Predictions Summary Projections by Position Projection Team Boxes

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Prediction: CAR 20, PHI 30 (Line: PHI by 6)

The 3-5-1 Panthers are on a three game losing streak and are only 1-2-1 on the road. The 6-2 Eagles are a half game ahead in the NFC East and are 4-0 at home. Losing a quarterback is not a positive for the Eagles but playing at home is. This is the Monday night game.

Losing to the Saints not only drops the Panthers from the top of the NFC South, it almost certainly does it for good since the Saints are looking improved and the Panthers are only getting worse. Future home games against the Falcons, Buccaneers and Browns all offer a nice chance to finally win a game but they may be the only time the Panthers pull out an away victory. The only win on the road so far was in Tampa Bay.

QUARTERBACK : Cam Newton has gone two games without throwing a touchdown and his yardage remained below 175 yards in those. Aside from his surprise game in Cincinnati, he’s been consistent at no more than one touchdown and mostly sub-200 yard passing efforts. Newton is running again and did rush in a score versus the Saints but winds up around 40 yards as a runner – that’s all well below the level of a fantasy starter in recent games.

RUNNING BACK : Fortunately DeAngelo Williams is back because Jonathan Stewart was almost to the point of having fantasy merit. This backfield produced only three touchdowns all year and Stewart topped out at 94 total yards in the Seattle loss. But he was back to only eight carries for 46 yards versus the Saints because Williams accounted for eight carries as well but only gained 20 yards. No real fantasy value here.

WIDE RECEIVER : Last week against the Saints this unit was even worse than normal and that is because Kelvin Benjamin was held to only 18 yards on two catches. The rookie is the only productive member of the wideouts and accounts for five of the seven touchdowns thrown to the position. The Saints were the first to dominate Benjamin though and he’s been good for around 60 yards or more in most games and even turned in 94 yards on four catches versus the Seahawks. Jerricho Cotchery also starts but he’s stuck at around three catches for 40 yards or so every week. Whatever happens on this offense comes from either Newton running or Benjamin catching.

TIGHT END : Greg Olsen was a major part of the passing equation but it is troublesome that the Seahawks and then Saints removed him from the game plan. After posting around 70 yards per week and scoring five times over the first six games, Olsen was held to a single catch by the Seahawks and then three receptions for 30 yards by the Saints.

MATCH TO THE DEFENSE: There is no denying that the Eagles have a weak secondary and that almost every opponent threw at least two touchdowns against them. But Newton almost never throws two scores and has eight scores over eight games. The Eagles are better against the run but the Panthers simply do not compete with their rushing game. And the Eagles are great against tight ends with only one scoring on them all year. That at least limits what Olsen can accomplish. Even with this nice fantasy matchup, the only certain fantasy start is Benjamin and both Newton and Olsen are just moderate plays. Anyone else is just too unreliable.

The loss by the Cowboys places the Eagles in the NFC East driving seat for now but losing Nick Foles throws it all into question. Fortunately, Mark Sanchez gets a few games under his belt before the final five games which determines everything about the Eagles and the NFC East. There is a chance that Foles might return before the end of the season but if not, Sanchez both earns his money and gets a chance to show the NFL that he can still play.

QUARTERBACK : Mark Sanchez was on the road when his name was called and even though it was just the Texans, Sanchez performed well. He completed 15 of 22 passes for 202 yards and two scores though he threw two interceptions. Sanchez is only on a one year contract and he could not ask for a better scenario to prove his worth and talent in an offense that can make a quarterback look good. He doesn’t get an easy stretch of games but he’ll start for the next six weeks or more.

RUNNING BACK : While he has minimal involvement as a receiver this year, LeSean McCoy has spent the last month getting at least 20 carries in every game and gaining at least 81 yards. He’s scored just once all year which hurts his value but at least he’s consistent again with rushing yardage. Darren Sproles was out for a few weeks but returned to catch four passes for 46 yards. His hot start for the first two weeks is long over and he’s a very risky fantasy play even as a flex since he’s been as bad as only six yards in game.

WIDE RECEIVER : Only one week to go by with Sanchez as the starter and it was against the soft secondary of the Texans. But at least Jeremy Maclin blew up for 158 yards and two scores (one was by Foles) and even Jordan Matthews caught three passes for 40 yards and his first touchdown in five games. Maclin has been red hot this year with eight touchdowns and three games over 100 yards. He’s replaced the hole left by DeSean Jackson. Matthews continues to have a low key rookie season with around 50 yards per week. Riley Cooper scored only once and offers a handful of yards each week.

TIGHT END : Zach Ertz only scored twice this year and was consistent around 40 yards or so every week but his first game with Sanchez resulted in only one catch for four yards. That could be the new normal if the Eagles elect to run the ball more now that Foles is out.

MATCH TO THE DEFENSE: The Panthers defense is a shell of what it once was. On the road, this team has allowed at least two passing scores in every game and an average of around 300 yards over the last three away venues. The rushing defense has completely fallen apart with the last three road games allowing six rushing touchdowns. This should be a very good game for McCoy and get him back into the scoring column again. The Eagles are still going to throw and should have some success as have all opponents. McCoy is a must start as is Maclin. But even Sanchez and Matthews could be moderate plays this week.

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