Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, December 22nd, 2024, 1:00 ET
Location: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
Network: FOX
Arizona Cardinals
Quarterback
Kyler Murray: Start, QB1/2 Borderline
It’s been tough sledding for Kyler Murray since the Cardinals’ Week 12 BYE, as he has only one top-12 finish in that span and owns a 3:5 TD-to-INT ratio. Things figure to be a little easier for him against the Carolina Panthers, who allow the seventh-most points to opposing QBs. You’re hoping Kyler can get things done through the air and on the ground, but his track record has me ranking him near the very back of my QB1s this week. If you have a more reliable option like, say, Baker Mayfield, I’d easily roll with him over Murray.
Running Back
James Conner: Start, RB1
Trey Benson: Sit
One of the week’s best smash spots belongs to James Conner, who is fresh off a 2-touchdown RB1 overall performance and now gets the league’s softest run defense by a wide margin. The Panthers allow 141 rushing yards per game, 26 more than the next-closest team. Conner has stratospheric upside in this matchup and has a legitimate chance to repeat last week’s finish as the top overall RB. Trey Benson, meanwhile, doesn’t have a large enough piece of the pie to be startable.
Wide Receiver
Marvin Harrison Jr.: FLEX Option, WR3
Michael Wilson: Sit
Greg Dortch: Sit
There’s only one pass-catcher you’ll feel comfortable starting on this team, and unfortunately, his name is not Marvin Harrison Jr. The rookie has displayed tantalizing upside this season, but the valleys have been more pronounced and frequent than the peaks we were expecting. At this stage of the fantasy season, you want production you can count on in your lineups, and MHJ is more likely to hurt your lineup than help it. There is a tangible upside, but an extremely risky one, causing Harrison to rank outside of my top 30 WRs this week. None of the other wide receivers on the Cardinals should be started, either.
Tight End
Trey McBride: Start, TE1
Despite still not scoring a receiving touchdown this season, Trey McBride remains one of the most reliable options at the position. He’s received double-digit targets and finished as a top-4 TE in each of the last four weeks. Roll him back out there with confidence–maybe this is the week he finally gets in the end zone.
Carolina Panthers
Quarterback
Bryce Young: Sit
It’s been great to see Bryce Young turn things around to an extent this season, but last week’s matchup against the Cowboys was a bump in the road to redemption for the former first overall pick. Young committed four turnovers but did somewhat save his fantasy day with his third rushing score of the season. Young and the Panthers have looked better this year, but we aren’t trusting him to take us to the championship.
Running Back
Chuba Hubbard: Start, RB2
The bad news for Chuba Hubbard owners is that he has failed to crack 4 yards per carry in his last four games and put up a stinker in last week’s game against Dallas. The good news is that Hubbard has complete control of this backfield with Jonathon Brooks unfortunately out for the season with another ACL injury. He’s also seen 9 targets across the past two weeks, which bodes well for his upside in PPR formats. Hubbard has been excellent for most of the season and, with a high projected workload, should be a strong play against the Cardinals this week. Fire him up as a rock-solid RB2 in Week 16 with top-12 upside if he can find the end zone. No other Panthers RB is worth considering.
Wide Receiver
Adam Thielen: FLEX Option, WR3
Jalen Coker: FLEX Option, WR4
With Xavier Legette once again tracking to miss this week’s contest, Adam Thielen should be the unquestioned top target for the Panthers’ passing attack this week. If I’m being honest, I prefer Thielen and his floor to MHJ on the other side, and Thielen has flashed some athleticism and shown he has some gas left in the tank. Over the last three weeks, he is averaging over 9 targets and 84 yards. I expect him to lead the team in targets this week, and he is a strong FLEX option with upside. Jalen Coker is about as extreme of a boom-bust option as you’ll see this week. If you’re in a super deep league and need to take a chance on someone, Coker has at least shown some big-play potential.
Tight End
Sit Them All
There are far too many options to even consider streaming Tommy Tremble or Ja’Tavion Sanders this week.