Arizona D a plus matchup for Chuba Hubbard
In Week 16, the Panthers face a Cardinals defense that has been struggling against both the pass and run. Arizona is the sixth-best matchup for opposing running backs in terms of fantasy points allowed. Chuba Hubbard is one of the only playable assets in the Panthers offense, anyway, especially in the fantasy playoffs. He has not come off the field much in the last two, with 97.1-percent and 92.7-percent Snap Shares in Weeks 14 and 15, respectively.
Mike Boone (now reverted to the practice squad) was the only other back to receiver a carry in Week 15, taking two carries for 14 yards. Raheem Blackshear and Velus Jones are the only other backs on the active roster. Neither has carried the ball or received a target in the Carolina offense yet this season. There are not many backs who are going to get a more dominant share of their backfield than Hubbard. He’s a solid RB2 play against the Cardinals.
The Carolina passing attack is not exactly one to rely on in the second round of the fantasy playoffs. Adam Thielen has been the most prominent target for Bryce Young, earning 32 targets since returning from injury in Week 13. The veteran wide receiver has led the team in targets for three straight games, but brought in just five of seven passes for 51 scoreless yards in Week 15.
The Cardinals secondary has been ineffective against the run in real football terms (No. 32 in Dropback Success Rate Against), but stingy against fantasy wide receivers. They give up the 12th-least fantasy points to receivers. Thielen is an okay PPR flex play this week. The rest of the Panthers pass catchers are low-volume avoids.
– Joel Ybarra, @metaffb
Carolina Panthers wide receivers Adam Thielen (hamstring) ...
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen (hamstring) ...
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen (hamstring) ...
Panthers get generous Dallas defense in first round of fantasy playoffs
In Week 15, the first round of the fantasy playoffs, the Panthers get a Cowboys defense that has been allowing fantasy production, especially against the run. Unfortunately, just as Jonathon Brooks was getting introduced into the Carolina offense, he re-tore his ACL. Chuba Hubbard will continue getting high volume in the backfield with only Mike Boone and Velus Jones to back him up. In a now-proficient offense, Hubbard is a must-start RB2.
Bryce Young faces a Cowboys defense that allows the 29th-most fantasy points allowed to opposing QBs and 23rd-most to WRs. Young has a relatively low ceiling as a fantasy play. Adam Thielen has been his go-to weapon in the last two, catching 17 of 21 targets for 201 yards and a TD over that stretch. The other pass game weapons have limited outcomes, with no one pass catcher catching more than five passes over the last two contests.
– Joel Ybarra, @metaffb
Bryce Young and Carolina offense improving, devastating setback for rookie RB
The Panthers are on the ascent in recent weeks, as evidenced by some recent tight contests against some of the league’s best teams. Carolina were just one Xavier Legette drop away from being in scoring position in the final minutes of Sunday’s game before losing to the Eagles.
Bryce Young is playing some of his best football, but still not providing at a prolific rate for fantasy. He was the QB20 in fantasy scoring in Week 14 even while compiling 29 yards rushing on seven rush attempts. The only pass catcher to record a difference-making fantasy performance was Adam Thielen, who brought in nine receptions for 102 yards. Xavier Legette drew eight targets, but caught just two for 39 yards. David Moore recorded five targets, but caught just two for 25 yards. Tight end Tommy Tremble caught the lone receiving touchdown, his only reception for two total yards receiving.
Unfortunately, rookie running back Jonathon Brooks is reported to have re-torn his ACL, the injury that landed him on IR for the early part of the season. That means Chuba Hubbard, who has seen bell cow usage with Brooks out, will continue to see difference-making usage down the stretch (Miles Sanders is also on IR with an ankle injury). Hubbard saw 26 carries and five targets in this one, and scored the Panthers other touchdown on the ground. Hubbard is in position to make an impact in the fantasy playoffs.
– Joel Ybarra, @metaffb
Panthers draw Eagles D that is effective against run and pass
A resurgent Carolina Panthers offense led by second-year QB Bryce Young takes on a stingy Eagles defense in Week 14. The Eagles’ defensive unit is top-five in fantasy points allowed to opposing fantasy QBs, RBs and WRs. The Eagles are a less-than-ideal matchup for Young and the Carolina offensive weapons, even despite the fact that Young has come on as of late. The Alabama product threw 46 passes, completing 26 for 298 yards (both season highs) against the Bucs in Week 13, but that was an overtime game against the Bucs, who have a bottom-third D against the pass.
The Eagles have allowed a 300-yard passing game only once this season (Baker Mayfield in Week 4). They have yet to allow a 100-yard rusher on the season and have only allowed two 100-yard receiving games (Jayden Reed and Puka Nacua). The Panthers weapons are not exactly elite and Young has only one 300-yard passing game in his young career (last season).
Expectations should be tempered, but with six teams on bye in Week 14 and the fantasy playoffs looming, fantasy gamers may be in a position to start some Panthers. David Moore and Xavier Legette led the team in routes and targets over the last two weeks (post-bye), but Adam Thielen is the receptions (12) and yards (156) leader over that span. The 34-year-old vet is the most startable pass catcher and could see volume if the Panthers are playing from behind. That is likely since the Eagles are favored by nearly two touchdowns. Legette and Moore will have opportunities, but only hit their upside when scoring a touchdown.
Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard is now sharing the backfield with rookie Jonathon Brooks. Brooks had half as many (six) carries as Hubbard (12) in Week 13, but three targets to Hubbard’s zero, although Hubbard ran 29 routes to Brooks’ seven. Fantasy gamers will want to look elsewhere for RB production if possible.
– Joel Ybarra, @metaffb
Panthers face Chiefs, Jonathon Brooks makes NFL debut
The Carolina Panthers are coming off their Week 11 Bye to face the Chiefs. Kansas City just fell to the Bills, marking the defending champs’ first loss of the season. The Panthers downed the Giants in their last game (Week 10), but the Panthers are scoring just 16.7 points per game on the season – the 4th lowest in the NFL. The Chiefs defense has allowed just 19.4 PPG to opposing offenses, eighth-fewest in the league, and the fifth-fewest yards (297.5).
Bryce Young, who is getting his fourth straight start, threw for 224 yards and two TDs versus a tough Broncos D in Week 8, but threw for 171 yards and 126 yards, respectively, in his last two starts – one pass TD in each. It’s a low-volume pass attack with Young at the helm. No Panthers pass catcher has earned more than eight targets in any of Young’s starts. Jalen Coker drew eight against the Giants, but caught only three. Coker is tied with Xavier Legette for the team lead in targets over the last three with 17.
We could see an uptick in the Carolina passing volume against a middle of the road Kansas City pass defense, as the Chiefs’ run defense is a top-five unit. Adam Thielen is back in the mix this week, which could water down the pass volume, but Thielen will likely ramp up to game action slowly after missing the team’s last seven games. The bottom line is without a touchdown, none of the Panthers’ WRs or TEs is worth much more than a Bye week spot start. Legette is the most likely to get in the end zone, having caught four TDs on 45 targets and 69.8-percent (No. 72) Route Participation.
Miles Sanders is out with a lower leg injury and Jonathon Brooks is slated to make his NFL debut this week. That said, Brooks will merely spell Chuba Hubbard. Hubbard has been getting bell cow work this season – No. 9 with 151.6 Weighted Opportunities. Temper expectations against a stingy Chiefs run D, however, that has not allowed a single running back to gain more 69 total yards in a game this season.
– Joel Ybarra, @metaffb
Dave Canales sticking with veteran QB, no intent to trade Young
Amid what is shaping up to be a lost season, several Panthers players are rumored to be trade candidates, including second-year QB Bryce Young. Other Panthers players rumored to be trade targets are Diontae Johnson, Adam Thielen, Chuba Hubbard and Miles Sanders. The NFL’s trade deadline is just two weeks away – November 5th.
Dalton’s Week 7 was about as bad as it gets with the 14-year vet throwing just 11 completions for 93 yards and two interceptions, including one the Commanders returned for a TD. Bryce Young wasn’t much better in his starts, throwing for a combined 245 yards and three picks in two games this season. Canales benched Young earlier this season, opting for Dalton. Dalton got off to a hot start, but has taken steps back the last few weeks.
Young himself denied trade rumors, stating he is “grateful to be part of the Panthers.” For now, Canales said he is sticking with Dalton. But the Panthers head coach, who has been successful reviving the careers of Geno Smith and Baker Mayfield, will likely give Young another shot if Dalton continues to struggle under center. The team would be selling low on their former No. 1 pick if they chose to trade Young now, and they owe it to themselves to give Young every shot to develop.
– Joel Ybarra, @metaffb
