How much of an impact will DJ Moore have in 2018?

The rookie wide receiver has shown up early, but not often. The CSR staff presents their predictions for the rest of his season.

The Panthers selected DJ Moore in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft and their fan base immediately lost its mind. They are finally supporting Cam Newton. He is the next Steve Smith. It has been so long since they drafted a No. 1 receiver. Smitty said on the TV that he has a Ph.D. in route running. We all, apparently, forgot that most receivers don’t have a huge impact their rookie season. Let’s not compare Moore to the likes of Kelvin Benjamin until the rookie has proven himself to be that unreliable.

2018 has been a slow start for Moore. He made a lot of noise during training camp but was hardly anywhere to be seen in the preseason and didn’t record a catch until Week 2 of the regular season. That catch being a 51-yard, highlight reel reception for a touchdown was nice, but it was still only one catch in two weeks. Either Moore isn’t ready to see the field with any frequency or the coaching staff is upholding the long standing Panthers’ tradition of mismanaging talent.

Either way, the Panthers have made all of the appropriate noises this week about getting Moore involved in a heavier role. Here are the opinions of the Cat Scratch Reader staff of what that role will end up looking like, statistically, by the end of the season.

Brian Beversluis

I expect about 700 yards receiving and 5 TDs coupled with at least 1 return TD. He will turn it on as the season progresses.

Daniel Belton

As the season goes along and Moore gets acclimated to the NFL, his production will improve. I could see a 45 reception, 600 yard, 4 touchdown stat line.

Jon DeLong

I think he’ll finish with about 35 catches or so for 450 to 500 yards.

Evan Leekley

He will make a handful of splash plays but won’t be utilized consistently, finishing the season with 45 catches for 680 yards and 4 TDs.

Erik Sommers

I expect low receptions with high yardage from D.J. Moore. Something in the neighborhood of 40 catches for 700 yards, and let’s call it 7 touchdowns.

Everybody seems agreed that getting the rookie more involved isn’t going to mean taking over for Devin Funchess as Cam Newton’s No. 1 receiver. You know what? Let’s be honest. They don’t think he is going to take over for Christian McCaffrey as Newton’s top receiver.

I think averaging about three receptions per game is a perfectly optimistic expectation for Moore’s season. It’s also telling that nobody saw fit to mention his impact as a runner. The Panthers want to get the ball to Moore in space. We’ll see how successful they are in making that space behind the line of scrimmage.

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