Game Info
Kickoff: Saturday, December 19th at 8:15 PM ET
Location: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI
Betting Odds: CAR +8.5, 51 total via Oddsshark
Network: FOX
Carolina Panthers
Quarterback
Teddy Bridgewater (Sit, QB2)
Three rushing touchdowns over his past four games have helped boost Teddy Bridgewater’s fantasy stats lately. Still, I’m having a tough time trusting Teddy this week. The Packers are allowing the eighth-fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks this year, and Bridgewater only has one passing touchdown and one interception over his last two games.
Running Backs
Mike Davis (Start, High-end RB2), Christian McCaffrey (Start if active, RB1)
Mike Davis was pretty mediocre for roughly seven straight weeks but finally had another impressive fantasy performance last week with two touchdowns. Davis has a juicy match-up ahead of him if he starts again this week. The Packers are allowing the fifth-most fantasy points to running backs this year, so Davis should be capable of a respectable fantasy performance if he gets the nod once again.
Christian McCaffrey was supposed to return last week, but we eventually learned he tweaked his quadriceps the week prior. Fantasy managers will need to keep an eye on McCaffrey’s practice status this week, but early reports indicate that McCaffrey will be inactive once again. If he’s good to go, Christian is an easy must-start. He’s only played three games this year, but his worst performance was 24.8 points. He’s still an elite talent whenever he’s on the field.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Robby Anderson (Start, Low-end WR2), D.J. Moore (Start, WR2), Curtis Samuel (Sit, Flex)
It’s been a bit of an up-and-down season for Robby Anderson, but he’s still the overall WR14 on the season. He’s had two straight WR2 performances and an encouraging 12 targets last year. That said, it’s possible Anderson was producing because fellow wideout D.J. Moore wasn’t in the picture last week. Anderson should be in low-end WR2 territory this week with or without Moore. D.J. has missed the last two weeks on the COVID-19 list but is expected back this week and should be a serviceable WR2 as well.
Curtis Samuel has done well lately, but it hasn’t translated to much fantasy production. He will likely remain a touchdown-dependent Flex option for the rest of the season. Fantasy managers still in the playoffs should probably look elsewhere.
Green Bay Packers
Quarterback
Aaron Rodgers (Start, QB1)
Aaron Rodgers is having himself an MVP-caliber season. He’s averaging 25.7 fantasy points per game over his last eight and throwing 3.25 touchdowns per game over that same span. The Panthers have been somewhat mediocre against quarterbacks this year, allowing the 13th-most fantasy points to the position this year. Carolina is also allowing the tenth-most passing yards per game, so Rodgers should have plenty to work with this week. Start with confidence.
Running Backs
Aaron Jones (Start, RB1), Jamaal Williams (Sit)
Aaron Jones turned in his first single-digit fantasy performance of the 2020 season last week. His lack of production was mainly due to the game script as the Packers exploited the Lions’ secondary. Despite his Week 14 dud, Jones should still be in the RB1 conversation against the Panthers, a team allowing the eighth-most fantasy points to running backs this year.
Jamaal Williams has some flex value from week to week, but he’s isn’t trustworthy enough for the fantasy playoffs. He’s just a handcuff for now.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Davante Adams (Start, WR1), Allen Lazard (Sit), Marquez Valdes-Scantling (Sit), Robert Tonyan (Start, TE1)
I’m legitimately running out of impressive stats about Davante Adams this year. The guy has been unstoppable since Week 7. The Panthers are middle-of-the-road in fantasy points allowed to receivers this year, but Adams is pretty much match-up-proof anyway. Start Davante with confidence.
I wouldn’t be surprised if one of Allen Lazard or Marquez Valdes-Scantling put up a respectable performance this week. The trouble will be predicting which receiver will show up. It’s best to pass on unreliable players like this in the middle of the fantasy playoffs.
Robert Tonyan has become a dependable tight end option over the past month. He has four straight TE1 performances and a touchdown four weeks in a row. The Panthers have allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to tight ends this year, so Tonyan should be in line for another TE1 performance this week.
-Ryan Kruse (@ryanpkruse on Twitter)