Rashaan Gaulden

Rookie safety Rashaan Gaulden will make his debut with the first defensive unit at strong safety with Da’Norris Searcy (head) still in the league's concussion protocol.

Fantasy Impact

IDP owners will want to take note on Rashaan Gaulden's performance when they take on the New England Patriots Friday. The rookie is reportedly trending for Carolina as a player that would contribute soon enough. So if he can show well versus Tom Brady and company he may make a claim over Searcy at the strong safety position. No matter the outcome as long as the rookie's performance is as he has been advertised, he is likely locking down a role for 2018.

For a rookie, reports have Rashaan Gaulden as a stable and consistent player in practice and it carried over when he was inserted into the line up after Da'Norris Searcy went down with the head injury versus Miami in the second preseason contest on Friday night. Head coach Ron Riveria was excited to see the rookie hold his own and reportedly just as excited to review the game tape to verify what he seen from the sidelines.

Fantasy Impact

IDP owners need to consider Rashaan Gaulden a future option pending Searcy (concussion) as well as on their radars in general at this point. Much like the other rookie cornerback Donte Jackson, Gaulden is making an impression worth noting on the Carolina Panthers.

Third-round safety Rashaan Gaulden plays with a physical edge and has been improving steadily while being worked into the first unit. He has also shown a nose for the ball and made multiple plays.

Fantasy Impact

Rashaan Gaulden is a player that IDP owners should consider as a potential future player that could support their lineups. With longtime veteran Mike Adams knocking on retirements door and Da'Norris Searcy being the only other competition for a starting role, Gaulden's prominent role could take hold sooner rather than later. The rookies IDP status is steadily trending upward.

According to a camp report rookie Rashaan Gaulden seen time with the first defensive unit in the first practice of Carolina Panthers training camp over Da’Norris Searcy. In the report, it was James Bradberry, rookie Donte Jackson, rookie Rashaan Gaulden, and Mike Adams to first be deployed. Searcy was then later rotated in with that unit.

Fantasy Impact

This could be a significant indication that Carolina will be giving the rookie Rashaan Gaulden every opportunity to earn the starting safety role opposite of Mike Adams. Fantasy Football owners who play in IDP leagues will want to keep tabs on the situation as it develops. Both Gaulden and Searcy's IDP value will be determined by the first week of 2018 season over the next few weeks of camp. Whoever wins the starting job as the other safety with Adams should have the ability to become IDP relevant.

The Carolina third-round rookie Rashaan Gaulden has been reportedly working out this offseason with elite cornerbacks Jalen Ramsey, A.J. Bouye, and Casey Hayward. The three veterans were reportedly impressed enough that Jalen Ramsey went as far to post on Instagram that the rookie should be in contention for the defensive rookie of the year.

Fantasy Impact

Fantasy Football IDP owners will want to take note of the statement and consider keeping tabs on the rookie. It is currently unclear the role he'll have to start the season, but the off-season reports are positive enough that Gaulden should be on the radar of owners looking for additional assets to add. If he manages to win a starting role as one of the main safeties there will be the potential to make an IDP impact in 2018.