Andrew Luck and Frank Gore better pack their “A” games with them to Carolina where they’ll run up against the Cam Newton led Carolina Panthers who will look to tally their second straight scalp under the prime time lights. Let’s dig into this non-conference matchup from a fantasy and prop stand point.
Andrew Luck was drafted before Aaron Rodgers in numerous season-long fantasy leagues this season. Now seven weeks into the season, that looked to be a gross miscalculation by fantasy football pundits.
While an injury to his throwing shoulder has limited his overall fantasy point tally, Luck just hasn’t looked his normal self now in his fourth season playing at this level. His completion percentage has regressed, and his 9 interceptions has him on pace to throw the most of his young career.
Things don’t look to be getting any better for him this week with his WR corps faced with running up against the NFL’s No. 11 ranked pass defense that’s given up an average of 235.3 yards per game and just 5 touchdowns. Add that to Carolina’s 18.5 defensive yards per point average, and it looks as if most of his fantasy points will likely be tallied in garbage time should the Panthers get out to a big lead.
Cam Newton is never going to dazzle anybody from a fantasy perspective. Especially with him throwing to a wide receiver corps of no-names. However, he’s a dual threat and the Colts have been below average defending opposing quarterbacks all season in conceding an average of 23.6 fantasy points per game.
As Newton matures, he seems to be getting an even better grasp of what it takes to lead his team to victories at this level. Take last week for instance. He threw 3 interceptions against the Eagles, but also threw for 197 yards and a touchdown and hit pay dirt on the ground as well to go with another 20 rushing yards.
More a game manager than anything else, Newton will put forth a blow up effort every now and again, but he can’t be counted on to rack up the fantasy goodness. Carolina is not an offensive dynamo, and Ron Rivera and his staff don’t ask him to do much more than not turn the ball over and be efficient with his decisions.
I’ll be looking to take the points in this one with Luck if he’s getting any. Carolina has numerous options on the ground to punch the ball into the end zone when its goal to go, and has averaged 1.7 rushing touchdowns per game over the last three. The potential is also there that Luck will need to lead his team back from a large deficit in this one, and those garbage points tallied mean just as much if the game was close.
FANTASY H2H MATCHUP PICK: Andrew Luck
Carolina is the decided favorite in this one, and the betting public is buying in with 64% of the tickets coming in laying the points with the home team. While it looks to be warranted on paper, this matchup is literally the definition of what have you done for me lately rather than does the favored team deserve to be laying that type of chalk.
The Colts are so unattractive heading into this one that it almost makes them look hot. Chuck Pagano looks to be a lame duck coach, and upper management is fighting with one another behind closed doors. They’re certainly heading into this one with something to prove. Remember, this team is only two weeks removed from giving the Patriots a run for their money until that boneheaded fake punt was called.
Frank Gore played a large role in allowing Indy to take a lead with them into halftime of that game. The Pats actually own a tougher run defense than that of the Panthers who are giving up an average of 110 yards per game at 4.3 yards per carry. Frank the Tank rushed for nearly 80 yards on 13 carries against New England, and should surpass that tally in this spot.
Two of his best games of the season from a yardage perspective have come away from Lucas Oil Stadium, and I fully expect him to put forth another credible effort here tonight against an opponent his teammates must show up against for their season not to spiral out of control.
Lets’ call it 85+ yards and a touchdown plunge for the veteran in this Week 8 concluder.
Along with full game, halftime and live wagering, Fantasy H2H matchups and prop bets offer more exciting ways to bet on all the games this NFL season. With limits as high as $500 per matchup, you can put your fantasy knowledge to use and come out a real winner!
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