Carolina Panthers Report

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RB DeAngelo Williams: Williams averaged 6.3 yards per carry last week against the Patriots in his return from a one game absence due to an ankle injury. But this week he faces the #1 fantasy defense against the run without RT Jeff Otah, who is now out for the season. His backfield mate Jonathan Stewart will get the goal line carries this week as Williams get 60 yards rushing and 15 receiving no stays out of the end zone. If I had him on my team I’d look for a better option.

RB Jonathan Stewart: As already stated I expect Stewart to get some goal line carries but he will his number of carries will still be low and subsequently the yardage. If you consider the offense is now missing its starting QB, LT and RT it doesn’t look pretty for the Panther offense. If were keeping it real he gets 30 yards and score.

WR Steve Smith: The Viking secondary gives up on average (ESPN Scoring) 18 points a game which means about 14 of those should go to Steve Smith. 80 yards and a score sounds about right.

QB Matt Moore: I’m sure there are some diehard Panther fans who might play Moore out of loyalty but otherwise I can’t imagine you wouldn’t have a better option. Second year RT Geoff Schwartz makes his first start in place of the injured Jeff Otah. I have a feeling the added pressure causes Moore to regress in ascension to Panther lore by throwing a pick or two. I’m bearish prediction is 200 yards passing, 1 TD and 2 INT’s.

Panthers Defense & ST: The Panther defense isn’t as bad of play this week as you might first think. The weather conditions will slick, the Panther secondary has been very opportunistic this year and Brett Favre is due to one of his multi-pick games. On the contrary I don’t think the Panther special teams is due for anything but mediocrity. Put the Panther D down for two INTs and a sack for a total of 6 to 8 points.

K John Kasay: With the Panther offense in a funk its hard to imagine Kasay getting more than a couple opportunities and PATs. As much as I want to hope the Panthers could bust out of their scoring funk I wouldn’t bet my FFL season on it. It’s looking like 8 to 10 points for Kasay.

Panthers TEs Jeff King, Dante Rosario and Gary Barnidge

None of these players are consistent enough for a play this week and Moore has yet to build a rapport with any of them. If I had to pick one for a big game against the Patriots it would be Rosario. He is the best at stretching the field and breaking LB coverage.