Week 6 at New Orleans
Cam Newton is set to return this week after missing Week 5 with a concussion. While the Panther offense has struggled a lot this year, they’ve faces some very difficult defenses with Cam under center, including both Denver and Minnesota. When healthy, Cam remains a dual-threat fantasy option who pads his stats with consistent production running the ball, especially in the red zone.
This week, Cam gets to face one of the worst defenses in the league. The Saints allow the fourth most passing yards to opposing teams per game this year, and Cam torched them for eight total touchdowns and 728 total yards over two games last season. Assuming Cam stays on track to start, he should be active as the top fantasy option this week in all league formats.
Week 5 vs. Tampa Bay
Cam Newton is coming off a concussion, so fantasy owners should be sure to monitor his status going into Sunday. Because Cam is playing Monday night, be ready to pick up Derek Anderson at the last minute if you need to. If the signs aren’t looking good on Sunday morning, it might be better for owners to pick up a better streaming option.
That being said, Cam should be started in all league formats assuming he’s good to go and you can safeguard yourself with Derek Anderson at the last minute. Cam had his day cut short last week against the Falcons, but still threw for 165 yards and added a touchdown pass to go with 30 yards rushing and a two-point conversion. The Bucs have allowed nine touchdown passes this season and they’ve only had one interception. If Cam starts, he should be in for a great game.
Week 4 at Atlanta
Cam Newton had a rough game against the Vikings last week, throwing three interceptions in a surprising Panthers loss. Cam managed 262 yards passing and ran in a touchdown, helping his fantasy output, but the Vikings defense harassed him all game, sacking last year’s MVP eight times!
This week should be better for Cam and the Panthers. They’ll go up against a Falcons defense that has allowed the fourth most passing yards this year and the fifth most points. They just gave up 376 yards and three touchdowns to Drew Brees, and Cam should be able to rebound from a tough outing. He’s our top option this week and should be active in all leagues.
Week 3 vs. Minnesota
Cam Newton had a great game against the 49ers last week. He threw a pick, but had 353 yards passing and threw four touchdown passes. He added 37 yards rushing and ended up with a decisive victory. Cam carried over his MVP-caliber play from a year ago, and should continue to be an elite fantasy option each week.
Minnesota has been pretty good defensively so far this year. They held Aaron Rodgers to 213 yards, a touchdown and a pick last week – although Rodgers also ran in a score – and they defense has been a big part of why the Vikings are 2-0 despite all the injuries they’ve suffered on the offensive side of the ball. Cam should still put up good numbers as a dual-threat player, but he’ll have his work cut out for him, dropping him from #1 in our rankings to just top-five. He’s still a must-start in all formats.
Week 2 vs. San Francisco
Cam Newton had 194 yards passing and a pick in a bitter loss against the Broncos last week, but he threw a touchdown pass and saved his fantasy day – as he often does – with 54 yards and a touchdown on the ground. That dual-threat ability is part of what makes him so special, as many of his scrambles come on designed runs and he has the size to take the abuse.
Cam will face a San Francisco defense that destroyed the Rams last week, but that seemed to be more a case of the Rams being inept than it was a dominant performance by the defense. Either way, Cam will be happy not to face Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware again this week and should be an elite fantasy performer active in all leagues.
Week 1 at Denver
Cam Newton is coming off a monster year where he led the league with 45 total touchdowns – 35 passing and 10 rushing – and came away with MVP honors. Despite losing the Super Bowl, it was undoubtedly a breakout year for Newton as not only an elite NFL QB, but an elite fantasy QB as well. As such, he was one of the first QBs drafted in most fantasy leagues this year.
For Week 1, he gets to face the same Denver defense that gave him so much trouble in the Super Bowl. Nobody allowed fewer yards to opposing offenses than the Broncos last season, and only three teams allowed less points. The Broncos lost a couple of players in free agency, but remain elite on that side of the ball with top-notch edge rushers. Newton should be considered a QB1 option every week as he has a knack for supplementing poor passing days with running stats, but temper your expectations on him against Denver. We still have him as a top-10 option this week, and if you drafted him, you’re not sitting him.
Fantasy Upside
Cam Newton had a monster season last year, winning MVP honors and leading the Panthers to an NFC Championship. He also led the league with 45 total touchdowns scored – 35 passing and 10 rushing. Even if Cam doesn’t throw for big time yardage – he averaged only 240 passing yards per game last year – he makes up for it with huge rushing stats. He had 636 yards to go with his 10 rushing touchdowns last season and hasn’t finished with less than 539 yards on the ground in any of his five seasons as a pro. Newton also gets his top receiver back this year, as Kelvin Benjamin missed all of 2015 with a torn ACL and he should remain the focal point of the Panthers offense.
Fantasy Downside
There isn’t much downside to Newton, since he tends to supplement bad passing days with rushing statistics. Cam has never been particularly accurate, and his 59.6 percent completion percentage seems unlikely to improve. His physical style of play makes him an injury risk, even though he’s only missed two games as a pro. Overall, the risk with Cam is minimal, and fantasy owners will be splitting hairs finding a reason not to draft him. He even makes his offensive line look better with his ability to extend plays, as Michael Oher showed significant improvement protecting his blind side after poor play forced him out of Tennessee.
2016 Bottom Line
Newton’s MVP season will be hard to beat, but with his dual threat ability and the return of Benjamin, he should be primed for another outstanding fantasy season. There’s no reason to think the Panthers won’t lean on him again all year, and at age 27, right in the middle of his prime, he should be considered the top quarterback in all league formats.
Super Bowl vs. Denver
Cam Newton dominated the Cardinals in the NFC Championship Game two weeks ago in a blowout victory for the Panthers. He finished the game with 335 yards passing with two touchdowns and a pick, plus he added 47 yards and a pair of touchdowns on the ground. Cam has been a dominant force this year, and has been fantastic through two playoff starts this year.
This week, Cam will face a dominant Denver defense that was fourth in the NFL in scoring defense this year. Still, Cam should be able to use his versatility to put up points against the Broncos, and he’s far and away the better fantasy option in the Super Bowl. Fantasy owners should look to secure Cam in their lineups this week if possible, as he’s a big step up over Peyton Manning at this stage in their respective careers.
NFC Championship vs. Arizona
Cam Newton didn’t put up big fantasy numbers, but played well last week against a Seattle defense that was first in the NFL in points allowed this season. He finished the game with only 161 yards passing and a touchdown, but came away with a big win as the Panthers went up early on and managed to hold on late for the victory.
This week, Cam will have another tough defense to face, as Arizona ranks seventh in the league in points allowed and eighth in passing yards. Still, Cam has been dynamic all year, and with the other three starting QB’s this week having flaws or matchup problems of their own, we recommend Cam as a top option in all league formats.
Week 19 vs. Seattle
Cam Newton is coming off his best year as a pro. On his way to leading the Panthers to a 15-1 record and the top seed in the NFC, Newton was tied for fifth in rushing touchdowns, finished 31st in the NFL in rushing yards, and was tied for second in the league with 35 touchdown passes. Newton was fantastic all season despite having limited weapons to work with, and finished the season with an efficient victory over the Bucs, totally four touchdowns (two passing, two rushing) on the day.
This week, Cam faces a daunting task against one of the best defenses in the league. Seattle has allowed 10 rushing touchdowns to opposing offense this year, but otherwise ranks in the top two in nearly every other significant defensive category. Still, Cam managed to put up solid numbers when these two teams faced earlier in the season, and has gotten better since that meeting. Fantasy owners should continue to ride Cam’s success, regardless of the matchup, and he’s our top option at the quarterback position this week.
