Jarius

Wright

Now on the wrong side of 30, Wright remained the Panthers’ “glue guy” No. 3 receiver last season, posting a 28/296/0 line with Cam Newton missing most of the year. He will look for reserve/special teams work in free agency, with guaranteed money probably hard to come by.

Wright was the Panthers’ primary No. 3 receiver this season, but it was not a profitable role. Now on the wrong side of 30, Wright posted a 28/296/0 line. Wright is signed for $1.9 million next season, but it is quite possible the re-tooling Panthers will deem that too much.

Wright was sidelined for about 15 minutes in the second half with a leg injury. He otherwise continued to be a non factor as the usual No. 5 pass-game option in the offense. Wright is off the fantasy radar ahead of next week’s matchup against the Titans.

Wright was sidelined early in the third quarter of the Panthers’ Week 8 matchup against the 49ers before returning early in the fourth quarter.

Wright suffered a leg injury in the third quarter of the Panthers’ Week 8 matchup against the 49ers. He caught 2-of-3 targets for 12 yards prior to exiting.

Wright is way down the line in the Panthers’ pecking order of targets. D.J. Moore and Curtis Samuel are the only two Panthers’ receivers worth rostering with Christian McCaffrey remaining heavily involved as a receiver.

In a season that saw the Panthers shuffle their receiving corps throughout the year, Wright remained the constant in the slot. It still took Taylor Heinicke dumping check-downs in Week 16 for Wright to notch a season-high mark in targets (8). Wright inked a three-year deal with the Panthers back in March and, barring an unexpected free agent splash, should return in 2019 as the team’s starting slot wideout with first-rounder D.J. Moore and former second-rounder Curtis Samuel on the outside.

As Taylor Heinicke heavily targeted short-distance receivers and failed to stretch the field, slot man Wright took on a much larger role than usual. Carolina also hoisted a whopping 57 attempts, passing volume that is not sustainable. Wright deserves credit for a chain-moving Week 16 game but won’t be much of a Week 17 fantasy option at the Superdome.

Wright went 3-23 on five targets in Week 1 and seems to have carved out the slot job for the Panthers. Cam Newton really had an affinity for him on third down, especially with no Greg Olsen (foot) in the lineup. Wright’s touchdown came on third down from five yards out. There are worse players to roster in deep PPR leagues. The Panthers get the Bengals in Week 3.

A four-year starter and the Razorbacks’ all-time receptions leader, Wright led his school with a 68/1,117/12 line as a senior. He also beat out Rueben Rankle and Alshon Jeffery for first-team All-SEC honors. A small but explosive prototype slot receiver, Wright releases quickly off the line, runs quality routes, and possesses a second-gear after the catch. It will be interesting to see where he fits in the Vikes’ receiver corps, as Percy Harvin spends quite a bit of time in the slot as well.