Falcons @ Panthers
Game Info
Kickoff: November 17th, at 1:00 pm EST
Location: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC
Betting Odds: CAR -5.5, 50.5 Total via Oddsshark
Network: FOX
Sleeper Spotlight: Brian Hill
Atlanta Falcons
Quarterback:
- Matt Ryan (Start/QB2)
In the opening six weeks of 2019, Matt Ryan was on quite a fantasy hot streak, with six straight three hundred yard passing and five top twelve fantasy quarterback finishes. In Week 7 however, Ryan sprained his ankle, missed some time and has struggled to get back on track. This week he faces the seventh-best fantasy defense against the position in Carolina, a team coming off a strong performance against Green Bay and one that allows just a single passing touchdown a game. Ryan can be started in Two-QB or SuperFlex leagues but owners should not expect an early-season performance. Owners in traditional leagues may want to scour the waiver wire for a streamer.
Running Backs:
- Brian Hill (Start/RB2)
- Devonta Freeman (Out)
- Ito Smith (On IR)
For fantasy owners fortunate enough to scoop up Falcons running back Brian Hill, this week might be your best chance to start him all season. The Panthers are among the worst defenses in the league in defending the run, allowing over two touchdowns and just over 24 fantasy points per game. Houston’s running backs were the only team that failed to score against the Panthers. Hill should give this Falcons team some juice, with fresh legs at mid-season and the opportunity of a lifetime.
Devonta Freeman has been ruled out with a foot sprain and is expected to miss two weeks. Ito Smith was placed on season-ending IR, with a neck injury, last week.
Wide Receivers/ Tight Ends:
- Julio Jones (Start/WR1)
- Calvin Ridley (Start/WR3)
- Austin Hooper (Out)
- Luke Stocker (Sit)
This season it has nearly been the same as it ever was with Julio Jones with a couple of slight differences. Jones’s production overall is still in the top ten among fantasy receivers but he has yet to explode for the typical 30+ point performances owners have seen every season. His consistency has always been down, with as many weekly WR3 performances as WR1. This week will be a bounce-back game for Jones, especially if Panthers corner James Bradbury sits out again. Jones has enjoyed some of his career-best performances against Carolina and with injuries throughout the roster, the Falcons will lean on their star.
It’s been a disappointing season, from a fantasy standpoint, for Falcons receiver Calvin Ridley. Ridley is currently the #44 ranked receiver, and has finished as a weekly WR2 or better just three times all season. Some of this can be volume related, Ridley is receiving just 15% of the teams’ targets, but in Week 10 he managed just 28 yards without Mohamed Sanu on the field. However this week, with injuries throughout the roster, Ridley should see an increased role and that is enough to warrant a flex-start.
Falcons tight end Austin Hooper has been ruled out this week with an MCL strain. Hooper leads all tight ends in receptions and fantasy points and his absence will be a big blow to the Falcons passing attack. However owners cannot look to Luke Stocker as a fill-in, the Panthers are just too good defending the position. Carolina gives up limit yardage and just two total touchdowns on the year, Stocker won’t change that.
Carolina Panthers
Quarterback:
- Kyle Allen (Start/QB2)
The Kyle Allen story is a much better real-life than a fantasy tale. Allen has led his Panthers team to a 5-2 record, even has fans considering what it would be like to move on from Cam Newton. For fantasy owners, let me tell you, it would be a sad story. Allen is currently averaging just 13 fantasy points a game and has just one Top-12 week all season. Despite all of this, Allen will face an awful Falcons defense and his best matchup of the year. Owners can start Allen in a pinch or if your league allows two quarterback starters. Atlanta is allowing just over two passing touchdowns and plenty of yardages. If Allen can’t get it done against this defense, it may be time for owners to move on.
Running Backs:
- Christian McCaffrey (Start/RB1)
Christian McCaffrey has been a fantasy MVP so far this season, top five in nearly every offensive category among running backs with Top-12 weekly finishes in all but one game. While owners still have reason to be concerned with his workload, they certainly don’t have to worry about his production including three straight 100-yard performances. This week, however, he faces a Falcons team that has played well against opposing backs, allowing 15 fantasy points or less to lead backs in four of the last five games. While no one will sit McCaffrey he may not be a top choice in daily fantasy.
Wide Receivers/ Tight Ends:
- D.J. Moore (Start/WR2)
- Curtis Samuel (Start/Flex)
- Greg Olsen (Start/TE1)
Panthers receiver D.J. Moore is an ascending player that looks to have hit his stride but his upside remains limited by his quarterback. Moore has earned back-to-back 100-yard receiving games but both came without a receiving touchdown. This week Moore draws one of his best matchups of the season against a Falcons passing defense that is seventh-worst in the league. Moore should have no problem carving up this defense and owners will be thrilled should he find the endzone.
Because of a good matchup, Curtis Samuel can be started as a flex play this weekend. Samuel has just one Top-12 weekly finish on the year, and while his highs aren’t as high as expected, his lows are good enough to start for owners. Samuel is Allen’s preferred red zone target, leading the team in receiving touchdowns, and matchups don’t get much better than this.
Elder statesman Greg Olsen is still putting in work for this Panthers team and with the bleak tight end landscape, he can be trusted to produce as a fantasy starter. Load him up this week and expect his four receptions for 50 yards and hope for a score.
-Marc Salazar (@dingwog)
Ok I have in the past taken your advice I sat jarvis landry out on your reccomendation and guess what he ended up scoring 40 points . So excuse me if I pass on this advice.
Why even click the link then? You just come here to post a shitty comment?
It really sucks when you follow someone’s advice, and it doesn’t work out. We’ve all been there. So I can totally empathize with you being upset with how things worked out with Landry.
What I can’t understand is you coming back here to trash Aaron’s thoughtful analysis. Nobody bats 1.000 in fantasy football because there is inherent chaos baked into the game. Absolutely no one predicted Landry scoring 40 points last week because it would be insane to do so without the benefit of hindsight.