Carolina Throws another Dart trying to find a Robin for Batman

The Carolina Panthers used the twenty-fourth pick in the 2018 NFL draft on wide receiver D.J. Moore. Moore matriculated from Maryland…

---

Carolina Throws another Dart trying to find a Robin for Batman

Moore has the highest potential of any recent Carolina Panthers WR.

The Carolina Panthers used the twenty-fourth pick in the 2018 NFL draft on wide receiver D.J. Moore. Moore matriculated from Maryland, where despite an archaic offense, he still managed to put up impressive numbers. He continued that momentum at the combine which led to the first round selection. Moore is built like a running back, compact & thick, who is most dangerous with the ball in his hands in the middle of the field. He needs to work on his consistency running routes, his run blocking and release against press coverage. If Moore can round out his game, the Panthers lack of established depth at receiver gives Moore a path towards fantasy relevance.

WR D.J. Moore

• Size: 6’0” / 210
• Draft Selection: #24 (2018)
• Depth Chart: WR3 (Competing w/ Devin Funchess, Torey Smith & Curtis Samuel (likely starts in slot w/ Funchess & Smith on the outside)
• ’18 Outlook: WR4 (WR2 if Moore clicks w/ Newton and assumes WR1 targets in Norv Turner offense)
• Athletic Profile: Great (Player Profiler)
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/idjmoore/
• NFL Comparison: Pierre Garcon / Golden Tate

Outlook: The Carolina Panthers are hoping that Moore will develop into a difference-making, go-to receiver to pair with their Superman, QB Cam Newton. Moore is their fourth 1st or 2nd round receiver selection over the past 4 drafts: Kelvin Benjamin, Devin Funchess, Curtis Samuel & Moore. Moore checks the proverbial boxes: impressive stats at a power 5 conference school (Big 10); elite analytical testing; good NFL size; and shows up on film. The question marks are how well he translates to the NFL from a simplistic offense and whether he can be more efficient with his route running & releases. There are some Panther fans and professional pundits who have compared Moore to former Carolina great Steve Smith. I don’t see it in the film. Smith was a street fighter, who played like every play was life or death. Moore is slippery and difficult to tackle but I don’t see the effort on contested plays or “life or death” effort on every play. If Moore can get to 85% of Smith’s intensity, he has a chance to be Carolina’s true featured receiver since Smith left in 2012.

College Stats: https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/dj-moore-3.html

Opportunity: The Carolina Panthers have been one of the most run-centric offenses in the league over Cam Newton’s career (since ’12), averaging approx. a 50/50 split pass/run ratio. This has manifested in a limited amount of receiving opportunity, with their WR1 avg. 120+ targets and their TE1 (Greg Olsen) avg. 120+ targets. Those two roles combine for on avg. 47% of the teams’ annual totals. No other position has avg. more than 60 targets/year although Christian McCaffrey skewed that number this past year with 113 targets. Carolina switched its offensive coordinator this offseason to Norv Turner. Turner has been a proponent of a balanced offense, historically feeding the ball to his RB1, WR1, and TE1. All the way back to his 90’s Dallas Cowboys offenses through the years in San Diego, this trend has remained consistent. This is an offense that likely will only support 3 pass catchers. Those are projected to be Christian McCaffrey (RB1), Greg Olsen (TE1) and presumably Devin Funchess (WR1). If Moore can outperform Funchess in camp (or early season), he would have a fantastic opportunity to excel in ’18. Sans reaching the WR1 role for Carolina, Moore’s immediate production will be closer to WR4.

Long-term: Moore’s college production, film, and measurables point to a player who will have an impact at the NFL level. Based on the situation, the odds favor Moore being a complementary piece in ’18. The upside to that is dependent on Moore beating out Funchess for the primary receiver role. If that happened Moore would ascend to a weekly WR2 fantasy role and long-term has the upside to be a true featured, top ten fantasy wide receiver.