5 critical factors that will decide the Panthers vs. Saints in Week 3

Carolina Panthers must get D.J. Moore involved

Fans lamented the lack of touches for star running back Christian McCaffrey in Week 1. A few short days later and another primary playmaker’s usage was under the microscope.

Through two weeks of the season, D.J. Moore finds himself with six catches on 12 targets for 86 receiving yards and one touchdown. For someone with his skill and talent, these statistics should be much improved.

We saw against the New York Giants how Moore can influence proceedings. He was targeted on back-to-back plays after the break as the Carolina Panthers drove down the field, but after that, the Maryland product was not targeted for the remainder of the game.

When Baker Mayfield was brought over in a trade, fans were excited to see what Moore could do with a higher level of quarterback play. While it’s not time to push the panic button yet, the Panthers must find a way to get the ball in the former first-round pick’s hands as much as possible.

This also comes down to the scheme. When one sees how the Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Rams conjure things up for the likes of Justin Jefferson and Cooper Kupp despite their increased attention, the Panthers must find ways to do this with their best pass-catcher.

Moore finds himself matched up with Marshon Lattimore in Week 3, one of the top five highest-paid cornerbacks in the league. A significant challenge that’s worth monitoring closely.