Week 10 at Tennessee
Jonathan Stewart had 20 carries against the Packers last week, but Green Bay held him to only 3.3 yards per carry and he wound up with only 66 yards on the ground. Stewart is a nice fantasy option because he gets so many carries each game and he’s been surprisingly healthy this season, but the Panthers troubles up front have limited his production.
This week, he’ll face a Titans defense that’s been middle of the road against the run this year. They’re allowing 4.1 yards per carry to opposing backs, and they’ve given up 892 yards and seven rushing touchdowns on the season. Stewart should once again get a full workload and should remain a solid RB2 option because of it.
Week 9 vs. Green Bay
Jonathan Stewart had 82 yards and a touchdown last week against the Colts, and he had a full workload, carrying the ball 24 times. Stewart and the Panthers offensive line have started to gel a bit in recent games, and he should continue to be the type of fantasy running back that will be a safe option for reliable points each week.
This week, Stewart will face a Packers defense that got embarrassed by the woeful Denver run game last week. The Broncos put up 160 yards on 34 carries against them and pulled off a victory. Expect the Panthers to try to employ a similar strategy and for Stewart to get a heavy workload. There’s risk if the Packers get up early, but the Panthers defense is very good and should allow Stewart to do his thing. We have him inside our top-15 this week, and he’s a borderline WR1 in large leagues.
Week 7 vs. Indianapolis
Jonathan Stewart had another good game against the Eagles last week, as he managed 125 yards on 24 carries in a convincing Panthers victory that helped them remain undefeated on the season. Stewart averaged 5.2 yards per carry, which is a good sign the Panthers are gelling a little better up front.
This week, Stewart faces a Colts defense that has given up more rushing touchdowns than all but three teams this season and is allowing over 122 yards per game on the ground to opposing rushers. Stewart should be in for another full workload this week and with a great matchup, he should be a nice RB2 option in all leagues.
Week 7 vs. Philadelphia
Jonathan Stewart finally showed up last week, and wouldn’t you know it was against a tough defense. While he still only averaged 3.9 yards per carry, he had a full workload and ended up with 86 yards from scrimmage and a pair of touchdowns in a big Panther victory over the reigning NFC champs.
This week, Stewart faces the Eagles, who gave up 4.8 yards per carry to Rashad Jennings last week, but rank third in the NFL on the season, giving up a 3.5 yard average to opposing rushers. Philadelphia has also only given up one rushing touchdown this season. Expect Stewart to get a full workload again, but we may get another 15-18 carry, 70-yard performance from the veteran. He’s a borderline RB2 this week.
Week 6 at Seattle
Jonathan Stewart is not having a very good season, despite being the starting back on a winning football team. He has just 220 yards rushing this year and is averaging only 3.7 yards per carry. He also has failed to score a touchdown and is coming off a 10-carry, 50-yard outing against the Bucs in Week 4.
This week, he’ll face a Seattle defense that ranks in the top-10 against the run and has caused three fumbles for opposing backs. While Stewart should continue to get touches as the primary back in Carolina, he’s a risky start in this matchup behind a shaky offensive line and should be considered a low-end RB2 or flex option at best in most leagues.
Week 4 at Tampa Bay
Jonathan Stewart hasn’t done much so far this year, averaging just 3.5 yards per carry and failing to score a touchdown or make an impact in the passing game through three weeks. Against the Saints on Sunday, Stewart ended up with just 52 yards on 14 carries. On the bright side, he continues to get the bulk of the work in the running game though, so if the Panthers offensive line can start to mesh, then Stewart’s production should increase as the season progresses.
This week, Stewart faces a Bucs defense that was gashed last week by Alfred Blue for 4.5 yards per carry and a touchdown on 31 carries. Stewart may not reach as many touches, but the Panthers should be able to control this game (which could mean good things for the veteran back from Oregon). Fantasy owners should be cautious with him due to his slow start, but with a nice matchup and a full workload, Stewart should be considered a low-end RB2 or flex option in most leagues.
Week 3 vs. New Orleans
Jonathan Stewart had another ho-hum outing last week against the Texans, finishing with only 62 yards on the ground. However, he had 17 carries against a stout defensive front and he continues to look healthy as the lead back for the Panthers.
This week should be a little easier for the veteran out of Oregon. Stewart faces a New Orleans defense that has been bad for a long time now, and ranks in the bottom half in the league in yards per carry, as well as yards allowed on the ground. They gave up 116 yards on the ground to the combination of Doug Martin and Charles Sims last week and Stewart should find room to run. We have him as a top-10 fantasy option this week and he should be active in all leagues.
Week 2 vs. Houston
Jonathan Stewart had justt 56 yards rushing last week, but he did carry the ball 18 times and added 25 yards on four receptions. All in all, it wasn’t a great fantasy day for the veteran back, but any day where Stewart is still healthy at the end of it, is a good day.
This week, Stewart should continue to get a heavy workload against the Texans. Houston kept Jamaal Charles under four yards per carry last week, however, so it may be a rough day for Stewart. That said, he'll continue to be a solid RB2 option in most fantasy leagues if he continues to get that many touches per game.
Week 1 vs. Jacksonville
The knock on Jonathan Stewart has always been based on his injury history, but he’s healthy now and coming off a great finish to last season. He gets to face the Jaguars defense to start the season and he should find space against a team that struggled against opposing runners a year ago.
Expect Stewart to get a full workload this week, which should make him a solid RB2 in all fantasy formats. He’s not only the best runner on the roster, but is also one of the better receivers out of the backfield in Carolina, which should allow him to catch a couple of passes and add to his fantasy totals. Stewart should be active in all leagues.
The knock on Jonathan Stewart has always been based on his injury history, rather than any lack of talent. Last year at this time, he was coming off a two-year stretch where he missed more games than he played, and he was set to split time with DeAngelo Williams, causing him to fall way down in the draft. To reward fantasy owners who rolled the dice on him, he wound up playing in 13 games, finishing with 809 yards on the ground and helping the Panthers win their last four games to sneak into the playoffs. The Panthers are hoping his health and productivity will carry over to this season.
Fantasy Upside
Stewart has a lot going for him this year. The Panthers let the veteran Williams go and Stewart is healthy, at least for now. He’ll undoubtedly be the lead back as long as he can stay on the field, and he’s a versatile player who caught 25 balls last year in a struggling offense. His quarterback is healthier this year as well, and the Panthers made some upgrades on the offensive line, particularly at the tackle positions, that may help him continue the success he enjoyed last year.
Fantasy Downside
The injury history is concerning and is one of the main reasons he’s not a top 10 fantasy option as the lead back in Carolina. Slightly less concerning is the offensive line. While it should be better this season with some new additions, the unit as a whole still has a long ways to go to get to respectability. Quarterback Cam Newton disguises some of the issues up front as a big guy that can hang in the pocket, but this is a group that was one of the worst in the league last season, and Stewart will hope that the new additions and some internal progression will be enough to make room for him. Finally, Newton may disguise some of the issues up front, but he and fullback Mike Tolbert also vulture touchdowns from Stewart, who ended up with only three scores on the ground in 2014.
Bottom Line
With a strong finish last year and nobody ahead of him on the depth chart, we have Stewart as a risky RB2. He’s going to put up some good numbers in some weeks, but his injury history and the fact that he’s only scored 14 touchdowns combined in the past five seasons make him a question mark. Still, with an ADP in the fourth round, he may be worth a gamble as a starting running back who can also catch the ball.
