Week 17 at New Orleans Saints
Cam Newton was benched intermittently against the Buccaneers last week and is now in some sort of weird Twilight Zone quarterback timeshare with Sam Darnold. Run screaming away from the Carolina quarterback situation for the remainder of the season.
Week 16 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Cam Newton has a rushing touchdown in each of his five games with the Panthers this year, but he also has just four passing touchdowns and four interceptions. He’s averaging a mere 154 passing yards per start and has been benched multiple times. While he has upside due to his rushing ability, the chances he gets pulled at any moment – Matt Rhule has already said Sam Darnold may play some – make him too risky to trust in most leagues, even in a good matchup against a Buccaneers defense that ranks 18th in aFPA to opposing quarterbacks. Look elsewhere if possible.
Week 15 at Buffalo Bills
Cam Newton ran for 47 yards and a touchdown last week against the Falcons, but he struggled to throw the ball, with 178 yards and a pick. He ended up benched in another loss and it looks like his leash will continue to be pretty short with P.J. Walker finishing the last two outings. Still, he’s supposed to retain his starting job for at least one more week.
This week, Cam faces a Bills defense that ranks second in aFPA to opposing quarterbacks. While he’s always a threat to run in a score or two, his propensity to get benched lately makes him way too risky to start, especially in a tough matchup. Sit him.
Week 14 vs. Atlanta Falcons
Cam Newton was awful against the Dolphins before the bye last week, throwing for 92 yards and a pair of interceptions before getting benched. He did run in a touchdown, but it was a miserable performance in general for the Panthers’ offense.
This week, Newton faces a Falcons defense that ranks 28th in aFPA to opposing quarterbacks. With a great matchup and his rushing potential, Cam is back to fringe QB1 status this week. Hopefully he can shake off that tough outing against the Dolphins and beat up on a familiar old foe. There’s always risk with Cam, but his upside is enough to make him worth streaming if you need help.
Week 12 at Miami Dolphins
Cam Newton had a nice game, despite the Panthers losing, against the Washington Football Team last week, throwing for two touchdowns and 189 yards on 21 of 27 passing. He also added 46 yards and a touchdown on the ground, reminding fantasy managers why he’s always worth rostering when starting.
This week, Cam faces a Dolphins defense that ranks 26th in aFPA to opposing quarterbacks. Cam’s agility to produce rushing the ball, combined with a quality matchup makes him an excellent fantasy option this week, and we have him ranked inside our top 10. Start him.
Week 11 vs. Washington Football Team
Cam Newton had quite a return to Carolina last week. Despite not starting, he played several plays and scored a touchdown on each of his first two snaps – one rushing, one passing. Newton is being prepped to start this week against Washington, and his dual-threat value makes him an interesting waiver-wire addition.
This week, Newton faces a Washington defense that ranks dead last in aFPA to opposing quarterbacks. Assuming he does in fact get the start – as expected – fantasy managers should consider him a fringe QB1 option. He was productive last year with the Patriots because of his rushing production, and this Panthers team is arguably more talented than what he worked with last season.
Week 17 vs. New York Jets
Cam Newton's contributions in the passing game are negligible at this point. He is essentially a pure running quarterback and was pulled last week for Jarrett Stidham as the Patriots offensive struggles continued. The only saving grace for Newton this week is a matchup with the lowly Jets, though they have been playing better as of late after beating the Rams and Browns. With Newton's passing floor being nonexistent and rushing production being difficult to project, he is a volatile fantasy option, and one that will bust more of than he booms. If you're playing Newton this week, it's because you're banking on the Patriots trampling the Jets in the run game, which is far from a safe bet. Newton is nothing more than a volatile QB2 at this point in his career.
Week 16 vs. Buffalo Bills
Cam Newton's only fantasy relevance relates to his rushing ability. We are entering Week 16 and Newton has five passing touchdowns on the season with Jarrett Stidham breathing down his neck for reps under center. Now the Patriots will host a Bills team whose defense has been steadily improving over the last few weeks. Newton's extremely low passing volume and lack of supporting cast mean he has a very low floor while his ceiling is entirely dependent on goal-line rushes. Short yardage touchdowns are just too unpredictable to trust Newton to turn in a decent performance, particularly when the New England offense isn't explosive to begin with. Newton is not a good starting option in single quarterback leagues this week.
Week 15 at Miami Dolphins
Cam Newton continues to accomplish next to nothing through the air, leaving him entirely dependent on rushing production to return fantasy dividends. Newton unbelievably has only five passing touchdowns on the season despite playing in 12 games. He's also finished four of the last five games under 200 passing yards. Even in neutral matchups, fantasy managers have to rely on Newton punching in rushing touchdowns for him to be a QB1. This week Newton faces off with the Dolphins, a defense that has been playing very well of late. Miami is tough on opposing passers, ranking fifth in our schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed metric to opposing quarterbacks. Newton's one-dimensional quarterbacking style and the tough matchup render him nothing more than a QB2 in Week 15.
Week 14 at Los Angeles Rams
The Patriots managed to detonate the Chargers 45-0 in Week 13 with Cam Newton only throwing for 69 yards and one touchdown. The story for Newton is on the ground where he punched in two more scores and accumulated 48 yards on 14 carries. Newton's rushing upside is substantial, but the extremely low-volume passing attack in New England makes him a volatile fantasy asset. Newton's outlook for Week 14 takes a hit due to matchup with the Patriots traveling to Los Angeles to take on the Rams and their formidable defense. The Rams are currently third in the NFL in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks, so Newton will almost surely need to find the endzone on the ground to put up a respectable line in this one. Newton's rushing upside keeps him in the QB2 conversation, but he is not a recommended starter in single quarterback leagues in a tough Thursday matchup.
