Carolina Panthers vs Arizona Cardinals
Carolina Panthers
Quarterbacks
- Kyle Allen: 19/26, 261 yards, 4 TDs, 2 sacks, 21 yards lost, 1 fumble lost
Stepping in for the injured Cam Newton, Kyle Allen did everything the Panthers could have hoped for. Allen didn’t challenge Arizona’s defense deep often but was very accurate in the short and intermediate areas of the field. Allen showed some mobility and never looked overwhelmed at any point during the game.
As a fantasy owner, however, this was probably the week to start him against a bad Arizona defense made worse with the absence of Patrick Peterson. Carolina travels to Houston next week, and if Cam is unable to go I can’t recommend Allen as anything other than a desperation play against J.J. Watt and company.
Running Backs
- Christian McCaffrey: 24 carries, 153 yards, 1 TD | 4 targets, 3 receptions, 35 yards
As has become the norm, Christian McCaffrey was the engine that ran the offense for Carolina. McCaffrey’s day was boosted considerably by a 76-yard scamper right through the heart of Arizona’s defense. McCaffrey was the focus of Arizona’s defense, which had to contribute to the incredible day Allen had through the air. I don’t have to tell you McCaffrey is an auto-start every week.
Wide Receivers / Tight Ends
- Greg Olsen: 7 targets, 6 receptions, 75 yards, 2 TDs
- Curtis Samuel: 7 targets, 5 receptions, 53 yards, 1 TD
- DJ Moore: 2 targets, 1 reception, 52 yards, 1 TD | 1 carry, 12 yards
- Jarius Wright: 2 targets, 2 receptions, 38 yards
Note to self — Start your TEs against Arizona. Through three games now, Arizona has allowed 348 yards and 5 TDs to opposing TEs. The beneficiary this week was Greg Olsen who found open areas seemingly at will in this game on his way to two short TDs. Olsen has become a security blanket in the twilight of his career but knows all the tricks and how to get open. If he can stay healthy, Olsen should finish the season as a low-end TE1, but portrays as a streamable option on a week-to-week basis.
Curtis Samuel was also a popular target for Allen as Samuel excels at running short routes and utilizing his speed to turn them into long gains. Samuel frequently found soft spots in Arizona’s coverage and ran a nice out route on his TD catch in the back of the end zone. It’s hard to know which of Carolina’s WRs will be the one who has a good game, so it’s hard to trust Samuel as any more than a WR3.
Speaking of struggling with which of the Carolina WRs to trust, DJ Moore did the most with his small slice of the pie this week. Moore only touched the ball twice today but still turned one of them into a long TD. His lone reception was a 52-yard score courtesy of some of the worst defense I’ve seen in a while. Moore ran a crossing route and caught the ball in front of a defender who had no clue the ball was on the way.
Moore’s other touch–a carry–came when Arizona became overly preoccupied with McCaffrey. Allen faked a dive to McCaffrey and handed to Moore on an end-around for a big pickup. Moore is perceived as the #1 WR for Carolina, but can’t be trusted as more than a low-end WR2 for fantasy owners.
Arizona Cardinals
Quarterbacks
- Kyler Murray: 30/43, 173 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs, 8 sacks, 46 yards lost | 8 carries, 69 yards
The traits that made Kyler Murray the first overall choice in the NFL Draft and the ninth-overall choice in the MLB Draft are evident, but we have to remember he is still a rookie. As evidenced by Murray’s line above, it was not a good game for the young signal-caller. Murray predominantly threw after a quick two- or three-step drop and short gains resulted.
Either Murray was finally comfortable utilizing his legs or the coaches were finally comfortable letting him, but Murray did escape the pocket some in this game and made the defense respect his running ability.
Murray’s TDs were more a result of individual effort by his receivers than anything. On the first, Larry Fitzgerald took on two defenders to get in the end zone. On the second, a broken play resulted in a throw across the field to David Johnson who muscled his way into the end zone.
As the game neared its conclusion I had to wonder if the pace caught up with Arizona’s offensive line as well. Murray frequently had defenders in the backfield quickly, resulting in most of the sacks and one of the interceptions. The volume makes Murray a low-end QB1, but there will be growing pains for his fantasy owners.
Running Backs
- David Johnson: 11 carries, 37 yards | 9 targets, 6 receptions, 28 yards, 1 TD
- Chase Edmonds: 3 carries, 15 yards | 2 targets, 1 reception, 10 yards
David Johnson struggled for most of the game as Carolina clogged up running lanes with regularity. Johnson salvaged his fantasy day with his “backyard football” TD reception, but the yardage is disappointing. Johnson remains an RB1 for owners given his involvement in the passing game, but until Murray can prove he can beat teams through the air Johnson will remain the focal point of opposing defenses.
Chase Edmonds might carry some value to the Johnson owner as a handcuff but is a non-factor otherwise.
Wide Receivers / Tight Ends
- Christian Kirk: 12 targets, 10 receptions, 59 yards
- Larry Fitzgerald: 7 targets, 5 receptions, 36 yards, 1 TD
- KeeSean Johnson: 4 targets, 3 receptions, 13 yards
- Michael Crabtree: 2 targets, 2 receptions, 9 yards
- Damiere Byrd: 4 targets, 2 receptions, 9 yards
Despite the double-digit numbers in targets and receptions for Christian Kirk, it was a disappointing day for his fantasy owners. That’s going to be a recurring theme for Arizona pass-catchers in this game. Kirk frequently ran short curls and crosses which created plenty of opportunities with little in the way of results. Kirk is a WR3 based on volume alone, but it’s hard to trust this Arizona passing game for more than that.
The elder statesman for Arizona, Larry Fitzgerald sometimes just wills himself into good fantasy outings (see week 1 against Detroit). Fitzgerald willed himself into the end zone on his TD reception, but yardage was in short supply otherwise. Fitzgerald has more upside than Kirk but is still no more than a high-end WR3 most weeks until Murray starts to put it all together.
The rest of Arizona’s receivers were pedestrian in this game, but do any of them have fantasy value going forward? This was only the second game Michael Crabtree was active for Arizona, and it is suspected he’s still learning the playbook, but I can see him becoming the team’s third WR in short order. He still has sure hands, but his best days seem to be behind him. Based on volume, he could return WR4 value once he is fully integrated into the offense.
KeeSean Johnson was a popular sleeper based on his usage in the preseason, but that hasn’t translated into regular-season production yet. Johnson isn’t worth a roster spot yet, but keep him on your waiver wire speed dial if his usage starts to increase in the coming weeks.
–Bryan Sweet
Will Gordon step right back into his previous role, given Ekeler’s performance? Is it worth holding onto him? when do you think he’ll return and how effective will he be?
Gordon is definitely worth a hold if you still have him, but who knows how he’ll come back. I’d personally not want him back if things are going well (in terms of team chemistry), but who knows where we’ll be at that time…Ekeler could be still killing it or hurt on the bench