Analyzing Week 5 fantasy performances in Panthers’ win at Falcons

Teddy Bridgewater – Carolina Panthers QB

If you didn’t have a solid quarterback on your fantasy team, we sure hope you picked up Teddy Bridgewater on the waiver wire. The Panthers signal-caller has netted at least 19 fantasy points in three games this season, including a 20 point outing on Sunday.

Offensive coordinator Joe Brady decided to take advantage of Atlanta’s 31st ranked pass defense early. After one half, the Panthers were up 20-7 and Bridgewater threw 27 passes. The Falcons just couldn’t keep up.

Bridgewater also did a better job of spreading the ball around. Both Robby Anderson and Mike Davis had at least ten receptions and DJ Moore finally found the end zone for the first time this season.

Start or sit in Week 5? 

SIT.

Bridgewater has every reason to feel comfortable in the Panthers’ third home game of the season. So far, he’s led Carolina to seventh in total offense and fifth in passing yards per game.

The problem is, the Chicago Bears boast one of the best defenses in the NFL, and quarterbacks have only averaged about 12 fantasy points per game against this unit. If you can find a better matchup, I suggest benching Bridgewater this week.

Mike Davis- Carolina Panthers RB

Mike Davis bullied the Falcons defense to the tune of 29.9 fantasy points and has scored more than 20 in each game he’s started in place of Christian McCaffrey. His wasn’t called much until the second half when the Panthers needed to burn the clock to keep Atlanta from crawling back into the game. As usual, he was dynamic as a runner and pass catcher which makes him a viable fantasy option, even when the All-Pro returns.

It was really cool to see Davis break so many tackles and run so hard against Atlanta. It’s no wonder he took to Twitter to call out EA’s Madden NFL video game for severely under ranking his strength.

Start or sit in Week 5?

START or FLEX.

Keep a close eye on McCaffrey’s status leading up to this Sunday’s game because there’s a lot at play here.  The face of the franchise is eligible to return this week but is scheduled to undergo a series of tests to determine his progress after suffering a high ankle sprain in Week 2.

If he starts, Davis is still a good flex candidate due to his versatility. If McCaffrey doesn’t play, he is virtually a must-start against a Bears defense that has given up 113 rushing yards per game.