The Panthers opened the 2008 season in dramatic fashion Sunday in a 26-24 upset of the Chargers. Coming out of a timeout with two seconds remaining, QB Jake Delhomme took a major risk, pump-faking while the San Diego pass rush lurched closer, before hitting TE Dante Rosario for a game-winning TD pass as the final seconds ticked away.

Carolina was at a disadvantage, playing without suspended WR Steve Smith, who is being punished for punching and breaking teammate CB Ken Lucas’ nose in a training-camp brawl, but Rosario emerged as a go-to target for Delhomme, grabbing seven catches for 96 yards, including the touchdown that he reeled in after it appeared to almost bounce off his hands.

Rosario appeared in all 16 games as a rookie last season and showed glimpses of what shined on Sunday, but managed just six grabs for 108 yards and two touchdowns.

The PFW spin

After years of searching for a big-play threat to complement Smith, a few potential options, including WR Dwayne Jarrett (two catches, 36 yards), emerged on Sunday, but none more than Rosario.

He’s big (6-4, 250), athletic and poses a difficult matchup for defensive coordinators. Not since Wesley Walls has Carolina had an exciting, pass-catching tight end, but the Panthers might have finally found one. Don’t ignore the bad — Rosario will have to correct some mistakes, like the two false-start penalties he committed against San Diego. However, with a little extra focus, those issues can be eliminated.

After trudging through last season with a boring, inept offense, the Panthers could have the complete opposite when Smith returns in two weeks. With Smith, Jarrett, Rosario, D.J. Hackett, who had five catches for 48 yards on Sunday, and Muhsin Muhammad (6-56) in the mix at receiver, Carolina has the ability to stretch the field and really open things up.

Our fantasy take

There’s sure to be a lot of owners who add Rosario to their roster on Monday, but don’t sacrifice a more proven tight end just to clear a spot for him. Rosario is an intriguing option and the buzz on him will probably never be higher, so scoop him up if you have an open spot or another player you don’t mind dropping, but don’t fall into the trap of getting sucked in by the Week One hype. Defense will be more aware of Rosario from now on and he is still very young and prone to ups and downs at just 23 years old.

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