Fantasy Football 2012: Breaking Down the Carolina Panthers

A fantasy football perspective on the team

What can the Carolina Panthers do for you this fantasy season? Check out Athlon Sports' team report as we break down the rookies, veteran players to watch and avoid, fantasy playoff schedule and more to help you get ready for the 2012 season.

Inside the Locker Room
with Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer

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Michael Bush or Mike Tolbert for Thursday night?

Which back up running back will do better on the first Thursday night NFL game?

The first Thursday night game of the NFL season is just a day away, and there are plenty of early choices you need to make about your fantasy rosters this week — namely Michael Bush or Mike Tolbert in the battle of No. 2 running backs.

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Sit San Diego’s Ryan Mathews regardless of if he’s active or not

Ryan Mathews is not a strong play today, even if he suits up

Ryan Mathews (groin) is listed as a game-time decision for today’s Week 9 game against visiting Green Bay. He didn’t practice Friday, which is usually a death nil for playing two days later. It completed a week in which he saw no practice time.

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Washington Redskins a great fantasy defense to play in Week 4

Ask Athlon Fantasy Football for Week 4

If you have any fantasy football questions for Ask Athlon, send them my way @AthlonCorby on Twitter or via email to corby.yarbrough@athlonsports.com

Who is the best NFL fantasy defense/special teams play this weekend? Vikings at Chiefs, Redskins at Rams, Bills at Bengals or the Jets at Ravens?
@AthlonBraden on Twitter
Washington gets my vote.

The Redskins have surrendered 53 points, registered eight sacks, three interceptions and now have safety LaRon Landry back in the fold. St. Louis has scored just 36 points, given up 12 sacks and has coughed up the ball five times.

Got to keep 4 of 5 running backs: Ben Tate, Mike Tolbert, Daniel Thomas, Joseph Addai, Steven Jackson.
— @jacobwoody on Twitter
If we're talking the rest of the season, Addai is the one I let set sail.

There's upside for the other four. Tate has already proven he can step in for Arian Foster; Mike Tolbert isn't going to go away in the Chargers' offense; Thomas is just heating up for Miami and Jackson will get the bulk of the carries on a team with a rising QB and an easier second-half schedule.

I don't trust Addai to be there all season — both in health and production. The vibes are terrible in Indy, and once they are completely out of the playoff race, who's to say rookie Delone Carter doesn't start getting the looks more?

Better waiver wire pick up: Knowshon Moreno, Ryan Grant or Nate Washington? And I was offered David Nelson and Mark Ingram for Reggie Wayne. Thoughts?
@Will_Chaklos on Twitter
Nate Washington because he is the clear go-to target now for the Titans. Moreno and Grant are both in time shares, and not on the majority end of said time share.

And I would jump on the Nelson/Ingram for Wayne in a second. Both are in high-scoring offenses. Wayne, as good as he has been, has a QB situation that is dreadful

If Benson gets suspended and misses Week 4, is Bernard "Great" Scott worthy of a start over Shonn Greene who is at Baltimore. PPR.
— Mike Crowther on Athlon Sports Facebook
Well, it looks like this might be a question for next week now that Benson is playing against the Bills this week; or will he be suspended at all? Either way, I would not even have Bernard Scott on a roster. Scott has barely sniffed any action — he has 2.3 fantasy points total over three games — this season and is not seen as an every-down back by his team to begin with. He has 23 yards, no catches and with the addition of Brandon Tate, is no longer part of the return game. He averaged 6.1 and 4.5 touches per game his first two seasons. This season, under new offensive coordinator Jay Gruden, Scott is averaging 2.6 touches.

Greene is still the bell cow for a Jets team that is struggling to run the ball, but he added a bit of PPR of his own in the loss to Oakland with seven catches on seven targets. If he can bring that part to the table each week as well, it will make up for his lackluster rushing numbers.

If Batman and Superman were to fight, who would win?
— Joe Campanelli on Athlon Sports Facebook
Unless Batman has kryptonie, I think Superman walks away with this one in a first-second knockout. Even if Batman did bring kryptonite into the ring, I'm sure Superman could gut it out for a few rounds before Miss Tessmacher, while Batman wasn't looking, slipped into the ring and pulled the kryptonite away.

— Corby A. Yarbrough @AthlonCorby on Twitter

Athlon Sports Week 4 Fantasy Waiver Wire


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Antonio Gates (Foot) Injury Update; Now Inactive Against Chiefs

The Chargers tight end won't play this week

Antonio Gates, who was slated to play after struggling with a foot injury all week is now inactive for the Chargers game against the Chiefs.

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Don't sleep on San Diego Charger Patrick Crayton this week

Injuries to Antonio Gates and Malcom Floyd could mean big day for Crayton

When the Kansas City Chiefs give up a combined 89 points to Buffalo and Detroit and then have to travel to AFC West rival San Diego for a Week 3 contest, all of us that have Charger fantasy studs are salivating.

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Don't sleep on San Diego Charger Patrick Crayton this week

When the Kansas City Chiefs give up a combined 89 points to Buffalo and Detroit and then have to travel to AFC West rival San Diego for a Week 3 contest, all of us that have Charger fantasy studs are salivating.

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Fantasy Football: Breaking down the San Diego Chargers

SAN DIEGO
• Inside the Locker Room

With Bernie Wilson of the Associated Press

Were the fantasy expectations too high for Ryan Mathews last season?
No. He came in as the heir apparent to LaDainian Tomlinson after leading the nation in rushing during his final season at Fresno State. There was talk about his fresh legs and explosiveness compared to L.T.’s final few seasons. The Chargers said there wouldn’t be a lot of pressure on him to carry too much of the load because of their established passing game with Philip Rivers. An ankle injury and some fumblitis slowed Mathews, as well as his lack of experience picking up blitzes. Mathews had a strong finish to 2010 by rushing for 120 yards and three touchdowns on 26 carries in a win at Denver, so that alone is a sign that Year No. 2 should be better.

San Diego’s backup RB has always been a hot commodity for fantasy players. Who’s the standout No. 2?
Mike Tolbert for sure. Tolbert established himself as a power inside runner last season and carried the running game while Mathews developed. Tolbert had some fumble issues, especially inside the red zone, something that drove coach Norv Turner crazy. If he can hang onto the ball, he should be solid.

How much better can Philip Rivers’ numbers get in 2011?
He can certainly challenge Dan Marino’s single-season record of 5,084 yards, especially if Vincent Jackson returns and plays the whole season, and if Antonio Gates is healthy. Rivers led the NFL with the 10th-highest total ever, 4,710, despite a constantly rotating cast of receivers that didn’t include Jackson for the first 10 games and Gates for much of the season’s second half.

What’s the most intriguing question regarding fantasy football and this team in your opinion?
Whether Gates can make a full recovery from the painful torn plantar fascia that cost him significant playing time last year. Based on past history, Gates should be OK. Gates had the right approach with his injury, not wanting to put the team in jeopardy by trying to play hurt and then being ineffective and making his foot worse.

• Fantasy Playoff Run — Weeks 14-16: BUF, BAL, @DET
Two games at home against teams coming from the East coast is a good start to the fantasy postseason. Rivers is a spectacular December QB, throwing for over 5,200 yards, 40 TDs and only 14 interceptions in his seven-year career during the month. Gates owners should be a little wary as Baltimore and Detroit were sixth and fifth against TEs last season. He opens against a Buffalo team ranked 31st against the position.

• Athlon Best Bets
Sleeper:
Vincent Brown, WR
Deep-Sleeper: Jordan Todman, RB
Overvalued: Mike Tolbert, RB
Top Rookie: Vincent Brown, WR
Bounce-Back: Ryan Mathews, RB
Top IDP: Eric Weddle, DB

• Try to Avoid
Patrick Crayton, WR

After scoring at least four TDs in four straight seasons with the Cowboys, Crayton managed only one score (on just 28 catches) in his first season on a talented, and for most of the season a Vincent Jackson-less San Diego offense. 
WAIT UNTIL: 20th RD

• Draft Class Fantasy Impact
Even though Philip Rivers is coming off a career-high 4,710 passing yards, the Chargers gave him more weapons to use in 2011. Brown should be the team’s long-term option as the No. 2 receiver, but he will compete with Patrick Crayton and Malcom Floyd for playing time in 2011. Consider Brown a late-round sleeper pick in redraft leagues. Todman will be the No. 3 back but could be a valuable waiver pickup in case of injury to Ryan Mathews or Mike Tolbert.


More Fantasy Football Cheat Sheets and Rankings:
2011 Fantasy Football Rankings: Top 280
2011 Fantasy Football Rankings: Top 240 w/ IDPs

2
011 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterbacks
2
011 Fantasy Football Rankings: Running Backs
2011 Fantasy Football Rankings: Wide Receivers

2011 Fantasy Football Rankings: Tight Ends

2011 Fantasy Football Rankings: Kickers

2011 Fantasy Football Rankings: Defense/Special Teams


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