Best and worst performers vs. Panthers

• QB Daniel Jones (89.6)
• QB Tyrod Taylor (85.4)
• WR Jaydon Mickens (78.9)
• OL Bren Bredeson (74.9)
• WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton (72.7)

It comes as no surprise that Jones tops this list given how dominant he was during the opening series of the game. What’s more notable is how well Bredeson graded out and how strongly Ford-Wheaton rebounded.

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• OL Wyatt Davis (40.0)
• OL Shane Lemieux (41.0)
• TE Darren Waller (45.8)
• TE Lawrence Cager (49.6)
• RB James Robinson (49.7)

How in the world does Waller grade out near the bottom offensively? Did his one drop (after a big hit) really knock his analytical grade back that far? It would be great for PFF to offer more clarity on this.

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• LB Bobby Okereke (87.3)
• S Dane Belton (85.8)
• DL Leonard Williams (83.9)
• S Gervarrius Owens (76.8)
• LB Carter Coughlin (76.4)

Okereke was a one-man wrecking crew on Friday night and his grade reflects that. Belton and Owens are improving week to week, and Coughlin has really come on. This won’t be the only time you see his name on this list.

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• NT Donovan Jeter (30.0)
• DB Darren Evans (37.5)
• CB Adoree’ Jackson (39.2)
• DL Kobe Smith (39.8)
• DL Jordon Riley (45.0)

Jackson’s struggles on Friday night were obvious and nothing to really be concerned with. But Jordon Riley? A 45.0? Perhaps PFF saw something no one else did.

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• TE Ryan Jones (75.8)
• WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton (68.7)
• LB Carter Coughlin (68.4)
• CB Cor’Dale Flott (63.7)
• LB Tomon Fox (62.2)

There’s Coughlin again. His improved special teams play may have him out ahead of Cam Brown at this point. And Ford-Wheaton got a shout-out from general manager Joe Schoen over his play as a gunner, so that’s worth keeping an eye on.

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• S Gervarrius Owens (43.9)
• TE Lawrence Cager (49.6)
• LS Casey Kreiter (57.5)
• TE Chris Myarick (58.6)
• DL Kevin Atkins (59.5)

As well as Owens has played defensively, he’s struggling a bit on special teams. With only so many spots available on the 53-man roster, time is running out for him to improve in this area.

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• RT Evan Neal (68.6)
• WR Parris Campbell (66.6)
• WR Jalin Hyatt (64.0)
• OL John Michael Schmitz (58.3)
• WR Sterling Shepard (54.5)
• LT Andrew Thomas (53.5)
• LB Darrian Beavers (74.8)
• LB Micah McFadden (74.0)
• CB Tre Hawkins (70.9)
• LB Kayvon Thibodeaux (57.5)
• CB Deonte Banks (54.5)
• NT Dexter Lawrence (51.5)

Big Dex had an uncharacteristically poor performance against the Panthers that will ultimately amount to nothing. Meanwhile, McFadden and Beavers remain strongly engaged in a battle for the starting job alongside Okereke — one Wink Martindale says McFadden is currently leading.