Los Angeles Rams @ Carolina Panthers
Final Score: Panthers 31, Rams 28
Writer: Raymi Chavez
A barn burner on a rainy Sunday afternoon in Charlotte ended with a big upset victory for the Carolina Panthers. Both teams were moving up and down the field, utilizing efficient, effective run games. The Rams were only stymied by themselves, with two interceptions in the first quarter, including a momentum-swinging pick-6 by Mike Jackson. The Rams responded with big chunk plays to find themselves back in the end zone and take a 21-17 lead at halftime. The Panthers opened the third quarter with eight runs on 10 plays that concluded with a fourth down deep shot to Jalen Coker in the end zone. The Panthers’ run game really ground down the clock as the Rams only ran three plays in the third quarter, the fewest by any team in any quarter all year. The Rams took the lead after a catch of the year candidate play by Puka Nacua on the sideline, setting the team up in a goal-to-go situation, which Kyren Williams punched in. The Panthers punched right back with another clutch fourth-down bomb, this time to Tetairoa McMillan. This set the Rams up with 5 minutes left and an opportunity to win the game, and after working themselves into the red zone, Matthew Stafford was stripped of the ball. A final fourth-down dagger to Coker set the Panthers up in victory formation, and the upset was complete.
Three Up
- Jalen Coker — A clutch performance from the young receiver, all four receptions were big-time conversions on third or fourth down.
- Chuba Hubbard — Got the Panthers rolling with his first-quarter 35-yard touchdown, and was very effective afterwards.
- Davante Adams — Two more touchdowns? This is prime Adams production level we are seeing.
Two Down
- Matthew Stafford — Three turnovers were the only reason this team lost Sunday.
- Xavier Legette — If anyone has seen Legette, I’m sure the Panthers would love to have him for next week.
Los Angeles Rams
Quarterback
Matthew Stafford: 18/28, 243 Yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs | 1 Carry, -1 Yards, Fumble (Lost)
Matthew Stafford must be frustrated. He moved the ball down the field with ease, this team could have easily put up 40 or more points Sunday, but three turnovers were this team’s death knell. He missed Davante Adams on one big play downfield, just from looking for his checkdown too early. His interception streak came to an end, and three turnovers are an anomaly for him. His turnover rate is just regressing to the mean, and he should be right back on track next week.
Running Back
Kyren Williams: 13 Carries, 72 Yards, TD | 1 Target
Kyren Williams was clinical, ripping off 5.5 yards per carry, he is still a clear lead back in L.A., eating up 35 snaps, doubling up Blake Corum‘s 17. Both teams had dominant run games, but the Rams had zero runs for a loss Sunday, keeping the team ahead of the sticks. Four of his runs went for first downs. Kyren will continue to provide consistent production at a low-end RB1 or high-end RB2 level.
Blake Corum: 7 Carries, 81 Yards, TD
Blake Corum had limited touches, but he took full advantage of them. He had five first-down runs on only seven carries, including a 34-yard run on the first play of their last touchdown drive, getting them out from their own end zone. The numbers back up his performance as it felt like every time he touched the ball, he was making something happen, either moving the pile or cutting through it.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Davante Adams: 5 Targets, 4 Receptions, 58 Yards, 2 TDs
The red-zone specialist was back at it again, two goal-to-go touchdowns extended his league-leading receiving touchdown total. Adams was ALWAYS open. I am still in awe of his ability to get open. Stafford missed him wide open for 20 yards, only to hit him for 18 yards the very next snap. The future Hall of Famer is on a heater right now — you start him and you don’t think twice about it.
Puka Nacua: 9 Targets, 6 Receptions, 72 Yards
Puka Nacua was held in check by the Panthers’ defense. If not for a ridiculous one-handed catch on the sideline, which my brain is struggling to sort out, he was primarily used in the screen game. The Panthers’ defense really focused in on Nacua and Adams to varying success, but was able to take away Nacua’s deep threat and limit his run-after-the-catch. His big catch salvaged his day in fantasy, remember this is his floor.
Xavier Smith: 3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 82 Yards
Xavier Smith was able to take advantage of the Panthers’ defense keying in on Adams and Nacua, highlighted by a 51-yard dime from Stafford, the biggest play of the day by either team.
Colby Parkinson: 5 Targets, 4 Receptions, 27 Yards
Since Tyler Higbee has gone down, Colby Parkinson has stepped up, with the Rams constantly in 13 personnel. Parkinson is the tight end of choice in the pass game. Unfortunately, still very dependent on touchdowns to have strong fantasy days.
Davis Allen: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 4 Yards
Carolina Panthers
Quarterback
Bryce Young: 15/20, 206 Yards, 3 TDs | 5 Carries, 23 Yards
Bryce Young looked fantastic Sunday. His only moments that looked troublesome were in the fourth quarter, up three points with the team moving. A holding call brought a second-and-16, and he was sacked on it. Then, on the ensuing third down, he had happy feet, focusing on the pass rush more than looking for his receivers downfield. Otherwise, Young was excellent, making clutch throws on third and fourth downs all day. He looked calm and composed in the pocket, going through his progressions and evading the pass rush when he needed to. This is the level of quarterback play that can make Young a long-term starting quarterback in this league.
Running Back
Chuba Hubbard: 17 Carries, 83 Yards | 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 41 Yards, TD
Chuba Hubbard broke off a 35-yard touchdown catch-and-run on a swing pass to open the scoring for the Panthers, and Dave Canales decided to ride the hot hand, leading to Hubbard leading the backfield in snaps for the first time in at least four weeks. The run game was dominant Sunday, as the two running backs totaled 161 yards on 35 carries, being tackled for a loss only once, for 1 yard. Chuba looked fantastic. He was running with power and speed, looking like the back that dominated the backfield to start the season.
Rico Dowdle: 18 Carries, 58 Yards | 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 21 Yards
Rico Dowdle‘s hot streak can officially be considered over. He has been looking solid, but ultimately, he’s far more fit to be a 1B to Hubbard’s 1A. He had a couple of big-time runs and catches to convert first downs and moved the pile a handful of times. He still outcarried Hubbard, but played 11 fewer snaps, and Hubbard’s runs were noticeably more impactful. I think Dowdle is, at best, a flex option moving forward.
Trevor Etienne: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 4 Yards
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Jalen Coker: 6 Targets, 4 Receptions, 74 Yards, TD
Jalen Coker had one of the most clutch performances a receiver can have. He had four receptions, two of which converted third downs. His touchdown was on a fourth down, and then, with an opportunity to ice the game and put the team in victory formation, Young found Coker on fourth down and put the final nail in the coffin. Coker’s touchdown was a great 1-on-1 win over Emmanuel Forbes, using his size to his advantage. The preseason Coker hype seems to be coming to fruition, later than we all anticipated.
Tetairoa McMillan: 2 Targets, 1 Reception, 43 Yards, TD
Tetairoa McMillan was having an absentee game until a big fourth-down play, trailing by four in the fourth quarter, was converted into a 43-yard touchdown reception. This touchdown made his day salvageable, but it was concerning until then. He is still a rookie receiver and is liable to have some of these games in between the monster ones he has.
Mitchell Evans: 3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 20 Yards
Mitchell Evans along with the backfield was Young’s safety blanket in the checkdown game, he only ran six routes, but was targeted on half of them.
Xavier Legette: 2 Targets, 1 Reception, 1 Yard
Five of Xavier Legette‘s last six games have looked something like this. Legette still has some developing to do before he becomes a consistent, reliable fantasy option in any capacity.
Tommy Tremble: 2 Targets, 1 Reception, 2 Yards