Intro
In this article, I’ll give a complete dynasty breakdown of the upcoming Panthers-Falcons Thursday night contest. I want to make sure you all know what to focus on for your dynasty teams. Being prepared before the game will allow you to react quickly and to become a better dynasty owner.
Falcons
The Falcons are currently 1-6 on the season. They have already fired head coach Dan Quinn and general manager Thomas Dimitroff, so they’re entering rebuild mode. However, they have Matt Ryan and Julio Jones on expensive, untradeable contracts.
They won’t save any money in 2020 or 2021 by trading Ryan or Jones, so I expect both players to make it through the trade deadline and become part of the Falcons’ plans in 2021. Therefore, while I see this game as a trading showcase for the Falcons, I doubt they move any fantasy-relevant players. Todd Gurley has no trade value while Calvin Ridley, Russell Gage, and Hayden Hurst are on relatively cheap, cost-controlled deals.
Therefore, the Falcons will play out this game and the rest of the 2020 season with their current complement of offensive weapons. At this point, we know what Jones offers in dynasty leagues. He’s a solid WR1 right now, but he’s a declining dynasty asset. I’m always watching older players for signs of decline, although Jones still looks good.
The Falcons’ other two primary receivers aren’t as interesting. We know that Calvin Ridley is an up and coming stud. He’s going to be the Falcons’ WR1 sooner rather than later, and he’s already a WR1 in fantasy football. Ridley is unbuyable in most dynasty leagues, so I love watching him play.
As for Gage, he’s been inconsistent thus far in 2020. He was great in Weeks 1 and 2, but he’s fluctuated since then. He’s currently dealing with a knee injury, although I don’t expect that to limit him much during the game. Gage has done well inheriting the Mohamed Sanu role, but he’s only a low-ceiling WR4 or WR5 most weeks.
Hurst is likely the most debated asset in the Falcons’ set of receiving weapons. The Falcons traded for Hurst, and they believed he would fill Austin Hooper’s old role as the every-down tight end. Hurst currently averages 10.4 fantasy PPG, but he’s just not a solid every-week play. I hope Hurst can turn it around, but every week I’m starting to lose faith.
Ryan is an interesting quarterback in superflex leagues. He is currently 35 years old, and he turns 36 in May 2021. Ryan will be the Falcons’ quarterback in 2021 based on his contract, although I wouldn’t be too surprised if the Falcons spend a second or third-round pick on an eventual successor. Either way, I’m watching Ryan every week to make sure he still presents QB1 upside as he has throughout his career.
As always, Gurley is a crucial part of the Falcons’ offense, but he’s offered little in 2020. While he’s scored seven rushing touchdowns, he’s only averaged 4.0 YPC. Honestly, backup Brian Hill has looked like a similar running back, and he’s a couple of years younger than Gurley. I think the Falcons will want to see what they have in Hill, so I expect Hill to garner more touches down the stretch. I’m not sure if we’ll see that as early as this week, but I’d love to see Hill get more involved.
Panthers
Surprisingly, the Panthers are 3-4 going into this game. I expected the Panthers to be one of the NFL’s worst teams in 2020, but they’ve won three games even without Christian McCaffrey. They’ve competed in every game, and they might have an outside shot at a playoff spot.
Teddy Bridgewater has exceeded expectations in 2020 under head coach Matt Rhule. He’s completed 72.2% of his passes, and he’s thrown for 1,930 passing yards. I’m excited to see what Bridgewater can do against this miserable Falcons’ defense. The Falcons give up points to every opposing quarterback, so this is a crucial contest for Bridgewater to cement his dynasty value.
I love what Rhule has done with the Panthers’ receiving game, turning both Robby Anderson and D.J. Moore into WR1 candidates. I wish that Rhule would funnel some more targets toward Moore, but I can’t complain about their production. Both players are on pace for over 1,250 receiving yards over a full season. Suddenly, the Panthers are one of the most exciting passing offenses in the NFL, even though they’ve gotten almost nothing out of Curtis Samuel or tight end Ian Thomas.
Lastly, there’s the running game. Christian McCaffrey has a chance to return in this game, but I expect the Panthers to play it safe and hold him out one more week. If McCaffrey is active, I do not think he’ll be 100%, although he’s a must-play if active. However, I think Mike Davis has earned a role, perhaps 15-20% of the touches. More interestingly, I’m watching Davis on his touches to see if he can gain an expanded role on his next team.
Thanks for reading this article. You can find me on Twitter at @DFF_Karp. I love to interact with anyone in the community, so reach out at any time! I take fantasy questions and help with all formats, so keep sending those questions my way.
