Saints @ Panthers: Fantasy Football Forecast

Saints vs Panthers, the NFC South crown on the line, Thursday Night Football…what else? Let’s do this!

CAROLINA PANTHERS

QB

Cam Newton has yet to score 20+ points at home this season and he has thrown a pick in each of his last four games. The Saints’ defense has been pretty good against Aaron Rodgers but on the road they’ve been struggling all season long therefore Cam should be in your starting lineup.

RB

Carolina’s backfield is cursed this season. The only running back that you can start this week is Jonathan Stewart, who had a season-high 16 touches against the Seattle Seahawks. Borderline RB3 at this point.

Veteran running back DeAngelo Williams could be back this week but even if he plays Stewart is gonna get the majority of the snaps.

WR

I don’t think you can start anybody other than rookie Kelvin Benjamin, who has been outstanding so far. Believe it or not, he’s a top-15 fantasy WR ahead of guys like Mike Wallace, Alshon Jeffrey and Desean Jackson.

Benjamin is also on the “Start ‘Em” list written by NFL.com analyst Michael Fabiano:

"Benjamin was held out of the end zone last week, but there’s a good chance for another visit against the Saints on Thursday night. New Orleans has struggled against wideouts, surrendering the fourth-most fantasy points (28.41 PPG) to the position. What’s more, this unit has allowed nine touchdown catches in four road contests"

TE

Greg Olsen is one of the five fantasy tight ends who scored 80+ fantasy points in the season but the Saints are currently allowing just 4.49 ppg to opposing tight ends. My advice is to start Olsen anyway simply because he’s the only other reliable pair of hands Newton has to throw to.

K

Gano is 12/14 on the season but scored 10+ fantasy points only two times so far. Not a great season but the matchup is favorable as the Saints are allowing the 3rd-most fantasy points to opposing kickers.

D/ST

Last year this unit was the 2nd-best in fantasy football , behind the Seattle Seahawks. Now everything has changed: they allowed 30+ points in four games and even had negative fantasy points in 3 games this season: no way you start ’em.

Oct 26, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints tight end Jimmy Graham (80) celebrates after a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the third quarter of a game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

QB

Brees never posted less than 15 fantasy points so far. Must-start.

RB

Looks like #AngryIngram is back! On Sunday night the matchup was excellent and Ingram scored 23.50 fantasy points. Pierre Thomas is still out so Ingram has great value this week against a Panthers defense that ranks 28th in the league against the run. They’re also allowing the 5th-most fantasy points to fantasy running backs so I’d say you start Ingram.

Robinson is active but he’s not gonna play a lot of snaps – if any.

Pierre Thomas is still out.

WR

Colston and Cooks are back to the “starter” status as the Panthers are allowing the 5th-most fantasy points to wide receivers. You might even start Kenny Stills with SIX teams on a bye.

TE

Jimmy Graham is Jimmy Graham again. Even if he basically played half game against the Packers he still scored 11.90 fantasy points.

K

If the Saints’ offense continues to rise up (sorry…) you might even think about starting Graham. Not this week: the Panthers are allowing just 7.50 fantasy points to opposing kickers.

D/ST

Only the Oakland Raiders and the New York Jets scored less fantasy points than the Saints. Enough said.