Week 5 – Cam Newton vs. Chicago
Cam Newton doesn’t quite seem healthy and he had a rough go of it last week against the Ravens, as Baltimore destroyed the Panthers. Cam had 197 yards and a touchdown, but only added seven yards on the ground and failed to move the offense with any kind of consistency.
This week, Cam gets a much easier opponent. The Bears just got gouged by the Packers passing offense and injuries in the secondary have made them more vulnerable to the pass. Cam has taken a beating this season and doesn’t seem healthy behind a really bad offensive line, so he’s a risky start in any week. We have him ranked as a fringe starter even with a very good matchup. Until he starts running the ball again, it’s hard to imagine him being an elite fantasy option week to week.
Week 4 – Cam Newton vs. Baltimore
Cam Newton looked less mobile in a loss against the Steelers last week, as he still tries to recover from a rib injury and offseason ankle surgery, but he still managed 250 yards passing and a touchdown and he didn’t throw a pick.
Cam has another tough matchup this week, and without supplementing his passing numbers with rushing totals on a bum ankle, his fantasy value has taken a hit. We have him ranked outside the top 12, making him bye week filler or putting him in QB2 territory in most leagues. Fantasy owners may not have a better option, but if possible, look somewhere else while Cam and the Panthers offense gets on track.
Week 3 – Cam Newton vs. Pittsburgh
Cam Newton had a nice return, playing efficiently in a win against the Lions by completing nearly 65 percent of his passes and having no turnovers. He ended up with 281 yards passing, another 19 rushing, and a touchdown pass to Jason Avant in the third quarter, just when the Lions started to get it together.
Cam will face a Steelers defense that hasn’t looked great through two weeks, but has been better against the pass then they have been against the run. Cam looks like a good option regardless though, as he looked sharp coming off a rib injury and has rookie receiver Kelvin Benjamin and veteran tight end Greg Olsen to play with. We have him eighth in our rankings this week, and fantasy owners who drafted him to be their main guy should feel just fine starting him against Pittsburgh Sunday night.
Week 2 – Cam Newton vs. Detroit
Cam Newton was injured in the preseason and missed the first week of the season. His status for Week 2 is still up in the air, but early indications are that he should be a go. He was a game time decision last week, which usually means that next week is a go.
Cam will face a Lions team that beat the snot out of the Giants last week and made Eli Manning look like… well… Eli Manning. The dominant performance by the Lions defense against the dysfunctional Giants does nothing to mitigate Cam’s value. If he’s healthy, he’s still a solid starting QB option, with dual threat ability and what looks like an improved receiving corps. He may not be an elite fantasy guy, but he’s a very good one and worth starting as long as he’s active.
Week 1 – Cam Newton vs. Tampa Bay
The Panthers are hoping that Cam Newton can lead them to another NFC South title this season. In 2013, he had less yards and ran less, but his efficiency and rating improved, as did the Panthers’ win total. The concern right now is that Cam is coming off offseason ankle surgery and a rib injury suffered during the preseason.
Week 1 starts with a battle against Tampa Bay. The Bucs were middle of the road against the pass last year, allowing 238 yards per game. However, coming off an injury, the first game of the season with a new set of receivers and a weakened offensive line, we have Cam listed just outside our top 12 quarterbacks. If you’ve got him, you’re probably starting him, but know that there are some factors that make early season success less assured for Cam this year.
Cam Newton took a step back when it comes to prolific statistics last season, including less than 3,400 passing yards, the lowest of his career. However, his efficiency was up, as he threw only 13 interceptions, completed nearly 62 percent of his passes, and led the Panthers to the number two seed in the NFC South and the Panthers’ first playoff berth since the 2008 season. Newton will be counted on take a step as a leader and keep the Panthers in contention in his fourth season as a starter.
Fantasy Upside
What Cam loses in passing yards, he usually makes up for running the ball. Finishing with modest passing yards and touchdowns (3,379 yards and 24 touchdown passes), Cam didn’t blow fantasy owners away through the air, but he also led all quarterbacks with 585 yards rushing and six additional scores he ran in. Cam’s production running the ball decreased last season under Mike Shula’s system, but he’s too athletic not to take advantage of his running skills at all. Additionally, entering his second season with Shula as his offensive coordinator, there is room for Cam to grow as a passer. Additionally, the drafting of giant first round receiver Kelvin Benjamin out of Florida State gives Cam a possible upgrade in the receiving corps and a big target for the red zone.
Fantasy Downside
There are three main reasons to be concerned with Cam as a QB1. The first is his off-season surgery on his ankle. He’s supposed to be ready to go for the first game of the season, but if the ankle problems persist, it could rob him of his valuable running ability. Second, left tackle Jordan Gross retired in the offseason, and the Panthers are looking at Nate Chandler and Byron Bell as options to replace him. Finally, the Panthers’ top three receivers last season have moved on to other teams, so he’ll be working with an entirely new receiving corps. If Benjamin doesn’t become a top option early, there could be some problems passing the ball.
Bottom Line
Even though there are legitimate concerns regarding Cam’s ankle and the possible decrease in talent around him, he’s still a borderline QB1, and ranked eighth on our board. Cam is competitive enough to put in the work to be ready for opening day, and his dual threat ability will help mitigate concerns on the offensive line. Finally, the group of Panthers receivers last year were led by an aging Steve Smith, who finished with only 745 yards and 4 touchdowns. It’s very possible that the perceived downgrades on offense could look like upgrades by the end of the year. Cam is a calculated risk, worth drafting around his eighth round ADP, and is one of the guys to watch for those who are waiting on a quarterback this year.
