Panthers @ Falcons
We expected fireworks in this one with a total of over 50 coming into the game. They finished with a combined 39 points and the Panthers have now won three straight games after opening the season 0-2. The Falcons are now 0-5 and Dan Quinn has essentially been given the boot. The offenses moved the ball well in this one but both of them struggled to find the end zone as there were six field goals scored to just three touchdowns. The Panthers held on 23-16 in this one.
Carolina Panthers
Quarterback
Teddy Bridgewater: 27/37, 313 yards, 2 TDs | 3 carries, 3 yards
Teddy Bridgewater got off to a hot start in this one, throwing for 261 yards and two touchdowns in the first half. He really wasn’t asked to do much in the second half as the Panthers held a two-score lead the entire time. You can see his touchdown passes below in GIF form. The first was a beautiful play fake where he hit a wide-open Mike Davis for a short score. The second score was an awesome route plus a catch and run by D.J. Moore for a long touchdown. Bridgewater has some serious weapons on offense and he was efficient as always in hitting them while also sprinkling in some deep shots. He is a high-end QB2 and is appealing in certain matchups. The Panthers get the Bears’ solid defense next week.
Running Backs
Mike Davis: 16 carries, 89 yards | 10 targets, 9 receptions, 60 yards, 1 TD
This was Mike Davis’s backfield in this one, just as it has been with Christian McCaffrey out for the last few weeks. Davis limped off the field early with an ankle injury. Thankfully, he was back out there on the next drive and was a full-time player the rest of the way. As seen below, he caught an easy touchdown late in the first half. He remained extremely involved in the passing game, catching 9 of 10 targets for a healthy 60 yards. He also moved the ball well on the ground. He averaged over 5.5 yards per carry and really put this game away in the second half with his runs. He is an RB1 as long as McCaffrey remains out.
Bridgewater with his second touchdown pass on the half, this one goes to Mike Davis.#FantasyFootball | #Panthers pic.twitter.com/0XMRaPQKzo
— QB List (@TheQBlist) October 11, 2020
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Robby Anderson: 13 targets, 8 receptions, 112 yards | 1 carry, 3 yards
D.J. Moore: 5 targets, 4 receptions, 93 yards, 1 TD
Curtis Samuel: 5 targets, 5 receptions, 36 yards | 4 carries, 28 yards
Robby Anderson continued his WR1 campaign. He was Teddy’s’ favorite target throughout this one as he caught plenty of intermediate passes and had some nice chunk run after the catches. He is a WR1 going forward. D.J. Moore only had five targets but turned a beautiful route into a long 57-yard touchdown reception, as seen below. Moore is a solid WR2 right now with upside for more if he gets more usage. Curtis Samuel remains largely a gadget player with nine total touches and 64 total yards. He can’t be trusted as more than a WR3/4 at the moment.
Go DJ, thats my DJ
DJ Moore with his first TD of the season (2-for-67 on the day).#FantasyFootball | #Panthers pic.twitter.com/nlldY8WGER
— QB List (@TheQBlist) October 11, 2020
Atlanta Falcons
Quarterback
Matt Ryan: 21/37, 226 yards, 1 Int, 2 sacks | 1 carry, -1 yard
It is hard for any quarterback to have a big game when their top weapon isn’t playing. That was the case in this one as Matt Ryan had 226 scoreless yards. Ryan and the Falcons moved the ball well but settled for three field goals after a first drive touchdown run by Todd Gurley. No secondary receiver stepped up for Ryan besides stud wideout Calvin Ridley. Besides Ridley, no receiver had over 29 yards and they had a combined 25 targets. Ryan and the Falcons get the Vikings’ poor defense next week. He will be a QB1 going into that matchup.
Running Backs
Todd Gurley: 14 carries, 121 yards, 1 TD | 5 targets, 4 receptions, 29 yards
Brian Hill: 6 carries, 39 yards | 2 targets, 2 receptions, 5 yards
Todd Gurley put the #Falcons up early. #FantasyFootball | #NFl pic.twitter.com/bfJNyIWXjN
— QB List (@TheQBlist) October 11, 2020
It was like a blast from the past for Todd Gurley. He showed some bust on this nice 35-yard first-quarter score. He was constantly picking up chunk yardage on the ground against this soft Carolina front. He even added four receptions on Sunday, which matched his total for the season coming into week five. Brian Hill was still involved with 8 opportunities behind Gurley’s 19. Hill has looked good with his touches but doesn’t get enough volume to be a standalone play in fantasy right now. Gurley is an RB2 right now with solid volume on an offense that scores a good amount of points. This backfield has a great matchup on tap next week with Minnesota.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Calvin Ridley: 10 targets, 8 receptions, 136 yards
Russell Gage: 5 targets, 2 receptions, 16 yards
Hayden Hurst: 6 targets, 2 receptions, 8 yards
With stud receiver Julio Jones missing this game with a hamstring injury, Calvin Ridley was the clear focal point in the passing game. Ridley was consistently open and getting chunk play after chunk play. He is a no-doubt WR1 even when Jones comes back. He is the current WR2 in fantasy, even including the zero he put up in week four. Russell Gage and Hayden Hurst needed to step up in the absence of Jones. They combined for 24 yards on 11 targets and it was a combination of poor play and uncatchable passes from Ryan. Ryan missed Hurst for a wide-open touchdown early in the fourth quarter; the ball sailed over his head. This group has an appealing matchup next week but it is hard to trust anyone besides Ridley and Julio.
-Kevin Taylor (@ktbeast918 on Twitter)