Will Tetairoa McMillan Miss Week 1? Fantasy Football Outlook, Injury Update

Will Tetairoa McMillan be healthy enough to play for the Carolina Panthers in Week 1? Andersen breaks down the latest Tetairoa McMillan injury news for fantasy football.

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan has generated plenty of buzz during his first NFL training camp. This year's eighth overall pick is an early candidate for Rookie of the Year, and he could become a franchise superstar in Charlotte.

However, before McMillan's NFL career gets underway, he'll need to clear a major injury hurdle.

Will McMillan be healthy before the 2025 season begins? Will he play in Week 1?

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Will Tetairoa McMillan Play In Week 1?

McMillan suffered a hamstring injury sometime during or after the Panthers' second preseason game on August 16. He missed more than a week of practice while he recovered.

On Tuesday, August 26, McMillan returned to the practice field. This was an encouraging sign as the Panthers continued to prepare for their Week 1 contest against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

It's too early to tell what McMillan's participation level will be when the Panthers release their first official injury report next Wednesday, but it's very promising to see the rookie practicing nearly two weeks before the season-opening contest.

As it stands, McMillan should be healthy for his NFL debut in Week 1.

Tetairoa McMillan practicing again after missing some time last week with a hamstring issue.

— Joe Person (@josephperson) August 26, 2025

Tetairoa McMillan 2025 Fantasy Outlook

The Panthers spent their first draft pick on McMillan with the expectation that he could blossom into a superstar wide receiver for many years to come. The Arizona Wildcat is an impactful possession receiver who makes big plays despite facing heavy coverage downfield. He's a polished route runner and often makes adjustments to bail out his quarterback.

Like any rookie, McMillan will face some growing pains as he transitions from college football to the NFL. However, his college film and production indicate that he's up for the challenge, and that he could become an instant success story in the NFL and fantasy football.

McMillan boasts an 81st percentile speed score and 91st percentile college dominator rating, according to PlayerProfiler.

25 percent of McMillan's college targets were contested, which indicates that the Wildcats heavily trusted him to catch passes despite being smothered by a defender. Carolina will likely take a similar approach and could force targets his way. That's good news for fantasy managers.

While Xavier Legette showed promise last season and Adam Thielen remains a reliable target, there isn't a whole lot of competition for passing volume in Carolina. McMillan will have no trouble carving out a large role, especially if the Panthers are playing from behind in a large portion of their games.

Good quarterback play will be crucial for McMillan's success, and fantasy managers should be optimistic that Bryce Young can support a top-24 season from the rookie. Young came on strong with 612 passing yards, seven touchdowns, and zero interceptions over his final three games in 2024.

McMillan currently has an ADP of 52.24, making him the 25th receiver off the board. However, he ranks as the overall WR19 in RotoBaller's latest expert rankings. This significant discrepancy between price tag and ranking suggests that McMillan is a value pick at his current cost. Fantasy managers should expect consistent WR2 production from McMillan, even though he's being drafted as a WR3/FLEX.

If Tetairoa McMillan can do this to Derek Stingley, Jr., consistently. all CBs are on notice pic.twitter.com/XuG5joYZaC

— Edgar Salmingo, Jr. ✌🏽 (@PanthersAnalyst) August 14, 2025

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