Top Five 2013 Fantasy Football Players: Carolina Panthers
Top Five 2013 Fantasy Football Players: Carolina Panthers
In 2012 the Carolina Panthers were a team that could fire up a highlight reel one week and lay an egg on your fantasy team the next. With the talent they have on their roster this team could be known as one of the power house offenses in the NFC. We saw glimpses of this offensive dynamite in 2011 when Cam Newton started breaking Rookie Quarterback Records left and right. The same year DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart combined for almost 1600 yards on the ground and Steve Smith reminded people that he could be the kind of fantasy force that helps take you all the way to a championship!
At the end of 2011 this was a team that looked on the rise at every position and a lot of fantasy owners moved quickly to try and invest. So how is it that 2012 turned out to be a little bit of a Fantasy Let down?
Sure we could mince words about the defense lacking chemistry. We could grumble a bit about Cam Newton having a sophomore slump because he didn’t spend enough time with his nose in the playbook.
I think what it really comes down to is the play calling. What had been Rob Chudzinski’s genius in 2011 quickly devolved into a 2012 campaign that seemed every week to find a new and creative ways to abandon the run. Without balance on offense opposing defenses keyed on the pass and sent Cam Newton sprinting for his life with each sets of downs.
The Panthers parted ways with Chudzinski and promoted Mike Shula from Quarterbacks coach to Offensive Coordinator. He has been tasked with the continued maturation of Cam Newton, while renewing focus on the run game.
5. Jonathan Stewart
New Offensive Coordinator Mike Shula is the right man to refocus the run game and get the most out of the three headed monster of Jonathan Stewart, DeAngelo Williams and Mike Tolbert. In the case of Stewart I suspect that even when he’s declared healthy and cleared to play that his leg issues will keep him in a reduced role. If he tumbles to the very late rounds of the draft, he’s worth grabbing, but there is every chance that his leg and ankle issues linger through the season. I would not recommend reaching for him any sooner than the 10th round.
4. DeAngelo Williams
As strange as it might sound, I think Jonathan Stewart's double ankle injuries and persistent lower leg issues might actually be a good thing for DeAngelo Williams.
Williams is the type of back who does his best when he gets enough reps to get into the rhythm of the game. Because the backfield was confused and underutilized last year he will go ignored by a lot of owners. He is soft handed enough to help out in the short passing game and keep defenses from keying on Greg Olsen over the middle. If he falls to the 8th round you should grab him as a No. 3 back in hopes could produce like a No. 2.
3. Greg Olsen
Greg Olsen caught 69 passes for 843 yards and five touchdowns last year. With a 66.3 percent catch rate he’s got the kind of hands that should continue to gain Cam Newton's trust and chemistry in their second year together. His big body allows him to go up for the tough catches in the red zone, making him a constant threat to score. He’s a starting tight end in Fantasy that you could buy in 8th round for a nice value. He could be an even hotter commodity in a PPR scoring format.
2. Steve Smith
Steve Smith is getting a little long in the tooth at this point in his career, but he still has enough gas in the tank to be a fantasy factor. He’s motivated to get the elusive Super Bowl Ring and ride off into the sunset. You should be able to buy him as a discount No. 2 receiver in the 6th round.
The Panthers are a team rich with undervalued talent. Their production might not be the bricks that will build you a championship, but when bought at the right time they can be the mortar that holds your team together.
1. Cam Newton
Quarterback Cam Newton is a dynamic play maker who can murder a defense on the ground while still making every throw on the field. He has vision and an ever growing understanding of the game. He and Offensive Coordinator Mike Shula have chemistry and communication in place from the 2012 campaign as a foundation for this year. The Panthers know they have to build the team around him and they will give him every chance to prove he is the franchise player they drafted him to be. He’s a top 10 Quarterback that you can steal in the late 3rd or early 4th round.
