X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

Cam Newton's Fantasy Football Outlook in New England

Cam Newton is a New England Patriot, and Scott "The King" Engel provides a comprehensive fantasy football scouting report on his 2020 outlook and draft value.

Superman now flies over New England. Patriots fans are pointing towards the sky. "It's a bird! It's a plane! No, that's Cam!"

The Patriots addition of Cam Newton on a team-friendly, one-year contract has the potential to change the scope of the AFC East, where New England now appears to have a real opportunity to extend a division champion run that dates back to the 2009 season. Newton has an opportunity to revive a sagging NFL career that has been on a downswing since 2016.

From fantasy football perspectives, Newton now becomes more of an intriguing draft target as a second quarterback. Most fantasy players will not tab him as a starter in standard one-QB leagues. He does have the potential to make a very significant impact in two-QB and superflex formats.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

 

Eyeing a Return to Fantasy Respectability

Newton’s has been been plagued by well-documented injury issues over the past two seasons, but published reports have indicated that his current health outlook is positive. Videos of recent workouts on social media have been viewed as encouraging, and he reportedly passed a physical in late May.

When we last saw him for a full season in 2017, he rushed for a career-best 754 yards and finished as the second-highest scoring QB in fantasy football. In the 2018 campaign that was marred by shoulder issues, he still ended up with the best completion percentage of his career (67.5), and his 7.2 yards per attempt were his highest since the 2015 MVP year.

In his career-best season of ’15, Newton stood out by throwing for 35 TD passes and rushing for 10 scores, with 3,837 passing yards and 636 rushing yards. He has not thrown for more than 24 TD passes in a season since then, with a total of 15 rushing TDs. There are also obvious concerns about his age, as he recently turned 31.

That is not “old” for a standard NFL QB, yet Newton’s style of play makes his age a bit more concerning than it would for most others at his position. His fantasy appeal was heavily tied to his rushing abilities and he was never a consistently outstanding passer. But when you consider he has not played since Week 3 of the 2019 season, he also had much time to heal and recover.

From a dynasty perspective, Newton’s age and brand of play can be larger concerns, but should not be considered as highly negative factors in redraft formats. While many NFL analysts mention 2015 as his last impressive season, the 2017 finish indicates that his last healthy campaign was a very good one for fantasy purposes. If he is indeed healthy heading into the 2020 season, he has a good chance of re-emerging as a good fantasy starter.

 

How He Fits in New England

The Patriots were reportedly planning to adjust their offense to feature more run/pass options under previously projected starter Jarrett Stidham, and now should certainly do so with Newton as QB. Josh McDaniels is a coordinator that will likely do his best to mold his offense around the talents and skills of his key players, rather than forcing them to adjust to his schemes. The Patriots seem to have a mediocre crew of playmakers around Newton, but he has dealt with shaky supporting casts before, and the Patriots are already built to suit his abilities.

Bill Belichick appears to be planning to win games by relying on a strong defense and a RPO attack on offense, one that will be new for him and McDaniels after two decades of employing the most successful classic drop-back passer of all time. It will be on McDaniels to prove he can effectively revise the offense without Tom Brady, so he may have something to prove as well.

The Patriots do have a variety of running backs that can work with Newton as RPO partners, and their offensive line was ranked 10th by Pro Football Focus last season. If most of the key players on the unit stay healthy, Newton could be working behind one of the best lines in the league. His receiving crew is not going to scare anyone, yet they should mesh well with Newton if they play close to expectations.

The New England offense can be viewed through a somewhat similar lens as Baltimore’s, with a dual threat QB who can keep defenses off balance. Newton is not going to post Lamar Jackson sort of totals, obviously, and none of his RBs look nearly as good as Mark Ingram proved to be last season. But you could make a case that he has a comparable receiving crew in terms of quality.

The Patriots staff may be more calculating about when to run Newton, and could utilize a rotation of RBs that can challenge defenses in various ways. Sony Michel and Damien Harris are power types, James White is a proven receiving threat, and Rex Burkhead is known for his versatility.

Julian Edelman is certainly capable of at least decent production even though he is 34, and when you consider Belichick spent a first round pick on a WR last year for the first time, N’Keal Harry cannot be overlooked. Both Edelman and Harry fit the mold of what New England will likely do offensively, depending on the running game while relying on receivers that can take quick-hitting throws and gain yardage after the catch. Mohamed Sanu and White add further significant options to Newton’s new grouping of pass-catchers and round out the contingent adequately.

In his MVP season, Newton had Greg Olsen to work with, yet best WRs were Ted Ginn Jr. and Jerricho Cotchery, who combined for 83 catches. In 2017, Christian McCaffery caught 80 passes, but his top receivers otherwise were Devin Funchess (63) and Kelvin Benjamin (32). Newton has never worked with a very productive overall group of pass-catchers, yet has still managed to perform as one of the better QBs in fantasy football.

Player Gms Rec Yds TD
Greg Olsen 16 77 1,104 7
Ted Ginn Jr. 15 44 739 10
Jerricho Cotchery 14 39 485 3
Corey Brown 14 31 447 4
Devin Funchess 16 31 473 5

Cam Newton's leading receivers from his 2015 MVP season

From an intangibles perspective, Newton obviously has a lot riding on how he performs this season. He will be attempting to resurrect himself as a quality player and to secure a better future for himself after this season, whether it is with the Patriots or somewhere else. Those motivating factors can certainly add extra potential for a comeback and cannot be left out of consideration fantasy wise.

 

Where to Draft Newton in 2020

Newton should be targeted as a Top 15-16 fantasy QB, one who is a curious upside case in standard one QB formats, and as a possible difference-maker in two-QB and superflex formats. I will be revising my rankings on RotoBaller.com to slot him in at 16th, Just behind Aaron Rodgers, Ben Roethlisberger (another tempting comeback candidate) and Daniel Jones. He will be just ahead of Ryan Tannehill.

In a one QB league, Jones is going as QB13 in current FFPC drafts, with Kirk Cousins as 14. I would expect Newton to overtake Cousins in that spot/range. If you do land Newton in the neighborhood of Cousins’ current overall ADP of 120, project him as either an upside play to give you a good problem if he reclaims his better form. You may have to choose between Newton and another notable option every week, or you could have a very attractive trade chip at some point. If not, you may use him for a one week play or can even waive Newton for a better backup.

In two QB and superflex formats, Newton has a tempting ceiling, but the floor is unclear. You will have to grab a decent third starter in case he disappoints. I will project him for about 3,250 passing yards, 450 rushing yards, 21 TD passes and five TD runs, but there can be a lot of variance from those markers. In a dynasty league, there is some promise as a QB1 this year and for another season or two if he bounces back.

 

Impact on Other Key Patriots

Stidham is not expected to beat out a healthy Newton for a starting job, of course, but Belichick nearly headed into this year with him as the starter, so he is still worth a deep dynasty stash if Newton only plays one season in New England. If Edelman stays on the field, he still can be a fantasy WR3.

That should be his ceiling, as not working with Brady, plus the age factor, are apparent concerns that could spark a decline. Harry now becomes a more alluring late rounder, as he could become a busy playmaker for Newton. Not only does he have YAC promise, Harry also can make some dazzling grabs if he plays up to his potential.

Sanu may factor in as a starter if Edelman gets injured, starts to fall off or Harry struggles, so he has some fantasy WR potential. White still has some flex appeal. Michel now become a more interesting play. Working in an RPO situation, he could be more productive. The strong chance of a committee situation, though, keeps him in lower-end RB3 territory.

More Fantasy Football Analysis




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Oneil Cruz

Ties Home Run Derby Distance Record
Cal Raleigh

Wins 2025 Home Run Derby
Najee Harris

Likely to Miss Time at Start of Training Camp
Justin Thomas

Finishes Tied For 22nd at Genesis Scottish Open
Scottie Scheffler

Finishes Tied For Eighth at Genesis Scottish Open
Jon Rahm

Finishes in Second at LIV Andalucia
Collin Morikawa

Misses The Cut at Genesis Scottish Open
Hideki Matsuyama

Finishes Tied For 13th at Rocket Mortgage Classic
Brooks Koepka

Finishes Tied For 32nd at LIV Andalucia
Tommy Fleetwood

Finishes Tied For 34th at Genesis Scottish Open
Jason Day

Misses The Cut at John Deere Classic
Ludvig Aberg

Finishes Tied For Eighth at Genesis Scottish Open
Cam Taylor-Britt

has Benefited From Addition of Al Golden
Rome Odunze

Could Take Off in Year 2
RJ Harvey

to Get "Significant" Work in Broncos' Passing Game
Jackson Powers-Johnson

More Comfortable Heading into Year 2
Luke McCaffrey

In Line for Larger Role?
Braelon Allen

Jets Viewing Braelon Allen as Long-Term Starter?
Joel Embiid

Participating in Partial Basketball Activities
Victor Wembanyama

Officially Cleared to Return After Blood-Clot Recovery
Mike Williams

Heading to PUP List
Garrett Wilson

Lands Historic Deal
Colston Loveland

Shoulder "Good" After Surgery
New York Jets

Jets Pushing Sauce Gardner to Strive for Perfection
Xavier Worthy

Chiefs to Open Up Offense in 2025
Tallison Teixeira

Suffers First-Round TKO
Derrick Lewis

Scores First-Round TKO
Michael Lorenzen

Royals Put Michael Lorenzen on Injured List With Oblique Strain
Stephen Thompson

Loses Controversial Split Decision
Stefon Diggs

Likely to Begin Camp Working on the Side
Gabriel Bonfim

Wins Controversial Split Decision
Calvin Kattar

Gets Outclassed At UFC Nashville
Xavier Legette

Should be More Productive
Steve Garcia

Extends His Win Streak
Cole Bishop

has Good Shot to Win a Starting Job
Nate Landwehr

Gets Knocked Out
Nate Wiggins

Ravens Think Nate Wiggins has Star Potential
Morgan Charrière

Morgan Charriere Scores Third-Round Knockout
Kel'el Ware

Collects 21 Points in Summer League Loss on Sunday
Austen Lane

Suffers Submission Loss
Vitor Petrino

Scores First-Round Submission In Heavyweight Debut
Cam Spencer

Contract Being Restructured
Drew Timme

Scores 30 Points in Summer League Loss to Wizards
Quinshon Judkins

More Details Emerge on Quinshon Judkins' Arrest
Tuco Tokkos

Earns His First UFC Win
Alexandre Sarr

Logs Impressive Outing in Summer League Action on Sunday
Junior Tafa

Unsuccessful in his Light-Heavyweight Debut
Kaden Elliss

Could be Atlanta's Most Impactful Pass-Rusher
Kyle Filipowski

Scores 21 Points in Summer League Loss to Warriors
Darius Robinson

Ready to Make his Mark in 2025?
Jauan Jennings

Expected to Report for Training Camp
Trey Smith

the Only Player Still on the Franchise Tag
Cody Williams

Collects 22 Points in Summer League Loss on Sunday
Chase Elliott

Charges to A Finish of Third At Sonoma
Chase Briscoe

Finishes Second With his First Career Road-Course Top-Five at Sonoma
Christopher Bell

Rollercoaster Day Ends With Top-5 Finish at Sonoma
William Byron

Maintains the Regular-Season Points Lead
Kyle Busch

Earns A Hard-Fought Top-10 Finish At Sonoma
Alex Ovechkin

Not Thinking About Retirement
PIT

Penguins Acquire Arturs Silovs
NHL

Nikolai Kovalenko Returns to Russia
Yoshinobu Yamamoto

Tosses Gem Against Giants
Shota Imanaga

Shuts Down Yankees on Sunday
Nathan Eovaldi

Dominant Again in Seventh Win
Tyler Reddick

Evades Near Upset to Remain Alive in In-Season Challenge
Ty Gibbs

One of Three Tylers to Make In-Season Challenge Semifinals
Kyle Larson

Curiously Mediocre at Sonoma Before Late-Race Crash
NASCAR

John H. Nemechek Edges Out Teammate to Make In-Season Challenge Semifinal
Alex Bowman

Ty Dillon Bumps Alex Bowman to Advance to In-Season Challenge Semifinal
Chicago White Sox

Billy Carlson Goes 10th Overall to White Sox
Cincinnati Reds

Steele Hall Selected Ninth by Cincinnati
Toronto Blue Jays

Blue Jays Select JoJo Parker with Eighth Overall Pick
Boston Celtics

Damian Lillard Drawing Interest from the Celtics
Miami Marlins

Marlins Select Aiva Arquette With Seventh Overall Pick
Pittsburgh Pirates

Pirates Select Seth Hernandez with Sixth Overall Pick
Kyle Stowers

Punishes Former Team with Three-Homer Game
St. Louis Cardinals

Cardinals Select Liam Doyle with Fifth Overall Pick
Daniel Gafford

Agrees to Contract Extension with Dallas
Colorado Rockies

Rockies Select Ethan Holliday Fourth Overall
Seattle Mariners

Kade Anderson Selected Third Overall by Seattle
Ha-Seong Kim

X-rays on Ha-Seong Kim's Foot Come Back Negative
Los Angeles Angels

Tyler Bremner Selected Second Overall by Angels in 2025 MLB Draft
Washington Nationals

Nationals Select Eli Willits First Overall
Jake Meyers

to Miss More Than Three Weeks With Calf Injury
Cooper Flagg

Shut Down for Rest of Summer League
LeBron James

Hasn't Requested a Trade
Memphis Grizzlies

Cole Anthony, Grizzlies Agree to Contract Buyout
Edward Cabrera

Hopeful to Avoid Injured List
Oneil Cruz

Absent on Sunday
Shane Van Gisbergen

Can Anyone Beat Shane van Gisbergen at Sonoma?
Tyler Reddick

Better at Sonoma Than Record Shows
Chase Elliott

a Prime DFS Option at Sonoma
Michael McDowell

Struggling a Bit at Sonoma
NASCAR

Christopher Bell Has Never Finished Better Than Ninth at Sonoma
Ryan Blaney

Has Top-10 Upside at Sonoma
NASCAR

Sunday at Sonoma Will Likely Be a Long Race for Bubba Wallace
Kyle Larson

Is A Likely Top-Five Contender for Sonoma
Ryan Preece

Points Position Could Affect Race at Sonoma
Todd Gilliland

Struggling to Find Speed at Sonoma
Ty Gibbs

May be an Underrated Favorite to Compete for the Win at Sonoma
Alexandre Sarr

Plays Well in Summer League Loss to Phoenix
Yang Hansen

Looks Good on Friday Night
Erik Karlsson

Open to Move Away From Pittsburgh
Zach Hyman

Hopes to be Ready for Start of Next Season
SJ

Jeff Skinner Joins Sharks on One-Year Contract
Kon Knueppel

Struggles in Summer League Win
Walter Clayton Jr.

Plays Well on Friday Night
Cody Williams

Scores 21 Points in Summer League Loss
Kyle Filipowski

Leads the Way on Friday Night
Isaiah Jackson

Signs Three-Year Extension
Marvin Bagley III

Joining the Wizards
Ryan Reaves

Traded to Sharks
Vladislav Kolyachonok

Moves to Dallas
Matt Dumba

Lands in Pittsburgh
Mackie Samoskevich

Re-Signs with Panthers on One-Year Deal
Josh Manson

Inks Two-Year Extension with Avalanche
EDM

Isaac Howard Signs Three-Year, Entry-Level Contract With Oilers
Tallison Teixeira

Set For His First UFC Main Event
Derrick Lewis

Set To Headline UFC Nashville
Gabriel Bonfim

Looks For His Third UFC Win
Stephen Thompson

Returns At UFC Nashville
Steve Garcia

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Calvin Kattar

In Dire Need Of Victory
Morgan Charrière

Morgan Charriere A Favorite At UFC Nashville
Nate Landwehr

Aims To Bounce Back
MMA

Austen Lane Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Gary Woodland

Looking to Find Rhythm at Scottish Open
Aaron Rai

Brings Consistent Play to Scottish Open
Maverick McNealy

a Solid Value Play at Scottish Open
Aldrich Potgieter

Making Scottish Open Debut
Tom Kim

Looks to Rebound at Scottish Open
Brian Harman

a Safe Option at Scottish Open
Luke Clanton

a Sneaky Value Play at Scottish Open
Sam Burns

Looking to Stay Hot at Scottish Open
Nicolai Hojgaard

May Feel More at Home in Europe
Harry Hall

Showing Fine Form Heading to Scotland
Ryan Fox

Playing Well Since Early Spring Struggles
Max Greyserman

has Solid History at the Genesis Scottish Open
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF