Welcome to the eighth part of a thirty-two-part series: Reading the NFL Offseason Tea Leaves. Fantasy football tasseography is deeply rooted in predicting future fantasy fortunes. Some of the team tea cups we'll be looking into may be larger than others. The smallest of cups may have the most alluring blends of offensive weaponry, or be set to bloom after a long steep. This series will aid in your approach to Redraft and Dynasty leagues by bringing you up to date on:

• Free Agency
  • Re-signings, additions, who signed elsewhere, and what it means for fantasy.
• NFL Draft
  • What can we decipher about the direction a team is headed in based on their draft selections?
• Coaching Changes
  • Who's in, who's out, and how do the coaching philosophies translate to fantasy production?
• Fantasy Fortunes
  • What does this all mean for your fantasy football drafts?

Like tasseography, the arrangement of these four sections will vary as we digest each team's offseasons and see how the offensive pieces settle. Each article will interpret what the NFL team has told us about its future plans based on what it's done since its 2025 season ended.

Reading the Tennessee Titans' 2026 Offseason

Draft Day Additions & A Free Agency Loss

Not much changed for the Carolina Panthers this offseason. RB Rico Dowdle departed in free agency, landing with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The only skill-position player addition of note is WR Chris Brazzell, whom the Panthers drafted in the third round. They also took Georgia OT Monroe Freeling with the #19 pick in the draft. This team continues to build in the trenches, looking to open rushing lanes for Chuba Hubbard and Jonathon Brooks while keeping Bryce Young clean in the pocket.

Coaching Changes

There are no coaching changes to make us believe the offense will change in 2026. This will be the fourth year with offense-minded Head Coach Dave Canales. Typically, when a system is in place for several years, it becomes more productive and efficient. Young will benefit from the stability of being in the same system for his first four years in the NFL. 

Fantasy Fortunes

I really like what the Panthers are building and expect this offense to take a leap in 2026. If this leap occurs, we may see a QB2, RB2, WR1, WR3 and TE3. Brazzell and Jalen Coker will compete for the WR2 role opposite rookie standout Tetairoa McMillan. I like Coker to win the role due to Brazzell's college situation at Tennessee. That offensive system can't work in the NFL, so Brazzell will have to learn brand new NFL concepts, and the learning curve will be steep.

Xavier Legette appears to be a bust and should be off our radars.

Brooks will hopefully play a meaningful role for the Panthers in 2026 for the first time, and will be the RB2 behind Hubbard. By mid-season, he might be able to make it a 50/50 split with Hubbard. Brooks is a long-term dynasty hold, but if someone comes knocking on your door offering a 2027 second-round pick, I would suggest you accept it and reroll on a healthier RB. Don't trade Brooks for a 2026 second, as the RB class is much weaker than it will be in '27. 

I wouldn't recommend investing in the Panthers' TE room in 2026, but Ja'Tavion Sanders will likely start at TE. Young should elevate his game and insert himself into the mid-QB2 conversation by year's end.

Cam White is a Senior Analyst & Host at Optimus Fantasy. You can find more of his work on our YouTube channel, and make sure to follow him on Bluesky.