Carolina Panthers @ New Orleans Saints
Final Score: Saints 20, Panthers 17
Writer: Brett Ford (@FadeThatMan)
With the Panthers looking to keep pace with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the race for the NFC South, Carolina traveled to the Big Easy to take on the New Orleans Saints. Leading by 10 points in the third quarter, it looked as if the Panthers would cruise to victory, but the Saints had other ideas. Rookie quarterback Tyler Shough led his team on three second-half scoring drives to lead the home team to a 20-17 come-from-behind victory. Let’s dig in.
Three Up
- Tyler Shough —Led a game-deciding drive over a division rival and didn’t turn the ball over.
- Jalen Coker — Caught an incredible touchdown pass and was the Panthers’ leading receiver.
- Chris Olave —Another solid game from one of the guys quietly having a great year in fantasy.
Two Down
- Bryce Young — The game script went run-heavy for most of the game and then he couldn’t convert when it counted.
- Tetairoa McMillan — He was a forgotten man in this offense as the Panthers leaned run-heavy with a lead most of the game.
Carolina Panthers
Quarterback
Bryce Young: 15/24, 163 Yards, TD | 7 Carries, 49 Yards
The fact that Bryce Young only passed the ball 24 times was based heavily on the game script with the Panthers in control for the majority of the game … until they weren’t. Young was creative and elusive, making throws that he had no business making on multiple occasions. Whether they were moon balls to the corner of the end zone or gunslinger sidearm hip shots, Young was completing them all. Things just fell apart late in the game as the Saints’ defense clamped down and the Panthers couldn’t convert when it counted. This one isn’t on Young, but it’s an indictment of this team’s inability to close.
If Patrick Mahomes did this you’d see it on repeat for 3 weeks
Bryce Young. Built By Bama pic.twitter.com/pwmiEG71zL
— Nick Perkins (@NickyPerkss) December 14, 2025
Running Back
Rico Dowdle: 16 Carries, 49 Yards, TD | 1 Target, 1 Reception, 5 Yards
Rico Dowdle ran hard and found the painted area with a nice piece of running from inside the 5-yard line, but wasn’t on the field when the Panthers needed him most. He was sent to the medical tent in the first quarter, but ended up coming back into the game and looking relatively fine. Dowdle suspiciously wasn’t featured over the Panthers’ final two drives of the game, both of which ended without points. As of Sunday night, it’s unclear if the running back was held out due to injury or not. Something to watch assuming you advanced in the fantasy playoffs.
Chuba Hubbard: 8 Carries, 29 Yards | 1 Target, 1 Reception, 9 Yards
Chuba Hubbard was unable to gain a yard on fourth-and-inches in the fourth quarter as the Panthers looked to extend their lead. That play swung the momentum in the Saints’ favor, triggering a 10-0 run for the home team to earn the victory. If Dowdle is carrying an injury into next week, the Panthers have shown that they’re willing to lean on Chuba out of the backfield. Something to monitor.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Jalen Coker: 4 Targets, 4 Receptions, 60 Yards, TD
Jalen Coker is a route technician and has an innate sense of where to be when Young needs him there. He’s going to break out, it’s just a matter of when.
Bryce Young with the most perfect sluggo-ball you’ll ever see.
Jalen Coker is an absolute technician—route was so good, late separation/hands.
I can’t say enough good things about the connection between the two of these guys on this play. pic.twitter.com/EpBqTIMElB
— John Ellis (@1PantherPlace) December 14, 2025
Tetairoa McMillan: 4 Targets, 2 Receptions, 25 Yards
What happened to all the volume that Tetairoa McMillan got a week ago? The Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate posted an absolute dud. A week after the Saints’ secondary was torched by the Rams’ elite wide receivers, New Orleans shut down McMillan, the closest thing to elite the Panthers have. The scripted looks weren’t there, in fact I’m not sure he caught a single first-read target. It felt like the Panthers made no effort to get him involved and it came back to bite them in the butt.
Xavier Legette: 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 39 Yards
Tommy Tremble: 4 Targets, 2 Receptions, 13 Yards
Ja’Tavion Sanders: 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 5 Yards
Jimmy Horn Jr.: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 7 Yards
New Orleans Saints
Quarterback
Tyler Shough: 24/32, 272 Yards, TD | 8 Carries, 32 Yards
Has anyone noticed that Tyler Shough now has three wins as a starting quarterback in the NFL, including back-to-back victories over NFC South opponents? He’s finished as a top-12 fantasy quarterback in three of his last four games entering this week. Most importantly, he shined with the bright lights on him. With his team trailing by a score, Shough dialed up a a seven-play, 78-yard touchdown drive with six completions, including a touchdown, to tie the game. He got the ball back with a chance to win and executed a flawless 1-minute drill, driving the Saints from their own 9-yard line to field-goal range, setting up the go-ahead kick in the final minute. He was injured on his final rush of the game, so something to monitor heading into next week.
TYLER SHOUGH LOOKIN LIKE BRADY ON THIS DRIVE
6/7 with a drop, everything downfield, long TD drive in the clutch!pic.twitter.com/Ic6wSW5sCq— Joe (@JoeA_NFL) December 15, 2025
Running Back
Devin Neal: 7 Carries, 28 Yards, TD | 1 Target, 1 Reception, 4 Yards
Devin Neal made a nice cut and drive on a right-side sweep for a short-yardage touchdown, but left the game shortly after with an injury and did not return, disappointing fantasy managers everywhere.
Audric Estime: 3 Carries, 11 Yards | 3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 39 Yards
Evan Hull: 4 Carries, 12 Yards
In Neal’s absence, the Saints split carries between Audric Estime and Evan Hull. Estime might be more interesting for his pass-catching ability, but don’t forget that the Saints love getting the ball to Taysom Hill. I wouldn’t want to rely on any Saints ballcarrier heading into next week.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Devaughn Vele: 6 Targets, 5 Receptions, 69 Yards
A big-bodied receiver that goes and gets the football out of the air, just what Shough needs. It’s been fun to watch Devaughn Vele grow into a larger role in this Saints’ offense, and managers should consider him a flex option in deep leagues. He did leave this game with an injury, however, so if he’s not fully healthy entering Week 16, forget I said anything.
Devaughn Vele 😳 OKAY. pic.twitter.com/ASqAUvqJcI
— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) December 14, 2025
Chris Olave: 9 Targets, 6 Receptions, 85 Yards, TD
Another solid week for Chris Olave, who has strung together several of them on his way to a top-15 WR performance this season. He caught the game-tying touchdown pass, helping Shough deliver a win for this Saints team that is slowly rounding into form late in the season. His route-running and separation skills make him a favorite target of his young quarterback and make him extremely valuable in fantasy as well. The most important thing for Olave, especially late in the season with his team already eliminated from playoff contention, is staying healthy. As long as he’s on the field, he’s an elite wide receiver, a solid fantasy WR2, and should be started everywhere.
Juwan Johnson: 4 Targets, 4 Receptions, 30 Yards
Jack Stoll: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 7 Yards
Kevin Austin Jr.: 5 Targets, 3 Receptions, 33 Yards
Mason Tipton: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 5 Yards