Tetairoa

McMillan

Fantasy managers who started McMillan in Week 17 are wondering if this could have been brought to Canales’ attention before yesterday’s 1/5 dud. Carolina’s passing game appears to go through fits and starts. McMillan remains a good WR2 bet for those of you playing in Week 18 leagues.

Announced as playing through illness mere hours before kickoff, McMillan proceeded to have his worst game of the season. Even with that excuse, it should be noted that McMillan has now caught more than two passes just once in his past five games. It’s quite possible he’s slamming into the rookie wall as he plays through various injuries. McMillan will undoubtedly post a better Week 18 box score, as the Panthers will be trying to make the playoffs vs. Tampa Bay’s pass-funnel defense.

Those with the luxury of playing a similar receiver will likely want to do so as McMillan was added to the injury report with an illness on Sunday and the Seahawks defense wasn’t exactly an enticing matchup anyway, but most fantasy managers will probably be sticking with a sick McMillan. Hopefully he winds up being sick (complimentary) against Seattle today. Inactive for the Panthers are: DT Tershawn Wharton (hamstring), WR Hunter Renfrow, S Demani Richardson, DT Jared Harrison-Hunte and TE James Mitchell.

ESPN’s Jeff Darlington later reported that McMillan didn’t feel great when he arrived to the stadium. He is, however, expected to play. Fantasy managers will still need to watch the Panthers’ inactives when they drop 90 minutes before kickoff. Jalen Coker would be in line for more work if McMillan is inactive.

After a few low-volume weeks, McMillan was back to double-digit target volume against the Buccaneers. He operated as the team’s lead wideout and saw multiple end zone targets. Bryce Young was able to find McMillan to convert on one of those end zone targets for a 22-yard score at the end of the first half. Coming off foot/ankle injuries from this past week, McMillan was not hampered by the issues and finishes with 73 receiving yards on his ten targets. He profiles as a fantasy WR2 for Week 17 against the Seahawks.

McMillan was a DNP on Wednesday but was upgraded to a full participant on Thursday and Friday. The rookie receiver is officially off the injury report and good to go for Sunday’s pivotal Week 16 matchup against the Bucs. McMillan profiles as a low-end WR2 after failing to top 43 yards for three straight weeks. The Panthers also listed OG Damien Lewis, CB Jaycee Horn, and OT Taylor Moton as good to go for Sunday’s game.

The rookie wideout logged a full practice on Thursday, which should push the chances of him playing on Sunday in Carolina’s must-win against the Buccaneers way up. McMillan practicing on Friday would likely lead him to be an optimistic questionable or removed from the injury report altogether. Despite his stats taking a hit of late, McMillan will be a low-end WR2 in an enormous NFC South showdown.

This is unfortunate. The Panthers’ No. 1 wide receiver finished as the half-PPR WR23 and WR72 over the team’s last two games, while slot WR Jalen Coker notched WR14 and WR19 finishes. Panthers head coach Dave Canales said McMillan got “rolled up on” during a run play against the Saints last week. The plan is to hold McMillan out today and “try to get him back for tomorrow.” The Panthers (7-7) face the Buccaneers (7-7) on Sunday. The winner takes control of the NFC South.

McMillan entered halftime with one catch, 21 yards and two targets to his name. Unfortunately, the missed target could have easily been a 22-yard touchdown. McMillan got open on a post route, streaking inside the Saints’ 10-yard line, but QB Bryce Young’s pass inside the five-yard line arrived late, allowing a Panthers corner to break up the pass. McMillan is a WR2 against the Buccaneers in Week 16.

Panthers coaches and front office officials “still believe in” Young despite his ups and downs this season, including a Week 13 meltdown against a weak Niners defense. Young finished the 2024 season on a hot streak after being benched early that season, but started 2025 with baffling decision making and poor throws both in the short areas and downfield. On the season Young ranks 21st out of 33 qualifying quarterbacks in drop back success rate and 30th out of 40 quarterbacks in yards per attempt. Graziano said he expects the Panthers to keep Young around in 2026 “because the cost will be reasonable (around $26.5 million), but then the question becomes what to do after that.”