With Carolina Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart out for the team’s Week 3 game against the Minnesota Vikings with a hamstring injury, the Panthers will be turning to their backup rushers to produce this weekend. Cameron Artis-Payne has been named the starting running back for Carolina in place of Stewart for Sunday, but the team will likely use a running-back-by-committee approach utilizing the skills of Artis-Payne, Fozzy Whittaker, and Mike Tolbert against the Vikings.
Fantasy football start/sit advice, Week 3: Cameron Artis-Payne, Fozzy Whittaker get tough matchup this weekend
Carolina’s backup running backs will have their work cut out for themselves on Sunday against a stout Minnesota rush defense. We explore the fantasy implications.
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Fantasy Impact: Artis-Payne would certainly be a risky start for fantasy owners in Week 3. Not only does he not have a carry yet this season, but he will be facing a Minnesota defense that has not allowed a running back to rush for over 100 yards in a regular season game since Week 13 in 2015.
Whittaker is also a fantasy risk this Sunday, but he seems like a much better option than Artis Payne against the Vikings. Oddly enough, Whittaker is actually the Panthers’ leading rusher this season with 113 yards in the team’s first two games.
If a fantasy owner had to pick between the two, Whittaker will likely have the better day this week. But the smartest choice of all would be to stay away from both of them.
