Panthers @ Broncos
Final Score: Broncos 28 – Panthers 14
Writer: Jesse Maida
The Broncos entered the game as 13.5-point betting favorites, their largest margin since Week 6 at home against the Giants in 2017 (-14). The Broncos lost that game 23-10. It looked like history could repeat itself after the Panthers raced to an early 7-0 lead, due to a perfect drive led by Bryce Young, who returned to a starting role, but the optimism was short lived. The Broncos scored 28 unanswered points as it was Bo Nix who played like a like a former 1st overall pick, leading the Broncos to an easy victory, while also covering the spread.
Three Up
- Courtland Sutton – Huge bounce back game after the Week 7 goose egg. Sutton is the clear WR1 with 9+ targets in 4/8 games and Nix continues to improve.
- Bo Nix – Played a nearly flawless first half with 207 passing yards and 3 total TDs. Nix has finished as a top 10 QB in 3/4 weeks and is now a legit streaming option.
- Jalen Coker – The lone bright spot for the Panthers who has a real path to consistent playing time if Diontae Johnson gets traded.
Three Down
- Chuba Hubbard – The injury to Dalton, declining receiving usage, potential return of Brooks, and Panthers being 1-7 are all bad for Hubbard’s value.
- Javonte Williams – In what should have been a smash matchup, Williams was terrible. The upcoming schedule is brutal and the playoff schedule is not friendly. Sell!
- Troy Franklin – Franklin had limited usage which is disappointing after back-to-back WR3 finishes.
Panthers
Quarterback
Bryce Young: 24/37, 224 Yards, 2 TD, 2 INT, | 3 Carries, 6 Yards
After a Broncos turnover on the games’ opening possession, Bryce Young took advantage of a short field, leading a perfect scoring drive, going 5/5 for 39 yards ending with six-yard passing score to rookie Xavier Legette. Then the real Bryce Young showed up. The former #1 overall pick finished the half with 61 passing yards on 14 attempts (4.35 yards per attempt), totalling only one more first down on the next three possessions. It didn’t get much better in the 2nd half, where Young threw two interceptions and had numerous mental errors including two delay of game penalties in the span of three plays.
To Young’s defense, he was setup to fail on the road against one of the best defensive units in the NFL, down two starting WRs. He actually had multiple impressive throws, including several downfield throws, and finished with a season-high 224 passing yards. However, 81 of those yards and a TD came in garbage time on the final Panthers possession where numerous Broncos starters were resting, including Patrick Surtain, who had already picked off Young earlier in the game.
Running Back
Chuba Hubbard: 15 Carries, 56 Yards | 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 15 Yards
Bryce Young once again killed Hubbard’s fantasy value. In Young’s three starts this season, Hubbard is averaging 7.3 PPR points per game, finishing RB66, RB24, and RB32 (as of Sunday Night Football). The Panthers quickly fell behind by 14 points and had to abandon the run, which is typically no issue for Hubbard’s playing time, as he averaged 4.8 targets between weeks 2-6. However, despite two negative game scripts the past two weeks, Hubbard has registered only two targets vs. nine for Miles Sanders. The Panthers are now 1-7 and say they are not committed to Bryce Young just yet, but I can’t see a team destined for the #1 pick starting Andy Dalton down the stretch. It doesn’t make any sense during a lost season. Hubbard is not someone you can trust when Young is starting.
Miles Sanders: 1 Carry, 7 Yards | 7 Targets, 7 Receptions, 38 Yards
Miles Sanders led the Panthers in receptions this week with seven, leading to an uneventful 38 yards and only one 1st down. Even with seven receptions, Sanders cannot even crack the top 24 RBs which is all you need to know about his fantasy value. Leave him in free agents.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Xavier Legette: 7 Targets, 4 Receptions, 34 Yards, TD | 1 Rush, 0 Yards
Legette caught a touchdown pass on the Panthers’ opening possession beating Patrick Surtain 1-on-1. He acted as the teams’ WR1 with Diontae Johnson ruled out, leading all receivers with 7 targets, and in receptions (4 tied with Coker, David Moore). Legette could have had a much bigger day if not for a dropped 25-yard pass and losing sight of the ball in the sun on another 30-yard pass. He also limped off the field at one point, which resulted in him being limited to 38 snaps, only five more than Mingo and less than Coker and Moore. If Johnson is traded, Legette could be a strong fantasy asset in the 2nd half of the season.
https://www.twitter.com/NFL/status/1850637941049372918
Jalen Coker: 6 Targets, 4 Receptions, 78 Yards, TD
This was a true breakout game for the UDFA WR who received praise from the coaching staff all offseason. Coker was the best receiver on the field for the Panthers, posting a dominant PFF Receiving Grade of 90.3 and was rewarded with his first career touchdown pass (albeit in garbage time but it still counts!). It’s a very small sample size, but Jalen Coker has the highest Receiving Grade among Rookie WRs with 81.9, just ahead of Brian Thomas Jr.‘s 81.7.
Outside of the touchdown, Coker made numerous impressive tough catches, when nothing else was working for the offense. Coker even had one big gain, on another tough catch, wiped out due to a holding penalty. He acted as the starting slot receiver, playing 42 snaps, one less than his season-high. With the Panthers 1-7, it is likely their young players will get a chance to shine, which provides Coker a legitimate shot at consistent playing time the rest of the season.
https://www.twitter.com/NFL/status/1850667996353872248
David Moore: 5 Targets, 4 Receptions, 39 Yards
Moore led all Panthers receivers in snaps, taking over the Diontae Johnson role. Unfortunately, he is nowhere as good as Diontae and can be ignored for fantasy football.
Ja’Tavion Sanders: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 7 Yards
Sanders entered the game with 11 receptions and 110 yards combined in the last two weeks but Bryce Young failed to get the rookie tight end involved.
Broncos
Quarterback
Bo Nix: 28/37, 284 Yards 3 TD | 5 Carries, 4 Yards, TD
This was easily Nix’s best game as a pro setting career highs in completions, passing yards, passing touchdowns, total touchdowns, and QB rating. Nix showcased some elite ball placement, extended plays with his legs, and looked like the franchise QB the Broncos drafted him to be. As of Sunday Night football, Nix is QB2 on the week, his third top-10 finish in the past four weeks. Yes, this elite fantasy performance is likely aided by an abysmal Panthers team, who allowed a top-10 finish to Marcus Mariota last week, but it’s time to acknowledge that Bo Nix is legit. Nix has multiple passing touchdowns in three of his last four games, and is a threat to rack up rushing yards and score with his legs every week. Bo Nix has officially entered QB1 streaming territory, especially with some heavy bye weeks approaching.
Running Back
Javonte Williams: 17 Carries, 44 Yards | 5 Targets, 4 Receptions, 8 Yards
Just as it appeared Williams was turning the corner, perhaps turning into an every week RB2, he gave fantasy managers one of his worst performances of the season. This was a smash spot for Javonte, facing the Panthers who give up the most fantasy points to running backs, in a game where the Broncos were a two-touchdown favorite. He had every opportunity to smash, receiving a season high 22 opportunities, but failed to make them count, totaling 9.2 fantasy points, finishing outside the top-30 RBs. He looked hesitant all game long, failing to convert in short-yardage situations. He received both carries inside the five yard line, getting stuffed on 2nd-and-goal from the 3 yard-line and then again on 2nd-and-goal from the 1. Later in the game, he failed to convert on a 2nd-and-1 and also picked up 0 yards in 4th quarter on a 3rd-and-3 when the Broncos were killing clock.
Javonte Williams would have been the perfect sell-high candidate after this game but now he’s just a straight-up sell. With upcoming matchups @BAL and @KC the next two weeks, a bye in week 14, and a tough playoff schedule including @LAC in week 16, who already shut him down in week 6, Javonte is at the top of my sell list.
https://twitter.com/MichaelFFlorio/status/1850682796940972142
Jaleel McLaughlin: 8 Carries, 47 Yards | 1 Target, 1 Reception, 9 Yards, TD
McLaughlin was unquestionably the better Broncos running back in week 8. He had lots of juice and displayed his trademark shiftiness, scoring on a nine-yard reception where he tightroped down the sideline to cross the pylon. That is the third red zone touchdown for McLaughlin this season where he’s showcased his elusiveness and one has to wonder if he earns more red zone snaps going forward considering how awful Javonte Williams has been at times this season, especially vs. the Panthers. McLaughlin is still not Flex-worthy but if he’s ever going to be worth a spot start, it could be in the upcoming games vs. extremely tough run defenses.
https://www.twitter.com/NFL/status/1850665995733750099
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Courtland Sutton: 11 Targets, 8 Receptions, 100 Yards, FUMBLE (Lost) | 1/1 28 Yards
After receiving no targets in week 7, Bo Nix made sure to involve Sutton early vs. the Panthers, targeting the Broncos #1 receiver three times in the opening quarter. For the game, Sutton proved that week 7 was an outlier by commanding a 30% target share while totalling 100 receiving yards, the most he’s had in a game since Week 2 of 2022. It could have been a much bigger game for Sutton who did most of his damage in the first half as the Broncos led by three touchdowns for a majority of the second half, but on the Broncos final possession, Sutton caught a pass and fumbled on the 0ne-yard line. Sutton has double digit targets in 3/8 games this season and 9+ targets in 4/8 games, posting four weekly top 30 finishes. With Nix steadily improving, throwing multiple touchdowns in three of the last four games, Sutton is firmly in the WR3 discussion.
Lil’Jordan Humphrey: 6 Targets, 4 Receptions, 22 Yards FUMBLE (Lost)
Humphrey was the WR2, playing starter snaps but he performed like a practice squad player. Humphrey fumbled on Nix’s first pass attempt of the game while trying to fight for extra yards which led to a Panther touchdown. Later in the first half, he dropped what would have been a 48-yard touchdown, and had another almost TD which could have been caught but was just out of his reach. He has failed to reach double digit fantasy points in any game this season, despite playing around 70% of snaps on numerous occasions.
Devaughn Vele: 3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 28 Yards
Devaughn Vele split WR3 snaps with fellow rookie WR Troy Franklin but he was far more impactful. He only caught three balls on three targets, but they were chain moving, tough catches, the type of catches which earn the trust of the QB and coaching staff. His impact was easily noticed. Vele is not worth a roster spot in redraft leagues but he’s certainly worth holding in dynasty leagues.
Adam Trautman: 4 Targets, 4 Receptions, 85 Yards, TD
The Broncos entered week 8 with the least production from the tight end position in the NFL, but Adam Trautman turned into Shannon Sharpe on National Tight Ends day. Trautman finished second on the team in receiving yards with 85, highlighted by a one-handed 20-yard touchdown grab. He also had a 38-yard grab which was the longest reception by a Broncos tight end since Greg Dulcich’s 39-yard touchdown reception from Russell Wilson in Week 6 of the 2022 season. Trautman entered the week with only two receptions all season so he’s best left in free agents, but he does have seven targets in the last two weeks which is something to monitor in deep tight end premium leagues.
https://www.twitter.com/NFL/status/1850648175939559873
Troy Franklin: 2 Targets, 1 Reception, 6 Yards | 1 Carry, 3 Yards
After back-to-back WR3 fantasy performances, Franklin was not involved in the game plan and when he was involved, he failed to leave a positive impact. Franklin let a 40-yard bomb slip right through his hands, on what was arguably Nix’s best throw of the night. He could be a fantasy asset at some point in his career, but it’s unlikely to be this season, where he just looks like a Marvin Mims clone.
Nate Adkins: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 3 Yards, TD
Broncos tight end Nate Adkins scored his first career touchdown to tie the game at 7-7 in the first quarter. Those Greg Dulcich dynasty shares have never been so dead.