Carolina Panthers

Vikings at Panthers: 5 best fantasy options

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Sep 18, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Linval Joseph (98) celebrates against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings defeated the Packers 17-14. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

The Carolina Panthers (1-1) will host the Minnesota Vikings (2-0) on Sunday afternoon in Week 3. Here are this game’s five best plays for fantasy football.

The Carolina Panthers look to keep their 14-game home winning streak intact on Sunday when they welcome the 2-0 Minnesota Vikings to Bank of America Stadium. This game feels like a potential NFC Playoffs matchup. At full strength, this could even be a preview of the 2016 NFC Championship.

The problem is that Minnesota is not at full strength on offense. The Vikings have now lost three starters to significant injuries on the offensive side of the ball: quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, running back Adrian Peterson, and left tackle Matt Kalil. Bridgewater is out for the year. Kalil and Peterson are on Injured Reserve.

To be fair, this is not an ideal game to pluck players from and start them on your fantasy team. The over/under of 43 combined points seems absurdly high. We’re probably looking at a low-scoring defensive struggle in Charlotte on Sunday. Nevertheless, here are the five players to consider starting on your fantasy football team this week from this particular NFC showdown.

5. Vikings Defense

Though the Vikings defense is only projected to garner 6.2 fantasy points in ESPN leagues and 4.0 in NFL.com leagues, it may not be a play to start Minnesota as your defense this week.

Yes, the Panthers put up 46 points on the lowly San Francisco 49ers in Week 2, but remember how pedestrian Carolina looked on offense against the Denver Broncos in Week 1? Carolina managed just 20 points against an elite Wade Phillips Denver defense.

Minnesota’s defensive personnel isn’t quite what Denver’s is, but the Vikings do have one of the five best defenses in football. The Vikings have great players at all levels of their the defense. Defensive tackle Linval Joseph and free safety Harrison Smith of some of the very best at what they do. Outside linebacker Anthony Barr and cornerback Trae Waynes are emerging talents in their own right.

Carolina’s offense is not going to put up over 40 points on this elite Vikings defense at home in Week 3. One could easily argue that the defense is the best thing the Vikings have going for them in this big NFC showdown on Sunday afternoon in Charlotte.

Should the Vikings slow down the Panthers’ weakened rushing attack sans Jonathan Stewart, Minnesota could garner your fantasy as many as 10 fantasy points. That is assuming the Vikings’ pass rush can sack Cam Newton twice and the defense as a whole forces a turnover or to. It could very well happen on Sunday at Bank of America Stadium.

Sep 8, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Kawann Short (99) tackles Denver Broncos running back C.J. Anderson in the first quarter at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

4. Panthers Defense

This game features two of the best defenses in football. Newton might be the best player on the field, but this one certainly has a feel of a low-scoring defensive battle. If you have the Panthers defense on your fantasy team, they are a must-play this week. Frankly, they are just about every week.

What makes Carolina’s defense such a solid play this week would be because of the amount of offensive turmoil that has gone on in Eden Prairie this offseason. Not only did the Vikings have to find a replacement at starting quarterback once Teddy Bridgewater was lost for the season, but now Minnesota has to make do without star running back Adrian Peterson.

New Vikings starting quarterback Sam Bradford is a talented football player, but does not have a proven track record in staying healthy as a quarterback. Keep in mind that he plays behind one of the worst offensive lines in the NFC that is now without left tackle Matt Kalil. Kalil went on Injured Reserve on Wednesday.

The Vikings do have weapons on the outside and they could exploit the Panthers defense where they are most vulnerable in the secondary. However, this game is going to be decided in the trenches. That heavily favors Carolina, as the Panthers have an elite front seven and a better than average offensive line.

The Carolina defense has a great opportunity to earn more fantasy points than the 7.2 and 6.00 that ESPN and NFL.com leagues are projecting this week. If Minnesota’s defense can earn your fantasy team 10+ points this week, Carolina’s should easily eclipse that point threshold on Sunday.

Sep 18, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Bradford (8) against the Green Bay Packers in the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

3. Sam Bradford

If the Vikings are going to overcome a seven-point spread and win in Charlotte on Sunday to move to 3-0 on the year, starting quarterback Sam Bradford is going to have to play even better than he did on Sunday Night Football against the Green Bay Packers.

Bradford now doesn’t have the luxury of handing the ball off to fellow Oklahoma Sooner Adrian Peterson. While Bradford does have to capable backs in Matt Asiata and Jerick McKinnon, he’s going to have to make plays with his arm in this game.

With offensive coordinator Norv Turner’s vertical passing scheme, this is a great opportunity for Bradford to rack up some passing yards against a mediocre Panthers secondary. Minnesota does have two strong deep receiving threats in Stefon Diggs and Cordarrelle Patterson for Bradford to sling the ball to.

Minnesota is not going to have an easy time running the football on Sunday. This means Bradford could have to throw the football 45-50 times against the Panthers, especially if the Vikings trail Carolina on the road.

ESPN leagues project Bradford to have only 11.3 points, while NFL.com leagues have Bradford getting 15.94 points. If he doesn’t turn the football over, Bradford should be able to get over 20 points in both leagues. You’re looking at a lot of garbage time passing yards from Bradford, but hey, that’s got to be good for your fantasy team, right?

Sep 18, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen (88) catches the ball as San Francisco 49ers cornerback Keith Reaser (27) defends in the third quarter. The Panthers defeated the 49ers 46-27 at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

2. Greg Olsen

Tight end Greg Olsen’s first touchdown of the 2016 NFL season was an awesome 78-yard bomb from Cam Newton against the 49ers. That was Olsen’s longest career touchdown. Though he’s not going to earn your fantasy team 13 points on just one play this week, Olsen could have a big day in a low-scoring game.

Olsen is only projected to gain 8.4 points in ESPN leagues and just 4.2 points in NFL.com leagues. The Vikings do have a great defense, but Olsen plays the right receiving position to potentially have the best day of any Panthers pass catcher on Sunday: tight end.

Minnesota has an elite defensive line and terrific players in its secondary. The linebacking corps is solid as well, but Olsen’s talent could be problematic for that Minnesota position group.

Olsen is Newton’s safety valve. He is going to lean on Olsen to make at least a few crucial third down catches. If he converts just three first downs for the Panthers on Sunday, he’ll garner your team at least 3.5 points (35 receiving yards).

Where Olsen can really help your fantasy team is in the red zone. Carolina’s rushing attack is again depleted with the always hurt Jonathan Stewart out with a hamstring injury. After a few failed Mike Tolbert fullback runs, Newton is just going to throw the ball in Olsen’s direction to see if he can get the Panthers into the end zone. Olsen should have at least double digits for your fantasy team on Sunday at the tight end/flex position.

Sep 18, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) celebrates after a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Bank of America Stadium. The Panthers defeated the 49ers 46-27. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

1. Cam Newton

Once again, the best player on the field in Charlotte is going to be quarterback Cam Newton. Isn’t that the case for every Panthers home game? He will be the difference in this game by getting the Panthers offense into the end zone three times against a great Vikings defense.

ESPN leagues have Newton getting 20.6 fantasy points. NFL.com has him earning 17.26 points on Sunday. At worst, Newton will get you at least 15 fantasy points. That bad of a performance would include a pair of turnovers and minimal scoring for the Panthers.

Should Newton have a so-so day of 200 yards passing, two passing touchdowns, 40 rushing yards, and one rushing touchdown, that would bring Newton to 26 fantasy points!

Fantasy football leagues do believe that the Vikings defense will negatively impact Newton’s Week 3 performance. However, he is a must-play type of quarterback in every fantasy football league every week. The only time you don’t start him is when the Panthers are on a bye.

His Week 3 performance will fall somewhere between his outstanding Week 2 output and his dismal Week 1 showing in Denver. The Vikings will make it hard for him, but this is a home game for Newton and he’ll be just fine.