A Discussion on WRs: 2011 v.s. 2023

[hepcat]

The 2011 offense was low key one of the most talented the Panthers ever put on the field. If it wasn't for the defense being complete trash that team would have been in the playoffs. 

Back on topic I'd take Steve Smith and a rag tag group of other WRs over anything else. 

[KSpan]

2 hours ago, LinvilleGorge said:

Smitty is by far the best WR in the two units but I think this year's unit has significantly better depth of talent.

Wholly disagree that depth is better this year, particularly since Chark has struggled with injuries the past 2 years. Naanee and even Ajirotutu had shown as much as TMJ and Smith, Mingo is a rookie... they are all unproven. Shenault perhaps boosts it but he's not really a traditional WR.

[Untouchable]

Here's your players with over 50 targets in 2011 and 2015:

2011	Targets	Rec	Yards	Y/R	TD
Smith	129	79	1394	17.6	7
Olsen	89	45	540	12.0	5
Naanee	76	44	467	10.6	1
Shockey	62	37	455	12.3	4
Stewart	61	47	413	8.8	1
LaFell	56	36	613	17.0	3

 - DWill was next in targets with 25. Team also had 3 players over 700 yards rushing.

2015	Targets	Rec	Yards	Y/R	TD
Olsen	124	77	1104	14.3	7
Ginn	97	44	739	16.8	10
Funchess	63	31	473	15.3	5
Cotchery	54	39	485	12.4	3
Brown	54	31	447	14.4	4

- WR share was similar just spread across 4 targets now, TE now featured but the share also about the same as Dickson had 26 targets.  RB target share decreased compared to 2011 as Stewart, Tolbert and Whittaker combined for 59 targets.

This year I'd say you're probably closer to 2015 than 2011 looking at the way the WR core is built, but with Hurst and Sanders kind of sharing those Olsen targets more.  And obviously far less of those higher risk, down the field shots Newton excelled at.