NFL
Is Kelvin Benjamin Headed for a Sophomore Slump?
Kelvin Benjamin was part of an elite rookie class, but can he succeed without the volume?

The 2014 rookie wide receiver class was PlayerProfiler.com. Touchdowns are something Benjamin relied upon in 2014.

Red zone production, though, isn't exactly what Benjamin offered the Panthers. Though he saw 28.3 percent of the team's red zone targets (tied for eighth in the league), he didn't cash in on those 15 targets. Benjamin caught just four of them, and that 26.7 percent conversion rate ranked 49th among the 50 receivers who saw at least 10 targets. (Only 33rd overall in best ball formats as the 15th receiver overall. Benjamin finished as the 16th-best PPR receiver despite the volume.

Is it possible that Funchess' arrival will take focus from Benjamin? Yes. Will Newton be as bad as he was last year? Probably not. Will Benjamin live up to that draft price? Probably, but he'll have to replicate his 2014 season to do so, and there are enough reasons to think that might be tricky to back off of him until there's a price drop.

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