The 2026 NFL season has begun, and the Carolina Panthers will soon join the fray as they kick off their schedule on Sunday at home against the Chicago Bears. While the reigning NFC South champs are home underdogs, they should have a good chance at an upset if they get into a shootout with the Bears' high-scoring offense.
As for fantasy football, the best choice on Carolina's side for Week 1 will be starting second-year wideout Tetairoa McMillan—who has an excellent matchup against a Chicago defense that ranked 31st in fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers last season. But there's also at least one sleeper to consider.
Bleacher Report's Moe Moton has named tight end Darren Waller, who was signed just three weeks ago, as one of the biggest
sleepers for the opening slate of action. Moton writes:
Waller turns 34 on the first Sunday of the NFL season. While age is a consideration, he enters Week 1 as the Carolina Panthers' lead tight end in an offense that needs a consistent playmaker at the position... Fantasy managers in need of an early-season starter at tight end should consider Waller for the first few weeks before age and workload become concerns. He's capable of scoring twice against the Bears, who are without starting safety Coby Bryant and slot cornerback Kyler Gordon.
Waller is definitely what we would call a deep sleeper, so proceed with caution. He has yet to play a single live snap with quarterback Bryce Young, and we don't know what their chemistry looks like as of yet. Plus, he's not even been on the team for a full month.
All that means Waller may see a short snap count, and he's technically listed as the third tight end on the depth chart beneath Tommy Tremble and Mitchell Evans.
That being said, the Panthers need another weapon in the red zone—and Waller is probably the best they have on the roster outside of McMillan. The former Pro Bowler scored six touchdowns in just nine games for the Miami Dolphins last season, proving he's still got a little something left in the tank.
It wouldn't come as a shock if Waller gets at least a couple of targets in the end zone, which would make him worth the gamble for this week.
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This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: New Panthers pass catcher named among top fantasy sleepers for Week 1
