The Carolina Panthers have traded WR Robbie Anderson to the Arizona Cardinals. The first of many dominoes to fall for a rebuilding Panthers team.
This comes just hours after Anderson was kicked off the sideline by new head coach Steve Wilks.
Robbie Anderson played in 39 games over three seasons with Carolina, after 62 games in four years with the New York Jets. Reuniting with QB Sam Darnold never panned out.
For Mike LaPlant and Dylan Clemons take on it, watch the video below.
With the season quickly unraveling it will be interesting to see how many more players the Panthers actually trade before the November 1st trade deadline. Christian McCaffrey, D.J. Moore and a handful of defensive players could all be made available.
Panthers Trade WR Robbie Anderson to Cardinals
From NFL Now: The #AZCardinals traded for Robbie Anderson, which makes sense given the foot injury for Hollywood Brown. DeAndre Hopkins comes back this week, too. pic.twitter.com/auy25izBzR
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 17, 2022
Career in Carolina
In year one in Carolina Blue, Anderson posted his only career 1,000-yard season as Teddy Bridgewater had two 1,000-yard receivers in Moore (1193) and Anderson (1096). Then, for whatever reason, management decided Bridgewater wasn't their guy and traded for Sam Darnold. Darnold made 11 starts before an injury forced them to bring back Cam Newton for 5 starts (8 gms).
Anderson did catch five touchdowns last year, but only gained 513 receiving yards thanks to a career-worst 9.8 yards per catch.
This offseason, David Tepper went out and traded for Baker Mayfield, in search of a franchise quarterback. Anderson was back up in the 15 yards per reception range, actually a career-high at 15.8, but 102 of his 206 receiving yards and lone score came back in Week 1.
Impact in Arizona
Cardinals’ WR Marquise Brown suffered a potentially season-ending foot injury Sunday, per sources. He is undergoing further testing today to determine the extent of the injury.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 17, 2022
The Cardinals just lost their leading receiver, Marquise Brown, to a foot injury. They acquired Brown on draft night in a trade as they knew they would be without DeAndre Hopkins to start the season due to suspension. I would have loved to have seen Arizona's offense with Kyler Murray having both Hopkins and Brown to throw too but unfortunately, we probably won't see that this season.
Anderson will be expected to run the deep routes and will continue to be a boom-or-bust player who is now the third target for Murray, behind Hopkins and TE Zach Ertz.
In three games this year, Rondale Moore has seen his targets increase from 5, to 8, to 10, catching 16 of his 23 targets for 128 yards. He continues to average just eight yards per catch on 70 career receptions and just once receiving touchdown. Kliff Kingsbury has not figured out how to use him properly since drafting him 49th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Could we see the return of Greg Dortch to the offense?
If you have Anderson on your roster he is worth holding, if he is a free agent he is worth stashing but not worth losing a high waiver priority in adding.
Impact in Carolina
As long as P.J. Walker or Jacob Eason and this passing chart are how the Panthers plan to operate on offense, D.J. Moore and Christian McCaffrey are the only Panthers worth considering for Fantasy purposes. Mayfield and Darnold are dealing with high ankle sprains.
Excuse me what https://t.co/Ixw1HS7HpW pic.twitter.com/cEiDkP930c
— Computer Cowboy (@benbbaldwin) October 17, 2022
Final Thoughts
Arizona's offense has struggled to begin the year but it's safe to imagine Hopkins gives them a boost. However, it might not be a significant one without Marquise Brown lining up on the other side of the field. Robbie Anderson is not Marquise Brown.
Kyler Murray will no doubt force the ball Hopkins way, especially in the first couple of weeks. Ertz could still see near double-digit targets on a weekly basis.
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