Greg Olsen left the Panthers to be with his son, who is recovering from heart surgery, but returned to the team on Monday. As he prepares for Week 1 against he Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Olsen may not see targets from quarterback Cam Newton, who is listed as questionable as he recovers from a rib injury. Regardless, Olsen is arguably the only reliable target on the Panthers' roster to start the season. Rookie receiver Kelvin Benjamin will look to establish a significant role in the passing game. However, Olsen may be the true No. 1 receiver until the Panthers' offense settles in.
Fantasy football start/sit advice, Week 1: Greg Olsen is must-start
Not only should Greg Olsen start in Week 1, he’s the best offensive option on the Panthers’ roster for fantasy owners.
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Fantasy impact: Fantasy owners should start Olsen with or without Newton under center. Even if Derek Anderson fills in as quarterback, Olsen should see his share of targets. The veteran tight end will be a security blanket for either a banged-up Newton or a shaky Anderson. That's not to say Tampa Bay won't be a challenge. Their linebackers and safeties will likely focus on Olsen plenty, but he's a solid TE1 play for anyone that drafted him.
