The Panthers lost Cam Newton's favorite target in the preseason and were saved by a player the NFL world considered a bust

Streeter Lecka/Getty

Cam Newton and Ted Ginn Jr. in the NFC Championship.

When Kelvin Benjamin went down with a torn ACL during the preseason, the Carolina Panthers' options at wide receiver looked bleak. Benjamin had excelled as a rookie and entered training camp as the team's clear No. 1 receiver and Cam Newton's favorite target.

After the announcement that Benjamin would miss all of the regular season, little was expected of the Panthers. In large part, this was because it was unclear whom, besides tight end Greg Olsen, Newton would throw to.

Fast-forward to February. The 17-1 Panthers stand one win away from the first Super Bowl victory in franchise history, and veteran wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. has emerged from the fringes of NFL relevancy to become the unlikeliest of stars in a potent, often unstoppable Carolina offense.

Ginn, 30, was a highly touted receiver and return specialist prospect out of Ohio State. Known for his pure speed and playmaking ability, he had reportedly run a 4.22-second 40-yard dash in college, and he returned the opening kickoff of the 2007 BCS National Championship Game 92 yards for a touchdown. The Dolphins drafted him ninth overall - ahead of Marshawn Lynch, Darrelle Revis, and future teammate Olsen.

But until this year, Ginn was widely considered a bust in the NFL. Known more for fumbles and inopportune drops than for speedy highlight-reel returns and receptions, Ginn bounced from Miami to San Francisco to Carolina to Arizona and, before this season, back to Carolina.

Benjamin's tearing his ACL forced Ginn into a starting role at wide receiver, an opportunity he has not squandered. His 10 receiving touchdowns this year double his previous career high, and his 74-yard touchdown against the Falcons in December also marked a career high. His 16.8 yards a catch leads all Carolina receivers.

After routing the Cardinals in the NFC Championship, the Panthers awarded Ginn the game ball. Here was one of his highlights from the game, which brought back memories of his Ohio State days:

Ginn may be enjoying the best season of his career, but he hasn't been perfect. Drops still haunt him. As ESPN's Jeremy Fowler noted, Ginn flubbed 7.4% of his targets this season, tied for seventh worst in the league.

But unlike in the past, Ginn has managed to produce more big plays than drops, especially in key moments. If Ginn has Newton to thank for his big numbers, Newton might return the favor and thank Ginn for the MVP award he is expected to win.

Should the Panthers beat the Broncos on Sunday, as they are expected to, Ginn is likely to be one of the reasons.