slot. NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah reported last week that some concerns popped up for Marshall at the medical check in Indianapolis after he broke his left fibula as a high school senior and suffered a fractured left foot in 2019. There’s plenty of bust potential here. But Marshall has the upside to develop into 1 of the top WRs in this class. “He’s got a chance to be like a Brandon Marshall-type player,” a scout told The Athletic’s Bob McGinn. This is a sneaky good landing spot in Carolina. There’s a clear path for Marshall to be the #3 WR this year. And WR Robby Anderson will be a free agent next offseason.

The Jets traded QB Sam Darnold to the Panthers in exchange for a 2021 6th-round pick and 2nd and 4th-rounders next year. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport hears that Carolina was the "sole suitor" for Darnold -- hence the relatively cheap price tag. Darnold, of course, has been largely disappointing since going 3rd overall in 2018, completing 59.8% of his passes, averaging 6.6 yards per attempt and tossing 39 INTs vs. 45 TDs. He's gotten little help from his coaches or supporting cast. But Darnold has not fared well in Pro Football Focus' passing grades, ranking 30th, 27th and 35th over the past 3 seasons. He's a fine gamble for the Panthers to make, but Darnold certainly isn't a lock to emerge as the team's long-term starter. In fact, he'll need to beat out QB Teddy Bridgewater for the 2021 starting job -- although we do consider Darnold the favorite there. The Jets, meanwhile, are widely expected to take BYU QB Zach Wilson with the 2nd overall pick later this month.