Fantasy football projections, Week 9: Saints-Panthers featuring Drew Brees, Mark Ingram and Kelvin Benjamin

The Week 8 matchup between the New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers features an explosive offense against a defense that's been shaky this season. We've got the fantasy projections for you courtesy of numberFire.

Few expected the Saints' Week 8 game against the Green Bay Packers to be a one-sided affair, but quarterback Drew Brees and New Orleans' offense were able to do exactly that. Brees threw for 311 passing yards and three touchdowns en route to a blowout win. Brees will be up against a Panthers' defense that gives up the eighth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks and has also given up at least 30 points in a game five times this season. To say the least, Brees should be in for a big Thursday night.

A big day for him likely means plenty of room for running back Mark Ingram to get his share of fantasy points on the ground. Ingram ran the ball 24 times for 172 yards and a touchdown in Week 8 and the Panthers are the thir-worst fantasy defense in the league against the run. Although Khiry Robinson, Travaris Cadet and Pierre Thomas have been viewed as potential handcuffs to Ingram's future value at times this season, it's now clear that Ingram is the Saints back to own and start on Thursday and beyond.

Every time it looks like quarterback Cam Newton is rounding into the elite fantasy option people envision, he takes a step back. That's been especially evident this season, as the young franchise player fought back from a rib injury to start the year. He and the Panthers were limited to three field goals against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 8. Newton will need to find his game in Week 9 against a Saints secondary that gives up a ton of points, and a Saints team as a whole that doesn't shy away from a shootout. Newton could be in line to post some big-time numbers as a result despite his unpredictable fantasy production in 2014.

Given that Thursday's game is in all likelihood going to be a high-scoring affair, it means Newton will inevitably have to look to wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin down the field in order to keep up with the Saints. Benjamin was the team's best receiver in the Panthers' Week 8 loss, catching four passes for 94 yards. The rookie is tied with tight end Greg Olsen for the team lead in touchdowns with five and could produce some career numbers against New Orleans in Week 9.