With the changes to the NFL rules, the prolific options at wide receiver or WR have become integral pieces to not only your team, but your fantasy implications long-term. This paradigm shift is exemplified in the salaries as well, netting players such as the Bengals Ja’Marr Chase and Vikings Justin Jefferson over $40M a year, something that wasn’t normal, even for QBs. Now with the introduction of stacked draft years, wide receivers are both at a premium while also still being elusive to many, so why has the Carolina Panthers been able to amass such talent at WR? Does the Greek mythology reference of a hydra truly explain the situation? Let us find out!
What’s a hydra?
The hydra comes from the mythology of both Greek and Roman note, as a creature which had many heads which regenerate, for each head chopped off, two more return its place. The proverbial expression “cutting off a hydra” has often been used to explain hopeless or even endlessly futile efforts, something NFL defenses are going to have to understand soon. The WR core in Carolina consists of rookie Tetairoa McMillan, Xavier Legette, Adam Thielen, Jalen Coker, Hunter Renfrow, and Jimmy Horn Jr., ushering in a new era of offensive potential.
The Carolina Hydra
No matter the defensive set, personnel or even weather, this wide receiver room is one which changes up the speed of every pitch while maintaining a cohesive offense. Tetairoa out a series? Then you’ll have to deal with the freakishly raw Xavier Legette on the outside, the tricky Thielen who is jumping into the slot, while the speed demons Jalen Coker and Jimmy Horn can stretch the defense in ways that allow for a more open field. Removal of Adam Thielen? Oh wow, my great veteran in Hunter Refrow has shown through camp that not only is he ready for the season, but he might be “returning to form” as many people are saying.
The truly Herculean effort it will take from opposing defenses will be one to watch, as the hydra was only conquered by a truly mythical person – Hercules, during his second labor.
The “pick your poison” of this Carolina offense is one which isn’t replicated anywhere else, even in the tough NFC South division:
Rival Buccaneers have a HOF WR in Mike Evans who is coming to the end of his career, a Chris Godwin who is aging though showing signs of having another year or two in the tank, and finishing off the room with rookie WR Emeka Egbuka who is going to bridge their team as the veterans prepare to retire. Past that players like Jalen McMillan, Sterling Shepard and Trey Palmer are ones which haven’t shown the spark that Tampa may have wanted/needed, so there development is still going.
The Falcons room is one which does have some guys who can maybe contend with Carolina, from WR1 Drake London who is a dynamic pass catcher while continuing to have mid QBs, Darnell Mooney who absolutely lives up to his hype being a WR2 that shows sparks of handling the 1 spot, and Ray-Ray McCloud III who is developing along side KhaDarel Hodge, DJ Chark and Casey Washington.
The Saints are the room which needs the most help given the recent changes to the franchise from QB to even HC Kellen Moore. WR1 Chris Olave has sparked concerns that he might want to be traded, though his time in New Orleans has been one which has returned 2 1,000 yard receiving seasons. WR2 Rashid Shaheed, Brandin Cooks, Bub Means, Kevin Austin Jr and Cedrick Wilson Jr also have time to press into the depth chart in ways that can improve the team, though doesn’t eclipse the firepower Carolina has.
With that, no teams defensive side is poised to stop the hydra either unless the Buccaneers finally solved their secondary issues with the recent draft haul. Either way, Carolina has a room which consists of all levels of WR from tall to short, fast to measured, sure hands to 50/50 guy. The development of those talents now become a focus of the fanbase as well as the offensive coordinator Brad Idzik and play-calling HC Dave Canales to continue to ratchet up the chances for this room to break open the offense. This year is going to be a fun one in Carolina! #KeepPounding
