The Indianapolis Colts (6-8), after being eliminated from playoff contention, look to put one in the win column for the first time in four weeks. They host a Carolina Panthers (5-9) team that has also struggled greatly in the second half of the season.
Carolina fired their longtime head coach Ron Rivera a few weeks ago, which has had a negative effect on the team. The Panthers players have shown signs of just giving up and are playing with little to no life.
While Carolina is a depleted football team, they are still a talented roster that can compete with many teams in the league. With a few additions in the offseason and some time to get healthy, Carolina can be right back in contention.
With a chance to turn things around going into next season, here are five Panthers the Colts must gameplan for in order to pick up a win:
RB Christian McCaffrey
As one of the league’s most dynamic playmakers, McCaffrey is a matchup nightmare for defenses. A dual-threat pass catcher and quick running back, he is dangerous every single play and can touch the ball any time.
With 1,307 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground this year, McCaffrey has been in the MVP conversation in 2019. While also totaling 814 receiving yards and four touchdowns through the air, McCaffrey has a real chance to go over 1,000 yards receiving and rushing.
Stopping No. 22 will be priority No. 1 for the Colts defense that has struggled to stop the run in recent weeks. Matt Eberflus must make sure to have a spy on McCaffery all game, preferable Darius Leonard who has the speed to stay with him.
LB Luke Kuechly
As one of the best linebackers in the league for the past four seasons, Kuechly is still going strong with 131 tackles in 2019. This high number of total tackles leads the team and is fourth in the NFL.
Kuechly’s toughness and speed makes him a special talent and he can be a great run stopper. His coverage skills are somewhat underrated as well which makes him a serious threat to offensive production on Sunday. Kuechly will have to be picked up in blitz coverage as well which should be a real challenge for the interior of the offensive line and running backs.
WR D.J. Moore
As the Panthers number one receiver this season, Moore has really broken out of his first-year struggles. With 1,174 receiving yards and four touchdowns on the season, Moore ranks third among all receivers in yards caught.
Moore is a speedy wideout that has found his fit in this Carolina system. Paired with other speedster Curtis Samuel, they combine for a solid one-two punch. This receiving corps is undersized but filled with talent.
Expect Rock Ya-Sin to be on Moore all game, which should be a great matchup for the two young players.
S Eric Reid
Reid is one of the NFL’s most underrated strong safeties. He came to Carolina in 2018 and has had a productive two years. He is the cornerstone of their secondary and can fly all around the field.
With 113 total tackles, four sacks, and two fumble recoveries this season, Reid has been an issue for opposing teams. He plays very similarly to Tyrann Mathieu and loves to fly off the edge on blitzes.
The Colts running backs will have to pick him up in pass coverage and keep him contained if they want to have success throwing the football.
DE Mario Addison
Leading the team in sacks with 9.5, Addison has had a dominant season at defensive end. He also has 31 total tackles and two forced fumbles which shows he is good at getting after the quarterback.
Having a guy that can constantly provide pressure off the edge is so dangerous and the Colts offensive line will have their hands full Sunday. This will be a good test for Braden Smith and Mark Glowinski who struggled last week against New Orleans.
Michael Bennett once compared the Panthers to an ‘attractive cousin’ for the Seahawks.
Michael Bennett once compared the Panthers to an ‘attractive cousin’ for the Seahawks. It was an interesting choice of words but illustrative of how similar the two teams are and how familiar they became over this last decade. This has mostly been a one-sided affair, though. Since Pete Carroll became head coach in 2010, Seattle has won seven of nine meetings between these non-division rivals.
Carroll’s teams have mostly out-matched Carolina’s from a talent perspective. The 2015 season was the exception to the rule. However, this current Panthers team does have a number of promising pieces, especially on offense. Here’s what Carroll says he sees on film this year, per the team website.
“Well, I see a lot of fire-power. A lot of special players – players with a lot of special dynamics. They run well, in general. They’re playmakers out there on both sides of the ball. So, they look very dangerous scheme wise. They do difficult stuff. Norv (Turner) has always been a really big factor in putting together good offenses.”
Carroll has it right. The combination of Christian McCaffrey and D.J. Moore in particular has been astoundingly productive. Together, they have totaled more scrimmage yards (3,037) than any RB/WR combo at this point in the season since Edgerrin James and Marvin Harrison in 2000.
McCaffrey and DJ Moore have combined for 3,037 scrimmage yards, the most by any RB-WR duo in the NFL this year.
It's the most by any RB-WR duo through Week 14 since 2000 when Edgerrin James and Marvin Harrison combined for 3,051.
James and Harrison of course had an all-time great quarterback that was just coming into his prime in Peyton Manning.
These young guns for the Panthers have considerably less help in that department and it’s the main reason the offense has fallen off this year. Moore and Curtis Samuel have suffered the most. Their catchable pass rates are both among the lowest in the league thanks to the accuracy and timing issues of backup QB Kyle Allen.
How much the Kyle Allen has hurt the Panthers WRs
Of the 32 WRs with at least 40 targets that have traveled at least 10 yards downfield, Curtis Samuel ranks 29th in catchable target rate.
The three with lower rates: Odell Beckham, Robby Anderson and … DJ Moore.
Carolina has another up-and-coming weapon in tight end Ian Thomas, who posted 57 yards and a touchdown last week against Atlanta with Greg Olsen ruled out. If Thomas can fix his issues with drops, he’ll be another very capable piece for the Panthers.
For those counting at home, that’s four young play-makers – plenty to field a competitive offense if the rest of the equation holds up.
Of course, this team was built to compete around a very different quarterback than Allen. If they are ever able to pair a 100% healthy Cam Newton with McCaffrey, Moore, Samuel, Thomas and especially a strong pass protecting offensive line – this could still be a special group.
Coming into today’s game against the Falcons, Panthers wide receiver D.J. Moore needed just 20 receiving yards to reach 1,000 for the season. Moore passed that milestone on this 39-yard ball from Kyle Allen. Moore is the first Carolina player to reach the mark since tight end Greg Olsen in 2016 and the first wide receiver since Kelvin Benjamin in 2014.
The Panthers trail the Falcons 10-3 late in the second quarter.
This Washington secondary is . . . not good. Watch Panthers receiver D.J. Moore score his team’s second touchdown of the day on a corner route that resulted in him being embarrassingly wide open.
Curtis Samuel is also flashing. Together, the two have combined for four catches, 60 yards and two touchdowns.
The Panthers lead 14-0 and the first quarter isn’t close to over yet.
Panthers fans who are feeling down about their team and are looking for things to be thankful about today should reflect on D.J. Moore.
Panthers fans who are feeling down about their team and are looking for things to be thankful about today should reflect on D.J. Moore.
About a month ago, Moore was having a mediocre second NFL season. Despite consistently moving the chains, he wasn’t making the kind of impact one usually expects from a top-notch prospect. Some people were openly wondering if Moore was really worth a first-round pick to begin with.
Over the last four games, Moore has utterly destroyed that idea with a string of fantastic performances.
Offensive coordinator Norv Turner told reporters today that he’s becoming a complete receiver, per Alaina Getzenberg at the Charlotte Observer.
What is DJ Moore doing well? According to Norv Turner: He gets out of breaks, goes hard through every route and has strong hands.
On film, Moore’s improved route running is what jumps out most. The separation he’s getting is far better than it had been in his first season and a half in the NFL.
Here’s a look at what Moore has done over the last month.
Thanksgiving week is upon us, and in our fantasy football universe, that means the end of the regular season and the fantasy playoffs are nigh.
Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Thanksgiving week is upon us, and in our fantasy football universe, that means the end of the regular season and the fantasy playoffs are nigh.
And with only one more weekend of play – and only two more waiver-claim periods – remaining in the majority of leagues before the postseason kicks off, it’s time to take stock of the fringe starters and streamers at each of the five main fantasy positions (quarterback, running back, wide receiver, tight end and team defense) who are trending in the right directions while also owning favorable postseason slates, according to one of most useful and invaluable resources at your disposal as a Huddle member: the fantasy Strength of Schedule tool.
As a bonus, we’ll point out one potential starter at each of the five positions with a decidedly unfavorable fantasy postseason schedule to be very wary of. (Note: To correlate with the majority of leagues, we’re treating Weeks 14-16 as the fantasy postseason, and we’re utilizing non-point-per-reception Huddle Performance scoring).
QUARTERBACK
Ryan Tannehill (Titans)
Stat to know: Since taking over from Marcus Mariota as Tennessee’s starter in Week 7, Tannehill has been nothing less than fantasy’s third-best QB with 133.9 points and 13 total touchdowns, including three rushing, in five games through Sunday.
Fantasy postseason schedule: at Oakland, vs. Houston, vs. New Orleans. With the Titans owning the easiest fantasy postseason QB schedule, all three of Tennessee’s foes rank in the league’s top half in terms of most points surrendered to opposing quarterbacks, including the Raiders and Texans who are among the six most charitable.
Quick thought: Most were only expecting a slight improvement over Mariota, but Tannehill has gone above and beyond, topping 20 or more fantasy points with multiple TDs in all five of his starts and should be starting until further notice, regardless of matchup.
Baker Mayfield (Browns)
Stat to know: The Cleveland sophomore has passed for multiple TDs in each of his last three games after failing to do so even once in his first eight contests.
Fantasy postseason schedule: vs. Cincinnati, at Arizona, vs. Baltimore. The Ravens’ rapidly improved D will be tough in Week 16, but Mayfield can definitely extend his roll with tasty plus-matchups against the Bengals and Cards in Weeks 14 and 15.
Quick thought: Drafted as a QB1 following a strong second half of his rookie season, Mayfield likely was found on more waiver wires than starting lineups after tossing only seven TD passes and 12 interceptions over his first eight games, but it’s been a seven-to-one ratio since with a rushing TD thrown in. Ride the wave of redemption.
Jameis Winston (Buccaneers)
Stat to know: Winston has thrown for at least 300 yards and a TD in eight of his last nine games, including six straight.
Fantasy postseason schedule: vs. Indianapolis, at Detroit, vs. Houston. If Winston’s impressive numbers weren’t enough, the Bucs own the seventh most-favorable fantasy QB playoff itinerary with no minus-matchups.
Quick thought: Even with Winston continuing to pace the league in interceptions with 20 after tossing six over his last two outings, he’s more than making up for it with the help of two elite wide receivers in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin and hasn’t finished with fewer than 19.5 fantasy points in a game since Week 3.
QB to be wary of: Josh Allen (Bills) – Coming out of Sunday and his third straight 22.5-point-plus game, the second-year Allen ranks sixth among fantasy QBs in terms of total points, but the Bills have famously feasted on one of the league’s easiest schedules so far. However, looking forward, the Bills’ fantasy QB postseason slate ranks as the second-most unfavorable in the league with matchups against the Ravens, Steelers and Patriots awaiting.
RUNNING BACK
Phillip Lindsay (Broncos)
Stat to know: In the two games since the Broncos’ bye in Week 10, Lindsay has been instilled as the team’s clear lead back, logging 32 touches to Royce Freeman’s 13 and out snapping him 78-51.
Fantasy postseason schedule: at Houston, at Kansas City, vs. Detroit. With two very favorable matchups (K.C. and the Lions) and another green-light game (vs. the Texans), it projects as the easiest fantasy RB playoff itinerary in the league.
Quick thought: The Broncos’ offense, as a whole, is among the league’s worst but you can bank on Lindsay to keep running with fearlessness, and he’s gained at least 60 total yards in every game but one this season with five rushing scores.
Sony Michel (Patriots)
Stat to know: Michel has largely underwhelmed this season, but in each of the Pats’ 10 wins this season, he’s totaled at least 12 touches and/or scored a TD, averaging 10.04 fantasy points per contest.
Fantasy postseason schedule: vs. Kansas City, at Cincinnati, vs. Buffalo. The Patriots possess the third-friendliest fantasy playoff running back schedule with K.C. and Cincy both ranking among the five teams allowing the most RB fantasy points per game.
Quick thought: Even though Michel hasn’t scored a TD since Week 7, he remains the team’s clear lead back, accounting for 20 of the team’s 25 running-back rushes in Sunday’s win over Dallas. Similar to last postseason when he averaged a whopping 23.6 rushing attempts per game, the Pats could once again lean heavily on Michel down the stretch with Tom Brady and the passing game currently struggling.
Kareem Hunt (Browns)
Stat to know: Since debuting for Cleveland in Week 10 following the end of his eight-game suspension, Hunt only has 9.9 fewer PPR points than lead back Nick Chubb and ranks second on the team with 15 receptions over those three contests.
Fantasy postseason schedule: vs. Cincinnati, at Arizona, vs. Baltimore. The Browns have the seventh most-favorable fantasy RB playoff schedule.
Quick thought: Of course everyone is still going to be starting Chubb, but don’t overlook Hunt as a RB2/flex play, particularly in PPR leagues.
Running back to be wary of: Bo Scarbrough (Lions) – Scarbrough has rushed for 153 yards and a TD on 32 carries in two games since making his Detroit debut in Week 11, but the Lions own fantasy’s second-toughest fantasy playoff RB slate with matchups against the Vikings, Bucs and Broncos – all of whom rank among the 13 teams surrendering the fewest fantasy points to opposing backs.
WIDE RECEIVER
D.J. Moore (Panthers)
Stat to know: Since Week 9, no player has been targeted more than Carolina’s Moore (45 in four games) and only Saints stud wideout Michael Thomas (31) has caught more passes than Moore’s 30 during that stretch.
Fantasy postseason schedule: at Atlanta, vs. Seattle, at Indianapolis. None of three matchups are daunting in the least, making for the ninth-easiest fantasy WR slate.
Quick thought: Moore is sixth among wideouts in both targets (103) and receptions (68) on the season and has emerged as a must-start WR2 – even with uneven QB Kyle Allen at the helm.
DeVante Parker (Dolphins)
Stat to know: Since Ryan Fitzpatrick was reinstated as Miami’s starting quarterback in Week 6, Parker has totaled the 11th-most fantasy points (PPR) among all wide receivers, reeling in 36-of-59 targets for 494 yards and three TDs.
Fantasy postseason schedule: at N.Y. Jets, at N.Y. Giants, vs. Cincinnati. This trio of opponents comprises the fourth-easiest fantasy wideout playoff schedule.
Quick thought: Parker has averaged 9.2 targets and 5.5 receptions with at least 11.9 PPR points over his last six games as the top target on a team that’s going to have to continue to pass early and often in an attempt to keep up with one of the league’s worst defenses.
Terry McLaurin (Redskins)
Stat to know: The talented rookie was tied for third among all wideouts Sunday with a season-high 12 targets, and his 638 receiving yards on the season are 393 more than any other Washington wide receiver or tight end.
Fantasy postseason schedule: at Green Bay, vs. Philadelphia, vs. N.Y. Giants. It’s the sixth easiest fantasy WR playoff slate, with the Week 15 and 16 matchups against the division-rival Eagles and Giants looking particularly promising.
Quick thought: Fellow rookie (and McLaurin’s Ohio State teammate) Dwayne Haskins is learning on the fly, and with Washington figuring to have to air it out frequently to try to keep up on the scoreboard, McLaurin looks to be a solid WR3/flex option.
Wide receiver to be wary of: Allen Robinson (Bears) – After catching only 11 passes for 107 yards and no TDs over the previous three weeks, Robinson came up big Sunday against the Giants, snaring six passes for a season-high 131 yards and a TD. It’s exactly what any team’s No. 1 wide receiver should do against one of the league’s worst secondaries, but the matchups for Robinson and struggling Chicago QB Mitch Trubisky will be infinitely tougher in the fantasy postseason with the Cowboys, Packers and Chiefs on the docket, making for the third-toughest fantasy wide receiver itinerary.
TIGHT END
Jacob Hollister (Seahawks)
Stat to know: In three games since Week 9, Hollister has caught 14-of-20 targets for 121 yards and three TDs, while averaging 14.7 PPR points per outing – the seventh-best average at the position.
Fantasy postseason schedule: at L.A. Rams, at Carolina, vs. Arizona. This projects to be the second-easiest playoff schedule for tight ends, and playing a TE against the Cardinals is a sure-fire winning fantasy strategy in any game, let alone in fantasy championship week.
Quick thought: Tight end is so thin that matchups don’t matter as much once you latch on to a reliable one, but they certainly can point you in the right direction if you’re deciding between similar options at the position in shallower leagues.
Kyle Rudolph/Irv Smith Jr. (Vikings)
Stat to know: Minnesota had a bye in Week 12, but in the five previous weeks (7 through 11), Rudolph and the rookie Smith both ranked among the top 12 tight ends in terms of total fantasy points (PPR), combining for 40 receptions (20 apiece) for 347 yards and six TDs (five for Rudolph) on 48 targets (24 each).
Fantasy postseason schedule: vs. Detroit, at L.A. Chargers, vs. Green Bay. It’s the sixth-easiest projected schedule for tight ends.
Quick thought: The Minnesota tight ends’ spike in production has coincided directly with the hamstring-injury absence of WR Adam Thielen, who could be returning in Week 13. It’s also coincided with a 4-1 run for the Vikings, who are now tied for the NFC North lead, and it’s worked so well that it’s hard to imagine Minnesota not keeping them involved in the offense.
Tight end to be wary of: Mike Gesicki (Dolphins) – The second-year Miami tight caught his first NFL TD pass Sunday and has posted a 16-169-1 combined stat line on 19 targets over his last four games. However, the third most unfavorable projected fantasy tight end schedule looms in the playoffs, so keep that in mind if you’re weighing Gesicki against similar options at the position.
TEAM DEFENSE
Houston Texans
Stat to know: Coming out of Sunday, the J.J. Watt/Jadeveon Clowney-less Texans rank 26th among fantasy defenses on the season and rank 28th with 23 sacks in 11 games.
Fantasy postseason schedule: vs. Denver, at Tennessee, at Tampa Bay
Quick thought: Unless you have one of the elite fantasy defenses (i.e. Patriots, 49ers and Steelers), it’s all about the matchups, and the Texans possess the second-most favorable fantasy postseason slate, which includes a game against the always-charitable Winston on championship weekend.
Baltimore Ravens
Stat to know: Entering Monday night’s game against the Rams, the Ravens had come away with two or more turnovers in five of their six previous games while allowing an average of 16 points during that stretch. Even more impressive, Baltimore had scored five defensive TDs over their last four games heading into Week 12.
Fantasy postseason schedule: at Buffalo, vs. N.Y. Jets, at Cleveland
Quick thought: The Week 15 home game against the Jets is the only extremely-favorable matchup during the stretch, but it’s not hard to imagine the Bills and Browns and their young QBs pressing and struggling to keep up with Lamar Jackson and the league’s hottest offense in the other two games.
Team D to be wary of: Chicago Bears – Chicago was fantasy’s defense to own in 2018, but as is the annual lesson that’s so tough to learn, one season’s gem is the next season’s most overdrafted and underwhelming fantasy defense as the Bears currently rank 19th overall at the position. And now looms a fantasy-playoff stretch with not one, not two but three negative matchups in the Cowboys, Packers and Chiefs? No, and thanks.
It’s about time Kyle Allen got his deep ball going. Watch Allen hit wide receiver D.J. Moore in stride for a 51-yard touchdown against the Saints. That’s Moore’s second score of the season and the fourth of his career.
Joey Slye missed the extra point attempt, so the score is now 14-6 Saints.
The Panthers have picked up right where they left off last week against the Falcons.
What a mess. Just inexplicably bad. It’s going to get challenged, and they’re going to win the challenge. Good Lord, this is just not good at all. pic.twitter.com/jNOXJD8yl9
The Panthers have picked up right where they left off last week against the Falcons: by failing in all three phases. Watch Rashaan Gaulden run into D.J. Moore on a punt return, leading to a fumble and a recovery by the Saints, who scored on the ensuing possession.
New Orleans is dominating at the line of scrimmage and leads 14-0 midway through the first quarter.
Panthers vs. Falcons: 5 takeaways from an embarrassing Week 11 loss for Carolina.
The Panthers laid an egg today against the Falcons. They were shut out in the first half and wound up losing by a score of 29-3.
Here are a few takeaways from the embarrassing loss.
Kyle Allen had his worst game yet
(Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
On Carolina’s first possession of the game, Allen made a terrible mistake by trying to get rid of the ball as he was getting taken down by Takk McKinley. De’Vondre Campbell picked off his ill-advised pass. Allen followed that error up by making another grotesque throw in the end zone, mirroring the interception he threw last week against the Packers. Allen finished the afternoon with four picks and completed just 31 of his 50 passes. It may be time to consider giving Will Grier a chance to show what he can do.
If they’re going to stop that trend, here are four things they’ll need to do.
The Panthers play a critical division game today at home against the Falcons. They’ve lost six of their last seven matchups against Atlanta.
If they’re going to stop that trend, here are four things they’ll need to do.
1. Find a way to stop the run
Carolina’s run defense has gone from problematic to full-blown disaster. No team is allowing more yards per carry this season (5.2) and they are ranked dead last in rush defense DVOA. The good news is that the Falcons have a pretty pathetic run game and they’re down to their No. 3 running back in Brian Hill. If coach Ron Rivera can’t find a way to contain the run today, then there may be no hope of turning this around in 2019.
2. Keep the D.J. Moore train moving
On offense, the Panthers have not found much consistency this season outside of Christian McCaffrey. Over the last two weeks wide receiver D.J. Moore has caught fire, though. He’s caught 16 of 21 targets, totaling 221 yards. Kyle Allen needs to continue looking for No. 12, especially since he’s been out of rhythm with his other receivers.
3. Don’t let Julio Jones beat you
When the season began, Atlanta had about as many weapons on offense as any NFL team. Injuries and trades have depleted their options, though. With Mohamed Sanu suiting up for the Patriots and Devonta Freeman and Austin Hooper both out with injuries, they need somebody else to step up. The Panthers have to make sure that Jones isn’t the one to do it. James Bradberry has done a good job containing No. 11 the last few years and has to keep that dynamic going. If Calvin Ridley is going to go off, so be it. Carolina can’t let Jones have another 300-yard day as he did in 2016.
4. Tighten up in the red zone
In addition to being an awful run defense team, the Panthers haven’t been able to stop their opponents in the red zone, either. They have the No. 32-ranked red zone defense in the league this season. The Falcons are mediocre in this area – they rank No. 16 in red zone scoring.
