4 Panthers players who exceeded expectations against the Raiders

Robby Anderson – Carolina Panthers WR

Expectations were high regarding Robby Anderson in a new environment this season. But his memorable debut for the Carolina Panthers far exceeded what was thought possible initially.

The wide receiver is keen to make the most out of this opportunity with a more consistent quarterback than anything he was used to during his time with the New York Jets. Judging by his outing against the Las Vegas Raiders, the sky is the limit in terms of what he can bring to the team.

Anderson was a constant threat on deep routes that resulted in a 75-yard touchdown from Teddy Bridgewater which swung momentum in the Panthers’ favor. This has been a trademark of his game since entering the NFL and it appears the wideout is only going to get better with more prolific weapons around him.

One area of Anderson’s game that often gets overlooked is the nimble footwork that allows him to get open quickly over short-to-intermediate routes. His first game in a Panthers’ uniform resulted in a 76.3 grade from Pro Football Focus after hauling in six of eight targets for 115 receiving yards and a touchdown.

This was crucial to Carolina’s chances given the lack of production they were getting from the likes of Curtis Samuel and Ian Thomas. D.J. Moore also went through some timing issues with Bridgewater. But the former Temple star seems to have hit the ground running with his new signal-caller.