Predictions Summary Projections by Position Projection Team Boxes

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Prediction: TB 10, CAR 27 (Line: CAR by 5.5)

UPDATE: Cam Newton is out this week after his car accident and DeAngelo Williams remains out with his hand injury.

The 2-11 Buccaneers are on a three game losing streak and already lost 14-20 in the home opener versus the 4-8-1 Panthers.

The Buccaneers are winding down their season playing out a brutal schedule that ends up with home games against the Packers and Saints. There is a chance of a win in that final week but at best a 3-11 season is hardly a success for a franchise that has defined futility for years. The offense has been unsuccessful in all measures other than using Mike Evans who may be the only skill player who is a lock to return next season.

QUARTERBACK : Josh McCown threw for 183 yards and two scores in that home opener against the Panthers but had two interceptions as well. McCown never throws for more than two scores and has twice ended up with no touchdowns. That makes him a big fantasy risk unless the matchup is unusually good. On the road this week, he’s unlikely to match what he did at home to start the year.

RUNNING BACK : Bobby Rainey has been a healthy scratch and he only ran four times for 12 yards in that first game with the Panthers. He added two catches for eight yards and his only receiving touchdown of the year. He’s been replaced by Charles Sims now who produces just as meager stats and yet has never scored. Doug Martin was held to only nine yards on nine carries in that first meeting and though he surprised with 58 yards and a score versus the Bengals in week 13, he was back to only five runs for 22 yards in the loss to the Lions.

WIDE RECEIVER : The receivers were quiet in that early meeting with Carolina but Mike Evans has become a major cog in the passing game at least in the red zone. His yardage has been depressed in recent weeks to below 50 in each game but he scored twice last week in Detroit and has ten touchdowns on the season. Vincent Jackson comes off a season high 159 yards on ten catches and he netted 117 yards in Chicago in the previous road game. But he has not scored since week four and was only good for 36 yards on four receptions versus the Panthers last time.

TIGHT END : No fantasy value. In the opener, Brandon Meyers caught a season high six passes for 41 yards and them almost nothing since. Austin Sefarian-Jenkins did score in both of the most recent home games though despite meager yardage in every game.

MATCH TO THE DEFENSE: The Panthers have been far better at home where they have only allowed eight passing touchdowns over six games. The pass defense has improved from early in the year and the last three home games only allowed one passing score. The rush defense has also improved lately and more so at home where they only allowed three rush scores to running backs as opposed to eight on the road. No reason to expect Martin or Sims to show up here. McCown, Evans and Jackson are all mid-level starts with some upside but likely only moderate production.

The Panthers typify the inconsistency that is rife in the NFL. After a six game losing streak, they destroyed the Saints 41-10 in New Orleans in a game the Saints really needed to win. The Panthers had the offense working on all counts. The same team that they lost to 10-29 just four games previously and that was in Carolina. And they are only a half game out of the NFC South lead with a 4-8-1 record. The final three games are certainly all ones they could win. But which Panthers team shows up is hard to guess lately.

QUARTERBACK :The season opener actually had Derek Anderson starting that game and he passed for 230 yards and two scores on the Buccaneers. Cam Newton returned the following week and has been solid with one or two passing scores per game. Newton is on a four game streak of better games with scores and even one rushing touchdown . His rushing is very inconsistent though – he ran for 83 yards last week but four times failed to break ten rushing yards.

Newton has been diagnosed with two transverse process fractures in his back and is no lock to play this week after being in a car accident. I will project for Anderson to start and updated as needed.

RUNNING BACK : The season opener had the running backs combine for 92 yards on 23 runs though DeAngelo Williams had 14 carries for 72 of the years. Williams remains out with a fractured bone in his middle finger, Jonathan Stewart took the full load last week and had his best game in the last five years -155 yards and a score on 20 carries thanks to a 69-yard touchdown run. These are still collectively among the worst running backs in the league.

WIDE RECEIVER : Kelvin Benjamin has been an excellent addition to the offense and the only offensive weapon that has offered consistent production. Even in his first NFL game, Benjamin ended with six catches for 92 yards and one score on the Buccaneers. He’s scored nine times this year though topped 100 yards only twice in home games. Jerricho Cotchery turned in 32 yards on four catches in that first meeting and he been little better in any other week along with never scoring. Philly Brown is newer to the scene with a score in two of the last three games but his yardage never tops 50 in any game and he’s been stuck at only two or three catches per week.

TIGHT END : Greg Olsen enjoyed one of his better efforts when he caught eight passes for 83 yards and a score in the season opener. He has six scored on the year and was on a six game dry spell until just last week when he caught a season best ten passes for 72 yards in New Orleans.

MATCH TO THE DEFENSE: The Buccaneers always give up one or two passing scores in road games and high yardage to the better offenses. They’ve been much weaker against the run as well and already allowed 12 scores to running backs over their six road venues. Consider Newton as an upside option here who has thrown better in recent weeks. Benjamin is always worth starting for a touchdown if nothing else. This week, even Stewart could be a desperation start at home so long as Williams remains out and doesn’t take half of everything.

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