First off, what a game last week! Gano got you some bonus points for that 63 yard game winner! Let’s be honest, you wanted a little more from your Panthers. There were some trouble spots on both sides of the ball, so to an extent they’ll be looking to turn things around against a Washington team that while tough on D, is looking for some offensive firepower. Enough talk, let’s get it!
Cam Newton ($6,100 DraftKings, $8,400 FanDuel):
It is worth noting that Cam is the second most expensive QB on FanDuel while he’s actually slipped to the seventh spot on DraftKings. This is based more on the matchup than any bad signs in my opinion. The interceptions were ugly, but it was against a very good Giants secondary. On the bright side, seeing him spread the ball around was a great sign. This offense going from good to great depends on finding weapons beyond Funchess, Olsen and McCaffrey, so seeing Samuels and Moore getting more involved will open up big play opportunities for all involved. This should be another game where they get looks, as Washington is good at the corner position but lacking up the middle. Look for more bubble screens and shots down the field to open the field up, and Cam is still the best goal line threat we have. On DraftKings, I would absolutely play Cam. On FanDuel, you will probably find yourself going elsewhere as he’s priced more appropriately. Then again, look what Drew Brees did to these guys Monday night.
Projections: 250-275 yards passing, 2 TD, 0 INT; 30-40 yards rushing, 1 TD
Christian McCaffrey ($8,300 DraftKings, $8,400 FanDuel): While McCaffrey is off to a great start, 10th in the league in rushing, it has been aggravating as a fantasy player watching his lack of involvement in the passing game. Granted, he did get more involved in the second half Sunday, but we may have been a little spoiled by his first 2 weeks from a points per reception standpoint. Ideally, I’d like to see him line up more in the slot, more screens, anything to get him the ball on the outside or lined up with a linebacker or safety. With his high price in DFS, it makes it very hard to justify playing him since his allure is racking up PPR points. There is a scenario where he can have a great actual game, but not a good fantasy game. He is priced in a range where he needs to get you 25-30 fantasy points to make it worth your while rostering him. I am great from a fan perspective as long as it wins games, but if they are trying to turn CMC into a more traditional running back and this is not an outlier, I’m not a fan.
Projections: 90-110 yards rushing; 3-5 receptions, 50-60 yards.
Wide Receiver: This is the part of the offense I am really excited about all around. DFS-wise, on DraftKings all receivers are priced below $5,000, FanDuel the pricing is a little different, but the receivers are still very affordable. Funchess ($4,900 DraftKings, $6,200 FanDuel) will probably draw a lot of Josh Norman, which should mute his production but still make him viable because he is price-friendly. I mentioned earlier it is important to get Curtis Samuel ($3,800 DraftKings, $4,700 FanDuel) and DJ Moore ($4,000 DraftKings, $4,900 FanDuel) involved to turn this into a great offense. If last week was any indication, the problem won’t be offensive production, but where it will come from. Both of these guys give Cam a big play option with the deep ball and across the middle of the field, which I feel is going to be the way to go to jump out to a lead. Speaking of the middle of the field, Greg Olsen ($4,300 DraftKings, $5,900 FanDuel) is back and is expected to take on a normal workload. This could lead to a big game back from injury, and I am sure he will fly far under the radar in the tight end department. Don’t be surprised if you see a very balanced line from the receivers, which isn’t necessarily good news in fantasy world. Cam seems to be thriving in Norv Turner’s offense, finding the open receiver. So, if you decide to play Panthers in DFS this week, I would play Cam and then CMC with either Moore/Samuel or both if you’re looking to spend up elsewhere.
Projections: Funchess: 4-6 receptions, 50-60 yards
Moore: 3-5 receptions, 40-50 yards, TD
Samuel: 3-5 receptions, 30-40 yards, 10-15 yards rushing
Olsen: 5-8 receptions, 60-80 yards, TD
Defense/Special Teams: So last week I was a little early, but Thomas Davis is back! I am thinking his presence will lift up a D who has been struggling with a familiar problem, shutting down big plays especially on 3rd and long. Fortunately this week, Alex Smith and company have been struggling to put up points. Adrian Peterson is a year older and, while having a better year than I expected, should have issues with Kuechly, Davis and company. My instinct tells me that they force Washington to abandon the run early. If I worried about anyone from Washington, it would be Chris Thompson over Peterson because of his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. Let’s put it this way, if Washington puts up points on this D, there are causes for concern. It’s not happening.
Projections: 10-14 points, 3-5 sacks, 1-2 TO’s
I don’t expect a ton of fantasy fireworks from this game. As I mentioned in the receiver section, I see a lot of balance this week and would suggest pairing Cam with more of Moore and Olsen than CMC. If you’re a homer, by all means play those Panthers, I think we’ll be on the right side of things Sunday. Good luck with your lineups in DFS and season long, and as always, Keep Pounding!
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