Panthers @ Packers
A game that promised to deliver a fantasy orgy for Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and his supporting cast within the first 15 minutes or so eventually fizzled out into a complete bore for the remaining 3 quarters as the Packers stuttered to a 24-16 victory to solidify their hold on the No.1 seed in the NFC. Matt LaFleur’s side marched out to a 21-3 lead after slicing through the Panthers defense in each of their first 3 drives. After that, however, the Packers looked a different team, suppressed by the relentlessly creative pass-rush from the young Panthers defensive front. Rodgers was not allowed to find any rhythm on offense, being sacked 5 times and ending the game with just 143 yards passing and his worst fantasy output since Week 6.
The Panthers continue to shoot themselves in the foot at times and are also horribly naive at times. They are a young, rebuilding outfit without their star running back. However, the foundations have been laid for them to completely flip the script on the fantasy landscape in 2021 under the dynamic leadership of Matt Rhule.
Carolina Panthers
Quarterback
Teddy Bridgewater: 21/35, 258 yards, 3 sacks, 1 FUM lost | 4 carries, 26 yards, 1 TD
The limitations of the affable Teddy Bridgewater (16.92 fantasy points) were once again on display as the signal-caller cost his team the game for the 2nd straight week. Salvaging his fantasy day with his 4th rushing TD in his last 5 games, Bridgewater was unable to make throws deep down the field at a number of key times in the matchup, limiting his passing total.
🧤🧤🧤
Watch live: https://t.co/0dAhX8rEaX pic.twitter.com/p12xqsC9vB
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) December 20, 2020
Teddy “Two Gloves” actually fumbled the ball twice at the goal – once in the 2nd quarter as he looked to reach the ball over the goal line.
The D-🚂 takes it the other way!@King_kevvoo with a 48-yard return.#CARvsGB | #GoPackGo
📺 NFL Network
Watch live 📱 https://t.co/dzY7gmCcsR https://t.co/TrX3T3vleo— Green Bay Packers (@packers) December 20, 2020
He did get the ball back with a chance to win the game for his team, however, he never looked like doing so and is now a staggering 0-for-8 in game-winning drive scenarios this season alone. Even if Christian McCaffrey returns to this offense next season, Bridgewater doesn’t hold much fantasy value outside of being a streaming option.
Running Backs
Mike Davis: 14 carries, 59 yards | 2 targets, 2 receptions, 2 yards
Rodney Smith: 4 carries, 23 yards | 4 targets, 3 receptions, 24 yards
Alex Armah: 1 target, 1 reception, 9 yards
Sure, Mike Davis (8.10 fantasy points) has been a serviceable fantasy option for those who lost Christian McCaffrey for the majority of this campaign. But, backups don’t win fantasy championships, and today that showed out. He wasn’t helped by the fact that the Panthers found themselves in a 21-3 hole early in the 2nd quarter against a Packers defense that has given up the 5th most points to running backs this year. They reverted to the passing game as Davis was bypassed for most of the key plays and in the red zone.
Making matters worse, the Panthers come up against one of the best defensive fronts in football next week in the Washington Football Team. Davis is an iffy low RB2 option at best.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
D.J. Moore: 8 targets, 6 receptions, 131 yards | 1 carry, 1 yard
Curtis Samuel: 9 targets, 4 receptions, 42 yards, 1 FUM | 2 carries, 6 yards
Ian Thomas: 4 targets, 3 receptions, 29 yards
Robby Anderson: 5 targets, 2 receptions, 21 yards | 1 carry, -1 yard
Brandon Zylstra: 1 carry, 1 yard
Pharoh Cooper: 1 target
This was the type of production we expected from D.J. Moore (19.20 fantasy points) on a weekly basis this season but the arrival of Teddy Bridgewater has severely dented his WR1 hopes. Eclipsing 100 yards for only the 3rd time this season, Moore was the primary point of attack once the Panthers went down big early. Moore showed elite speed in running his routes, flashing his incredible hands too. What was most impressive was his toughness – want to see a guy break 3 tackles at the same time?
DJ Moore somehow broke three tackles at once 😱 @idjmoore @Panthers
📺 #CARvsGB on @NFLNetwork pic.twitter.com/PpSypv0p4H
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) December 20, 2020
It was a quiet day for both Curtis Samuel (8.80 fantasy points) and Robby Anderson (4.00 fantasy points), both of whom have had hot streaks of fantasy production this season. It is very rare to see this unit all produce in any one game, and consistently at that. That is a worry for fantasy purposes as Samuel in particular has been shunted in favor of FLEX candidates with better matchups or consistency. Anderson has proved to be a high-end WR2 over the season and the move away from the Jets has worked wonders. He will be a popular fantasy option once the Panthers take another step forward in 2021.
We don’t talk about tight ends in Carolina anymore – I am going to cuddle my framed photo of Greg Olsen and weep.
Green Bay Packers
Quarterback
Aaron Rodgers: 20/29, 143 yards, 1 TD, 5 sacks | 5 carries, 26 yards, 1 TD
It was the perfect Jekyll and Hyde performance from the Packers’ offense, starting out with 3 straight touchdown drives then punting on 6 of the next 7 drives. After 8 games with 20+ fantasy points, Aaron Rodgers (18.32 fantasy points) annoyed managers everywhere with a sub-par display at a crucial time in the fantasy season, including his lowest yardage output of the season. He did run the ball in for a score after masterminding a 13-play 74-yard drive to put the Panthers up 14-3, salvaging an otherwise disappointing day at the offense.
HE PUT ON THE BELT!@AaronRodgers12 with the TD run! 🏃💨#CARvsGB | #GoPackGo
📺 NFL Network
Watch live 📱 https://t.co/dzY7gmCcsR https://t.co/AGRkXPo6IB— Green Bay Packers (@packers) December 20, 2020
Rodgers has a mouthwatering matchup against Ryan Tannehill and the Tennessee Titans next week and is a set and forget top 5 fantasy QB for that matchup.
Running Backs
Aaron Jones: 20 carries, 145 yards, 1 TD | 4 targets, 3 receptions, 13 yards
A.J. Dillon: 1 carry, 18 yards
Jamaal Williams: 1 carry, 6 yards | 2 targets, 2 receptions, 14 yards
The game script working beautifully for those who have Aaron Jones (24.80 fantasy points) rostered as their RB1. With the Packers racing out to a 21-3 lead thanks in part to Jones’ 2nd quarter score, the former UTEP back went off for over 150 scrimmage yards and tallied his 2nd best fantasy score of the year.
TAKE IT IN 3️⃣3️⃣!@Showtyme_33 is putting on a SHOW.#CARvsGB | #GoPackGo
📺 NFL Network
Watch live 📱 https://t.co/dzY7gmCcsR https://t.co/TvgTcpG33h— Green Bay Packers (@packers) December 20, 2020
In even better news for those who want a repeat performance from Jones next week, Jamaal Williams (4.00 fantasy points) left the game early with a quad injury and is looking questionable for next week’s contest. Rookie A.J. Dillion saw only 1 carry in relief of Williams as Jones was entrusted with the ball for a season-high 23 touches. He looked at his usual explosive best.
Aaron Jones finds a hole.
🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/1BGJzWwm7Q
— GBP Daily – Rob Westerman lll (@GBPdaily) December 20, 2020
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Allen Lazard: 6 targets, 5 receptions, 56 yards
Davante Adams: 10 targets, 7 receptions, 42 yards
Robert Tonyan: 3 targets, 3 receptions, 18 yards, 1 TD
Marques Valdes-Scantling: 1 target
A disastrous day at the office for this receiving corps meant there were just 143 yards and a lone receiving touchdown to share around. That is not something this unit is used to dealing with. Helping absolutely nobody, Allen Lazard (10.60 fantasy points) led the team in yardage as fantasy stud Davante Adams (11.20 fantasy points) was held to just 7 catches for 42 yards. We sincerely hope this is a one-week anomaly otherwise we will all be feeling like Switch from The Matrix films next week.
The only positive was that Robert Tonyan (10.80 fantasy points) continued his upward trend – the breakout TE notched his 5th straight game with a score and now leads all NFL tight ends with 10 touchdown receptions this season.
That's five straight games with a TD catch for @RobTonJr!#CARvsGB | #GoPackGo
📺 NFL Network
Watch live 📱 https://t.co/dzY7gmCcsR https://t.co/Fk8I5Qnr20— Green Bay Packers (@packers) December 20, 2020
— Benjamin Haller (@benjaminhaller1 on Twitter)