Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, October 13th, 2024, 4:25 ET
Location: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
Network: FOX
Atlanta Falcons
Quarterback
Kirk Cousins: Streaming Option
Cousins is always good for a solid game, and this week’s matchup gives him the chance to put up low-end QB1 numbers. The Panthers’ defense is ripe for the picking. He’s currently my QB13 and may jump inside the top 12 in my updated rankings, which will drop later this week.
Running Back
Bijan Robinson: Start, RB1
Tyler Allgeier: Sit, RB4
The Panthers can’t stop the run to save their lives, giving up nearly 30 points per game to RBs. Bijan Robinson is a locked-in top-5 play and could explode in this one. I would not be surprised to see this be the best game of his season. Tyler Allgeier’s fantasy relevance is tied to Bijan’s. He is starting to get more snaps, but it is hard to tell if that is a trend to buy into or if Robinson’s lingering injury is the cause. Ultimately, you are not putting him in your lineups unless you are desperate for a Bye week fill-in.
Wide Receiver
Drake London: Start, WR1
Darnell Mooney: Start, WR2
Ray-Ray McCloud III: Sit
Drake London is heating up, and the Panthers’ defense won’t be the ones to cool him down. He’s a top-5 WR play for me this week—start him and watch the points roll in. Darnell Mooney is a decent WR2 this week after showing strong chemistry with Cousins. He’s shown some big-play ability, and with the Panthers’ defense allowing the tenth-most points against wide receivers, there’s potential for him to break one loose. It doesn’t hurt that he has been one of the top options in the passing game each of the last three weeks.
Tight End
Kyle Pitts: Start, TE1
Pitts might be boom-or-bust, but this is a week where he could definitely hit. The Panthers give up plenty of points to tight ends, and Pitts has the talent to take advantage. The win for Pitts is if he can retain the underneath usage he saw in Week 5. We would like to see his target share jump in the 18-20% range, but I don’t know if we see that quite yet with Mooney being on such a tear.
Carolina Panthers
Quarterback
Andy Dalton: Sit, QB2
Dalton might have some value in deeper leagues, but he’s more of a desperation play than anything else. There’s just not enough upside here to trust him. Not to mention, he has seen a downtick in efficiency and production in each of his weeks as the starter for the Panthers.
Running Back
Chuba Hubbard: Start, RB2
Miles Sanders: Sit, RB4
Chuba Hubbard has RB2 appeal this week. He has been a top-ten running back each of the last three weeks but faces a Falcons defense that is much tougher against opposing running backs than his previous matchups. His usage should keep him in lineups this week but expect a downtick in efficiency on the ground. Miles Sanders shouldn’t be in your lineups if you can help it.
Wide Receiver
Diontae Johnson: Start, WR2
Xavier Legette: FLEX Option, WR4
Diontae Johnson has been steady and reliable, and you can count on him for WR2 numbers this week. He’s displayed enough volume with Andy Dalton at the helm to make him a safe start. It also helps that he doesn’t have to face a defense quite as good at stopping opposing wide receivers as he did against the Bears in Week 5. Xavier Legette is a FLEX play in deeper leagues, especially if the Panthers are playing from behind. He’s got a low floor, but there’s some upside if he sees an uptick in targets.
Tight End
Sit
You are still not relying on anyone from the Panthers at tight end.