Who Should I Start? Hunter Renfrow or Tez Johnson

Monday, September 15, 4:22 PM

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Hunter Renfrow found the endzone twice in the team's 25-22 loss on Sunday. With the Panthers going down by 24 points in the second half of Week 2, they were forced to abandon the run and turn to the passing game. Hunter Renfrow was a huge part of the comeback, tying for second on the team with nine targets, just one shy of leader Tetairoa McMillan. Operating as a security blanket for Bryce Young, Renfrow caught seven passes for 48 yards and two touchdowns in the 27-22 loss. The seven catches and nine targets were encouraging, but even more so was the trust Young showed in Renfrow in the red zone. Although it's hard to say whether he will continue to be a staple in this offense, the lack of wide receiver depth behind McMillan is an encouraging sign. In Week 3, the Panthers will host the Atlanta Falcons, who just held the Minnesota Vikings to 120 passing yards on Sunday night. In PPR leagues, if you need wide receiver help and have a spot on your bench, it would be wise to add Renfrow. Do not use a waiver on Renfrow, but he would be an excellent free agent pickup if he goes unclaimed.

Monday, September 1, 11:54 PM

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Tez Johnson could carve out a role on offense as early as Week 1 this season. The rookie out of Oregon could see opportunities to contribute right away with Chris Godwin (ankle) and Jalen McMillan (neck) temporarily sidelined. We saw Tampa Bay support three fantasy-relevant receivers at times last year, so it's safe to assume that could happen again in 2025. Mike Evans and Emeka Egbuka are essentially locks to produce right away, leaving Johnson and Ryan Miller vying for the No. 3 role. The early advantage may go to Miller, who started three games (and played in 11 total) last year, so he is familiar with the system. Plus, he led the team in receiving yards during the 2025 preseason. However, Johnson has a promising outlook, too, as he totaled 2,080 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns through two seasons at Oregon. Meanwhile, he had the most targets and second-most receiving yards among all Buccaneers players this preseason. Tampa Bay is no stranger to getting its depth receivers involved, so don't be surprised if Johnson contributes right away. He should be stashed in all dynasty leagues, and he could even have some appeal in deeper redraft formats.