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QB Jake Delhomme, Carolina Panthers

HT: 6-2, WT: 205, Born: 1-10-1975, College: Louisianna-Lafayette, Drafted: ---

2009 Projections

Average draft position

Current as of September 7th. [Full ADP list]

Overall: J Norwood (138), J Flacco (139), Jake Delhomme (140), S Smith (141),
Position: B Favre (135-QB20), J Flacco (139-QB21), Jake Delhomme (140 - QB22), C Pennington (149-QB23), J Campbell (157-QB24)
Click here for a comparison of these players.

PPR Average draft position

Current as of September 7th. [Full PPR ADP list]

Overall: M Jenkins (152), Jake Delhomme (153), P Crayton (154), J Davis (155)
Position: T Edwards (128-QB19), K Orton (137-QB20), Jake Delhomme (153 - QB21), J Flacco (158-QB22), J Campbell (161-QB23)
Click here for a comparison of these players.

 Click here to go to the Jake Delhomme spotlight, our staff's most detailed analysis.

 Click here to go to the Jake Delhomme faceoff, our staff's look at the pros and cons.

Best Case

Jake Delhomme is certainly capable of a big season -- he threw for 3,800+ yards and 29 TDs in 2004. In his second year back from Tommy John surgery, we could expect improvement after an uneven 2008 season. Steve Smith should be available for all 16 games this year, which should help Delhomme get off to a better start. If he can put together a few more outstanding games this season, Delhomme could outperform his draft spot significantly.

Worst Case

Delhomme's numbers could come in below last year's mark as he plays in a very run-oriented offense these days. It's hard to see him getting back to his mid-decade form, despite the big contract. Muhsin Muhammad is aging and the Panthers didn't upgrade the WR position during the draft leaving a rather thin selection of targets for Delhomme to choose from (neither Dante Rosario nor Jeff King impressed from the TE position last year, either).

Outlook

Delhomme signed a $42.5 million deal with Carolina ($20 million guaranteed) during the offseason, so he is entrenched as the starter. His numbers last season were solid considering he was coming off major elbow surgery, as he finished at No. 19 among all fantasy QBs (in the middle of fantasy QB2 range). That's a good spot for him as the Panthers love to grind out the game with their running backs, limiting Delhomme's ceiling as a passer (he's had fewer than 450 passing attempts in each of his last four seasons).

Relevant Articles

2009 Schedule

2008 Game Summaries

Week 1 - Delhomme's statistics look nice, though they were very pedestrian until the final drive. Delhomme was eight of 11 for 68 yards and a score on that possession, which means he was just 15-30 for 179 yards and no touchdowns prior to that. Still, fantasy owners probably won't mind how the numbers were compiled as long as they were in fact compiled. As he did in preseason, his throws looked crisp and he showed no ill effects from major elbow surgery last year. He didn't appear rusty, didn't lock in on one receiver all game long, and most importantly he didn't turn the ball over. It helped that he was given loads of time by his offensive line all afternoon. Early in the contest, he nearly connected with WR Muhsin Muhammad for a touchdown but the receiver was tackled at the one yard line. On the ensuing fourth down pass play, Delhomme ran a play-action fake to the running back and found FB Brad Hoover wide open in the end zone. Hoover couldn't hold on to the football, however, and the Panthers turned the ball over on downs.

Week 2 - Delhomme struggled against the Bears most of the game, but he seemed to improve as the second half went on. The turning point seemed to be after he took a big hit on an attempt to run for a first down, as he came back out and led the Panthers to touchdowns on two of the next four drives. During these drives Delhomme was five for seven for 54 yards, compared to going seven of 14 for 74 yards and an interception the rest of the game.

Week 3 - Things started off good for Delhomme as he was able to lead Carolina on two first half drives that put the Panther's up 10--0. On the touchdown scoring series, Delhomme was two of four for 43 yards with one of those completions being a nice 29 yard pass to WR Steve Smith down the middle of the field. The Panthers' signal caller finished the first half nine of 15 for 115 yards, but his eight completions after halftime only went for 76 yards. In addition to be sacked five times in the game, Delhomme turned the ball over on fumbles twice in the first half. His fumble just before halftime was returned by Minnesota for a touchdown that tied the game at ten.

Week 4 - Delhomme had his most efficient game of the season. He finished with 294 passing yards, averaging 10.1 yards per attempt, for a 124.8 rating. Delhomme looked often for his starting wide receivers and frequently found them open downfield. Delhomme's two touchdowns were his first since week one. He benefitted from great protection by his offensive line, which did not allow a sack.

Delhomme made only one potentially bad decision. He tried to lob a pass to Smith, but must not have seen the safety. Fortunately, the ball, Smith and the Falcon safety arrived at the same time and the pass fell incomplete.

Week 5 - Delhomme looked like an all star. He toyed with the Chiefs secondary, throwing the ball where he wanted at will. He threw deep to Smith often, and found Muhammad when Smith was covered. Basically, he did what he wanted to and wasn't really tested.

Week 6 - Jake Delhomme had a rough outing at Tampa Bay. He completed 20 of 39 passes for 242 yards, zero touchdowns and three interceptions and ran the ball one time for a one yard loss. All three interceptions came on passes that bounced off potential Panther receivers. Delhomme and Carolina just never seemed to be in sync from the start of the game and Tampa Bay was able to force them to abandon the running game and become one dimensional with the pass, where they came up with all of the big plays. Delhomme underthrew one pass to WR Steve Smith for a 48 yard completion that could have been a touchdown had he led Smith a little more and Smith later dropped a pass that would have been a sure score.

Week 7 - After throwing three interceptions and zero touchdowns one week ago Delhomme rebounded to throw two TD passes for the third time in four games. He spread the ball around but mainly threw off play action. His favorite target was Steve Smith but he's equally comfortable throwing to Muhammad.

Week 8 - Delhomme had an efficient day throwing including two touchdown passes and amassing 248 yards on 20 for 28 attempts with no interceptions. Delhomme completed passes to seven different receivers, yet both touchdowns were to WR Steve Smith, an 18 yarder and a 65 yard toss. He was sacked once and had one fumble. His passes were on target and he showed good rhythm with all his receivers.

Week 10 - Jake Delhomme had a game to forget against the Raiders, but luckily for both he and the Panthers, Carolina was able to do enough to hold on for the win. Delhomme finished just seven of 27 passing for 72 yards, a three yard touchdown pass to WR Muhsin Muhammad and four interceptions for what has to be one of the worst outings of his career. He never seemed to be out of sync with his receivers and looked flustered throughout the game.

Week 11 - Delhomme had a quiet day passing the ball because the Panthers were so successful running the ball. He only threw the ball 19 times for 96 yards. He made no mistakes, but it was not a pretty game for Delhomme.

Week 12 - Delhomme struggled to develop a rhythm until late in the game when the Falcons changed their defense. It was only then that his timing seemed to be in sync, as he led fourth quarter touchdown drives from 83 and 67 yards out, capped off by a twelve yard scamper for a touchdown and a sixteen yard connection for a touchdown to Muhsin Muhammed. Delhomme's timing had been off with Steve Smith and Muhsin Muhammed all afternoon, seemingly throwing just behind his receivers on most missed passes or failing to put enough on the ball to let his receivers run under the ball. Delhomme complained of elbow soreness in the post game press conference, which should be monitored based upon his return from Tommy John elbow surgery last year.

Week 13 - Jake Delhomme only had to throw the ball seventeen times to win this game. He did run one very nice touchdown. But, he was only two yards away from two touchdowns. WR Steve Smith was tackled twice on the one yard line. Delhomme had a very clean and impressive game and this was his first game ever in Lambeau Field. If the Carolina defense could have stopped Green Bay more Delhomme would have had a bigger day. The Panthers only possessed the ball for 22 minutes.

Week 14 - Delhomme didn't play very well in this game early on and didn't protect the ball, throwing two interceptions in the game. He was six for ten for 69 yards and one interception in the first half. He did have one big play when he threw a 38 yard touchdown pass to WR Steve Smith in the third quarter. The Panther offensive line and running attack took over the game midway through the third quarter as the Buccaneers simply could not stop the running game of Carolina. He did make some plays in the passing game when the game was close, but didn't need to make many in the second half because the running game was so dominant.

Week 15 - Delhomme had a good game, but it could have been great. Though Delhomme was effective, he just missed a number of receivers on potential big plays. Delhomme focused on his starting wide receivers and frequently found them open downfield. He completed five passes of at least 24 yards to Muhsin Muhammad and Steve Smith.

Delhomme's interception came on a twice tipped ball. He found Steve Smith wide open on Carolina's opening drive for a fifteen yard touchdown. Delhomme overthrew Jeff King on another potential touchdown.

Week 16 - Delhomme had a fairly quiet game; he did not turn over the ball. Throughout the game he looked long to his receivers, and he found Muhsin Muhammad for 60 yards.

Week 17 - Delhomme only attempted 20 passes due to the offense game plan. The coaches relied on the rushing attack to keep the ball out of the hands of the Saint offense, and only passed the ball in either obvious passing situations or to keep the defense honest. When he did drop back to pass he usually had plenty of time in the pocket to find an open receiver deep downfield. The pass rush was only able to get to him on the final two drives of the game, sacking him once and almost getting to him on another play. On the final drive he was hit just as he released the ball and got up limping while running downfield. There did not appear to be a serious injury as he was able to stay in the game and throw another pass before the game winning field goal.

Week 19 - Delhomme, who had a playoff record of 5--2 and QB rating of 95, only threw 12 interceptions all season but had five picked off by the Cardinals, two in the red zone. Only one pick could not be considered his fault, and Delhomme, as much as any one player can be, was primarily responsible for this defeat. He lost a fumble at the 13 yard line that set Arizona's go ahead touchdown and only hit Steve Smith on a short pass with less than minute for a meaningless touchdown. He finished with a QB rating of 39.1.

Delhomme once served as backup quarterback to Kurt Warner with the Amsterdam Admirals of the now defunct NFL Europe.