[dynasty] young Carolina WR's- any sleepers? (1 Viewer)

[loose circuits]

with Cam Newton looking like he's only going to get better and Ron Rivera adamant that he's going to build an offense around this kid, there is some serious potential for long term value here and there are way too many candidates.

While Naane has been playing a little better lately and Steve Smith is re-born, neither of them are long term candidates. Naane's is playing on a 1 year deal while Smith is signed through 2012. Either way there should be a few guys that can significantly improve and they have some talented projects on the roster.

The candidates:

Brandon Lafell: looks to be outplaying Naane at times, but his reps are still limited. Many people were high on him after the Panthers drafted him, but he was arguably outshined by Gettis last year.

Keaolha Pilares: former RB at Hawaii who converted to WR. He has some YAC skills and is still a work in progress. From Panthers web-site, he's listed behind Lafell and Naane, but is acting as the KR to take advantage of his skills with the ball in his hands. Some huge upside here.

Armanti Edwards: there was significant hype about him prior to the season based off the work he did trying to get better this summer. However, we haven't seen much of him on offense for one reason or another. http://forums.footballguys.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=606740&st=0&p=13537683&hl=pilares&fromsearch=1entry13537683 he's listed behind Steve Smith on the depth chart. Does this mean he's the heir apparent?

Seyi Ajirotutu: He exploded on the scene last season as a UDFA rookie filling in when San Diego had to lean on him because of injuries. However, they cut him this year and then Rivera decided he was good enough to bring in on active roster, but it seems he's been an inactive each week. Will his big play ability ever come to fruition or will he just be a brief flash in the pan? Seems like he's behind Smith & Edwards on the depth chart.

David Gettis: He's on IR now, but has shown some progress. Likely would have been the WR2 this year if not for the injury, August surgery for ACL tear means he should be ready to roll come camp time. However, will he be lost in the shuffle as the projects above perfect their craft?

There is some serious sleeper potential here, I just can't figure out who...

 

[Unwrittenlaw]

Pilares is a Steve Smith Clone. I think he has huge potential. He'll be very good by year 3. Just needs some time to develop.

 

[solorca]

Carolina fan here. If David Gettis is available to pick up and have you have the space to stash him, he is by far the best choice. Gettis looked good last year and was poised to be the #2 this year (it wasn't really that close in my mind). He is the type of speedy/big combo that will be a perfect fit for the Panthers next season.

I don't play in Dynasty leagues, but I already have Gettis locked in as a late round sleeper in my redrafts next year.

As for the others...

Lafell - He's improving every game and I could see him being a solid guy to have around in the future. He has the skills to be a good NFL WR, but right now he is just an average guy. He would be my second choice to hold on to.

Pilares - As mentioned above, he is very much in the mold of Steve Smith. He hasn't really had an opportunity to shine other than in a few preseason games, but he is a boom/bust option. If he wants to stick around on the team he is going to have to improve as a returner a little bit. I wouldn't bank on him being anything more than a journeyman NFL player, but with his limited exposure, he could end up proving me wrong.

Edwards - He is a long term project that hasn't panned out so far. The talent is clearly there, but he has had a really difficult time adjusting to playing WR. Like Pilares, his return skills will need to improve to make an NFL roster unless he really improves going forward. I have a soft spot for him because I went to App State and saw his skills on display, but my gut says he will never make an impact for an NFL team.

Ajirotutu - I would need to defer to Chargers homers on this one, as he hasn't been given an opportunity yet in Carolina and I've heard literally nothing about him from any of the beat writers.

If I had to guess, I think that this will be the WR depth chart next year...

WR1 - Steve Smith

WR2 - David Gettis

WR3 - Brandon Lafell

WR4 - Keoloha Pilares (I think he'll be given another year)

WR5 - Rookie/Free Agent (I think Edwards will be cut)

I think that if you see the Panthers draft a WR in the first few rounds next year, he will be a guy to look at.

 

[thriftyrocker]

IMO Gettis is a Massaquoi type. Great athlete, can play in the NFL, but will never be a star. With that sort of upside, I don't think he's a great stash for dynasty leagues.

 

[solorca]

IMO Gettis is a Massaquoi type. Great athlete, can play in the NFL, but will never be a star. With that sort of upside, I don't think he's a great stash for dynasty leagues.

I disagree. Gettis produced last season when he was expected to mainly be a special teams player. We haven't had much chance to see him with Newton, but I think that he will be a very effective #2 as soon as next year. I wouldn't be surprised to see something along the lines of 65/1000/6 next season.

 

[loose circuits]

IMO Gettis is a Massaquoi type. Great athlete, can play in the NFL, but will never be a star. With that sort of upside, I don't think he's a great stash for dynasty leagues.

even if you have watched every NFL snap he's had (which I doubt), I don't know how you can claim to have enough information to make that claim. Seems to me that he barely scratched the surface on what he could accomplish when you consider where he came from since Baylor isn't exactly a football powerhouseThis is a kid that broke the California 400m state record as a freshman. His raw athletic ability when you consider his size is much more impressive then MoMass

 

[Sigmund Bloom]

I would compare Pilares more to Davone Bess/Wes Welker than Smiff.

 

[No Way Jose]

I think the WR to own is not on the roster yet and they could draft over all of the WR's (sans Steve Smiff) in 2012. I think Alshon Jeffery is a lock to be a Panther if he is available.

 

[loose circuits]

I think the WR to own is not on the roster yet and they could draft over all of the WR's (sans Steve Smiff) in 2012. I think Alshon Jeffery is a lock to be a Panther if he is available.

seems to me like Rivera would be more likely to focus on defense with those early picks knowing that Cam get the offense to a point on his own and they have potential at WR on the roster.

 

[No Way Jose]

I think the WR to own is not on the roster yet and they could draft over all of the WR's (sans Steve Smiff) in 2012. I think Alshon Jeffery is a lock to be a Panther if he is available.

seems to me like Rivera would be more likely to focus on defense with those early picks knowing that Cam get the offense to a point on his own and they have potential at WR on the roster.

Perhaps. I think Jeffery would be a hit in Carolina and as we can see, sophomore years can be tough on QB's no matter how good a rookie year they have.I think the defense has been OK considering they lost Beason so early.

 

[NorrisB]

Gettis is crap, hands of stone and body catcher

 

[NCPanthersFan]

I think the WR to own is not on the roster yet and they could draft over all of the WR's (sans Steve Smiff) in 2012. I think Alshon Jeffery is a lock to be a Panther if he is available.