Week 7 vs. Philadelphia
Cam Newton came up big against the Seahawks last week. While he threw a pair of interceptions, he also threw for 269 yards and a touchdown and added 30 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown in a big victory for the Panthers.
This week, Cam has a great matchup against an Eagles defense that has given up 261 yards per game through the air and nine passing touchdowns so far this season. While he’ll have to watch out for Eagles defensive tackle Fletcher Cox all game, he should be able to put up good numbers against a vulnerable defense and we have him as a top-5 option this week. Fantasy owners should have him active.
Week 6 at Seattle
Cam Newton is having one of the better seasons of his career thus far, leading the Panthers to a 4-0 record and only throwing two picks thus far in the season. He finished a convincing victory over the Bucs with only 124 yards passing, but he threw two touchdown passes and ran for 51 yards.
This week is not the best week to count on Cam, however. He’ll face a borderline top pass defense in Seattle. The Seahawks always play tough at home, and Newton doesn’t have the weapons or the offensive line to lend much confidence for fantasy owners. If you need him for a bye, he has QB2 potential inside our top-15. But if you have another option, it might be better to let Cam sit this matchup on your bench.
Week 4 at Tampa Bay
Cam Newton had a great game against the Saints last week, finishing with 315 yards and a pair of touchdown passes. He also added 33 yards and a touchdown on the ground, and now leads all quarterbacks in the NFL with 144 rushing yards through three games.
This week, Cam will face a Bucs defense that has been underwhelming to start the season. Cam has a total of four passing touchdowns and two rushing scores over his last two starts against Tampa Bay, and he’s looked as good the last two weeks as he has at any point throughout his career. Cam should be a solid start this week, and we have him right around our top-5 fantasy prospects at the quarterback position.
Week 3 vs. New Orleans
Cam Newton had a nice game against the Texans last week, throwing for a pair of touchdowns and running for another one. He only had 195 passing yards and threw a pick, but his 76 yards on the ground helped propel him to a nice fantasy outing as the Panthers moved to 2-0 on the season.
This week, Cam will face a Saints defense that has been in the bottom half of the league in just about every category and made Jameis Winston look like a veteran last week. The Panthers offense should continue to improve as the season progresses and as their offensive line starts to gel a little bit. Cam is a great start this week with a nice matchup, and we have him as a top-5 fantasy option.
Week 2 vs. Houston
Cam Newton only had 175 yards passing last week against the lowly Jaguars, but he added 35 yards on the ground. He ended up with a touchdown and a pick and was sacked twice. The Panther offensive line is still a work in progress and Cam was pressured for most of the day.
This week, Cam plays a Houston defense that won’t make it any easier on him from a pressure perspective, but struggled in the first half against the Kansas City passing game. The likely scenario is Cam continues to struggle behind the Panthers offensive line and the Texans defense will likely revert back to their lofty standards as the season goes on. Leave Cam on your bench as a backup this week.
Week 1 vs. Jacksonville
Cam Newton had a rough year last season, but he seems to be healthy and ready to go for Week 1. He gets to face the Jaguars to start the season, a team that was middle of the road against the pass last year, but still doesn’t have an elite pass rusher or a top level defensive back.
Newton is a bit risky with only Greg Olsen as a legitimate target and a patchwork offensive line in front of him. Because of this, we recommend a cautious approach with the former first overall pick as we see if the Panthers offense can improve upon last year. We have Cam ranked just outside our top 12, making him a QB2 in most leagues.
Cam Newton had a rough season in 2014. While the Panthers were able to back into a playoff spot and beat a devastatingly injured Cardinals team to advance to the second round, Cam struggled with injuries and protection issues all year. He still managed to finish the year with over 3,000 yards passing and 539 yards rushing, adding in 23 total touchdowns, which made him a solid fantasy option despite starting only 14 games.
Fantasy Upside
While Cam hardly ran the ball early in the season, as he got a little healthier, we started to see the old Cam Newton down the stretch. He averaged over 50 yards rushing per game in his last five starts, and the Panthers finished the season 3-2 to sneak into the playoffs. Cam has a new WR in Devin Funchess from the draft, will benefit from a healthy Jonathan Stewart in the backfield and is entering the season healthier than he was a year ago. All of this points toward the positive when evaluating his fantasy potential for 2015.
Fantasy Downside
There is always going to be downside with a quarterback who takes a lot of hits, and while his running ability and his huge stature make him an excellent fantasy option when he’s on the field, these traits are the same things that subject him to excessive hits that could limit his long term durability. Additionally, he has arguably one of the worst offensive lines in football and has never excelled at throwing a consistently accurate football. The injury to Kelvin Benjamin also could take its tole on the entire Panther offense if another young receiver can't step up.
Bottom Line
Cam is a top ten fantasy quarterback entering this season. While there are still questions about his game and his supporting cast, all indications are that the team around him is better now than it was a year ago, and that he’s healthier entering this season than he was in 2014. This should lead fantasy owners to think they’re more likely to see the late season version of the former Auburn standout than the early season player who only had 14 rushing attempts in his first four starts. Fantasy owners may get a steal with Cam as they pluck him up after the elite guys are off the board.
Divisional Round – Cam Newton vs. Seattle
Cam Newton didn’t look sharp against the Cardinals last week, throwing for only 198 yards and a pair of touchdowns, and also throwing a pick. He had 35 yards rushing on seven attempts however, including a pair of key third down pickups, but he still completed only 56 percent of his passes, which is low even for him.
This week, things will not get easier against the best defense, and the best pass defense, in the league. The Seahawks are fierce playing in Seattle and that defense is humming on all cylinders. Expect a tough day for Cam Newton and the Panther offense, and in a week where QB is so strong, we have Cam ranked dead last as a fantasy option. Look elsewhere if you can.
Wildcard Weekend – Cam Newton vs. Arizona
Cam Newton only threw the ball 16 times last week against the Falcons, as the Panthers destroyed Atlanta to secure their second straight NFC South title. As a result, he only wound up with 114 yards passing in the game. He did however add a touchdown pass, as well as 51 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown to put together a decent fantasy outing.
This week, he’ll face a tough Cardinals opponent, but one that has suffered devastating injuries all year. Expect the Panthers to come out swinging, and for Cam to continue to put up good numbers as he has in his past three starts. We have him as the second best QB option this week, and fantasy owners should use him if they can.
Week 17 – Cam Newton vs. Atlanta
Cam Newton had a great game against the Browns last week, despite missing Week 15 after a car accident. Newton ended up with only 201 yards passing, with a touchdown and a pick, but added 63 yards on 12 carries running the ball and ran in a touchdown. Cam has been a different player the past two times he’s taken the field, and he’s back in the realm of fantasy stud now that he’s running the ball more effectively.
This week, Cam is a great start against the league’s worst pass defense. He’ll be facing an Atlanta Falcons team that has also allowed 20 rushing touchdowns this season, also worst in the league. Fantasy owners should consider him a top five start in all leagues in a must-win game for the Panthers.
