Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, December 14, 2025, 4:25 p.m. ET
Location: Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, LA
Network: FOX
Carolina Panthers
Quarterback
Bryce Young: SIT, QB2 (Startable in Superflex)
It’s like Bryce Young has to be on the verge of getting shipped out of Charlotte before he decides he wants to play. But the former No. 1 overall pick is, dare I say, 🔥en fuego🔥. Young has thrown three touchdowns in two of his last three games, his latest against the formidable Rams secondary. The Saints aren’t a pushover, but with an extra week to game plan coming out of the bye, Young is set up to have yet another solid day. He’s not an option for 1QB leagues, but a lock for Superflex. Â
Running Back
Rico Dowdle: START, RB2
Chuba Hubbard: FLEX, RB3
Trevor Etienne: SIT
What once looked like a full-blown backfield takeover looks to be back to a committee. Rico Dowdle‘s struggles in pass protection opened the door for Chuba Hubbard to earn some extra snaps, and he took advantage. Hubbard has shown he’s still got some juice and worked his way back into somewhere near a 50-50 split. Dowdle is the superior runner, but Hubbard isn’t going away. Consider Dowdle a decent RB2 and Hubbard a flex in a middle-of-the-road matchup against the Saints.
Wide Receiver
Tetairoa McMillan: START, WR1
Xavier Legette: SIT
Jalen Coker: FLEX, WR4
After scoring only two touchdowns in his first 10 games, Tetairoa McMillan has four in his last three games and has proven to have a reliable floor with or without high volume. Tet is a weekly borderline WR1. Jalen Coker scored his first touchdown of the season before the Panthers’ bye and is a risky flex considering Young’s inconsistency. Xavier Legette has a nice smile.
Tight End
Tommy Tremble: SIT
If you accidentally start Tommy Tremble, you expose yourself to the dreaded “Tummy Trembles.”
Defense/Special Teams
Carolina Panthers: STREAMER
The Panthers scored a touchdown and forced three turnovers against the Rams before their bye, and get to face Tyler Shough.
New Orleans Saints
Quarterback
Tyler Shough: STREAMER
Don’t try to get cute and stream Tyler Shough. Yes, he has back-to-back games over 20 points. But both were excellent matchups against Miami and Tampa Bay, and the second was thanks to two fluky rushing touchdowns of 34 and 13 yards. Carolina is allowing the eighth-fewest points to he position and only eight touchdowns to quarterbacks since you guessed it, Week 7. (Would have been cool if it were Week 8, though.) I understand the temptation, but don’t do it.
Running Back
Alvin Kamara
Devin Neal: START, RB2
Alvin Kamara had yet to practice at the time of writing and is looking more likely to miss than return in Week 15. That’ll set up Devin Neal for another start. Neal didn’t fare much better against the Bucs, but was able to score to get over the 10-point threshold. Neal is a volume-based RB2 who has a speck of upside in a top-10 fantasy matchup for running backs against the Panthers.
Wide Receiver
Chris Olave: START, WR2
Devaughn Vele: SIT
Chris Olave had his best game with Shough under center the last time these two teams met, but the Saints’ inconsistent-at-best offense and a bottom-10 fantasy matchup prevent me from pushing him past a WR2 rank. Devaughn Vele has shown some promise, but not enough to consider starting in fantasy.
Tight End
Juwan Johnson: STREAMER
Juwan Johnson had his best game of the season against the Panthers in Week 10 and has seen enough involvement to consider him a solid streamer against the Panthers, who allow the ninth-most fantasy points to the position.
Defense/Special Teams
New Orleans Saints: SIT
The Saints’ defense doesn’t force enough turnovers or total enough sacks to be considered for fantasy.