Panthers — Jake Delhomme is so frequently described as underrated that, almost by definition, he’s not. But those who say that are absolutely right about what he means to the Panthers.
Now healthy, Delhomme acts as the catalyst for an offense loaded with talent that might go nowhere without him. WR Steve Smith is the go-to guy, and newcomers D.J. Hackett and Muhsin Muhammad will keep defenses from devoting their secondary to stopping Smith. Behind a solid offensive line, rookie Jonathan Stewart could emerge as this season’s Adrian Peterson. DeAngelo Williams isn’t a shabby option, either.