Week 3 vs. New Orleans Saints
D.J. Moore found the end zone! For someone with no more than four touchdowns in a season at any point in his young career, that’s cause for celebration. He had only three catches for 43 yards against the Giants last week, but fantasy managers will take the touchdown. It was also good to see him lead the team in targets, despite a forgettable day in general for the Carolina offense.
This week, Moore faces a Saints defense that just held Tom Brady to 190 yards and a touchdown. Moore should still be considered a low-end WR2 option, expecting him to pick up added targets. Moore had a good game and a bad game against the Saints last season, but the good game included eight catches for 79 yards and a touchdown. Those numbers are very possible in a game where the Panthers might be throwing. Start him.
Week 2 at New York Giants
D.J. Moore had a rough start to the season, catching just three of his six targets for 43 yards. Instead, it was Robbie Anderson with the big touchdown play late in the game. Still, Week 1 is Week 1 and Moore still saw 100% of the team’s offensive snaps. He’ll be fine.
This week, Moore should fare better against a Giants defense that lacks the elite star power of the Browns’ secondary. Expect a bounce-back game from the fifth-year receiver out of Maryland and he should be active in all league formats.
Week 1 vs. Cleveland Browns
D.J. Moore is really good. He has three straight seasons with over 1,100 yards and had a ridiculous 163 targets last year. However, he’s only scored 14 touchdowns in his four-year career, including just four last year. He’s suffered through some questionable quarterback play thus far, but the addition of Baker Mayfield should be an improvement. The Panthers haven’t thrown for more than 17 touchdowns in a season since Moore’s rookie year, while Mayfield has averaged 23 per season over his career. Even if he just hits those numbers, Moore should find the end zone enough to place him in legit WR1 territory.
Moore has a tough matchup against the Browns to start the season. Cleveland ranked 10th in aFPA to opposing wide receivers last year and they have a talented trio of cornerbacks. Still, Moore should benefit from a motivated Baker Mayfield and he’s too talented to sit on your bench. We’re bullish on him this week, ranking him as a low-end WR1 option. Start him.
2022 Fantasy Upside
D.J. Moore has been super consistent considering the state of the quarterback play he’s dealt with throughout his career. He just wrapped up his third consecutive 1,000-plus yard season and caught a career-high 93 passes in 2021. The Panthers made upgrades on the offensive line and Baker Mayfield is the best quarterback Moore has had dating back to his college years. He has three straight seasons with triple-digit targets and should once again be the primary option in the Panthers’ passing game.
2022 Fantasy Downside
Touchdowns have eluded Moore since his entry into the league. He’s never had more than four in a season and it’s possible the Panthers don’t improve as much as we all hope they will offensively. While Mayfield should be an upgrade, he hasn’t exactly produced elite-level fantasy numbers for himself or his receivers. The best WR season we’ve seen from a Mayfield-led team is Jarvis Landry’s 1,174 yards and six touchdowns in 2019. Those numbers are feasible for Moore, but won’t exactly qualify as a breakout season for him.
2022 Bottom Line
We have Moore ranked as a fringe WR1 option with the addition of Mayfield, thinking his immense talent combined with the quarterback upgrade will help him find the end zone a couple more times. His fourth-round price tag feels about right for that kind of production and fantasy managers shouldn’t hesitate drafting him at cost. He’s a high-floor option with significant upside.
Week 17 at New Orleans Saints
D.J. Moore had five catches for 55 yards last week, but he led the team with 11 targets. Moore has double-digit targets in four straight games now, but with so many problems at the quarterback position, he’s still putting up only modest production – with zero touchdowns and only one 100-plus yard receiving game in that span.
This week, Moore faces a Saints defense that ranks ninth in aFPA to opposing wide receivers. It’s a tough matchup for Moore and the Panthers offense, and may feature some of the worst quarterback play in any game this season. Moore’s volume and talent make him worth starting in most leagues, but temper expectations and consider him a fringe WR2 option instead of the WR1 he should be.
Week 16 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
D.J. Moore had 11 targets last week but was held to just 48 yards on six receptions. Moore has at least seven targets in every game this season and has double-digit targets in three straight, but poor quarterback play and struggling Panthers offense, in general, have limited his fantasy value.
This week, Moore faces a Buccaneers defense that ranks ninth in aFPA to opposing wide receivers. It’s a tough matchup, but with a likely negative game script and his volume of targets, he’s still worth considering as a low-end WR2 option.
Week 15 at Buffalo Bills
D.J. Moore is day-to-day with a hamstring issue, but the fact that the Panthers’ playoff aspirations are pretty much gone at this point, it’s possible Carolina lets their top receiver rest. If he’s active, he’s worth starting, despite a potentially tough matchup against the Bills. However, he’s risky, considering the bad quarterback play and the potential for re-aggravation. Those hammies linger. Have a backup plan at the ready if you were counting on Moore this week, and try to avoid starting him if possible.
Week 14 vs. Atlanta Falcons
D.J. Moore was the only bright spot on the Panthers’ offense against Miami before the bye last week. He only caught four of the 10 balls thrown his way, but one of them was for 64 yards and he ended up with 103 on the day. It’s been a rollercoaster season for the Panthers’ offense, but the volume continues to be there for Moore. He has at least seven targets in every game and has hit double-digit targets in six outings.
This week, Moore faces a Falcons defense that ranks 24th in aFPA to opposing wide receivers. It’s a great matchup for him, and he should be the only receiving option worth getting excited about in Carolina. We have him ranked as a low-end WR1 option, hoping he can find the end zone this week.
Week 12 at Miami Dolphins
D.J. Moore had five catches for 50 yards and a touchdown last week against Washington. Moore hasn’t been great lately, but he’s still getting targets with at least seven in every game this year. With Cam Newton under center, things should improve over what he was dealing with before, but he’ll continue to be hampered by inconsistent quarterback play, making it hard to rank him in true WR1 territory on a week-to-week basis.
This week, Moore faces a Dolphins defense that ranks 31st in aFPA to opposing wide receivers. We have Moore ranked as a solid WR2 option this week, and hopefully, he can find the end zone again with Cam leading the offense.
Week 11 vs. Washington Football Team
D.J. Moore gained just 24 yards last week against the Cardinals in a lopsided Panthers victory. He did catch four balls and was targeted seven times, however, so fantasy managers shouldn’t worry too much about his lack of production. Still, this offense is tough to predict and the switch to Cam Newton isn’t certain to increase the productivity of the passing game.
This week, Moore has some upside against a Washington defense that ranks 31st in aFPA to opposing wide receivers. We have him ranked conservatively in the low-end WR2 range, given the struggles of this offense and the uncertainty around Cam Newton’s impact on the offense, but he should still be active as the WR1 in Carolina playing against a vulnerable secondary. Start him.
