10 NFL preseason Week 2 winners
By Ian Wharton
6. Curtis Samuel, WR, Carolina Panthers
For years the Carolina Panthers have been maligned for not properly surrounding quarterback Cam Newton with competent playmakers at wide receiver. 2018 may be different as stars seem to be aligning in their favor. Newton’s healthy, Norv Turner’s offense will benefit their run game and underneath passing options, and second-year receiver Curtis Samuel has been lights out in this preseason when targeted.
Samuel’s a tremendous athlete capable of drawing safety attention on deep routes, or taking a short pass to the house after the catch. He started to show more comfort as a pure receiver last season right before breaking his ankle and suffering ligament damage. But he looks fully healthy now.
His two receptions for 65 yards included an acrobatic 39-yard catch where his last-second burst and body control was the difference between coming down with the ball or an incompletion. He’s going to break into a rotation that features Devin Funchess, D.J. Moore, and Torrey Smith. Samuel should be given the opportunity over Smith, who is a one-trick player, with Funchess flanking him and Moore acting as the movable piece into the slot.