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

Thursday Night Matchups Analysis (Week 6)

So much for a high-flying battle in Tampa...

The showdown in Week 5 between one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time in Tom Brady and a young gun on the rise in Jameis Winston had a few less touchdowns than many had predicted, with New England Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski scoring 13 of the team's 19 total points. For many fantasy owners, the return of Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin signaled a much-needed boost for their rosters as he put together a 13 attempt, 74-yard performance that included a touchdown. Still, football fans were left wanting more after watching Thursday's game simply from imagining what could have been.

With the Philadelphia Eagles heading to Carolina for the Week 6 Thursday Night Football game, the question arises whether or not this matchup could help to satiate those who were hoping for a higher scoring game last week. Both quarterbacks are coming off of 300-plus yard performances and have the weapons around them to make plays. We could be in store for a shootout between two 4 win-1 loss teams, making closer analysis for fantasy football purposes that much more important!

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

 

Philadelphia Eagles @ Carolina Panthers

Date and Start Time: Thursday, October 12 at 8:25 PM ET

Notable Injuries and Status:

  • Ronald Darby (CB, PHI) - Ankle - Inactive
  • Lane Johnson (OT, PHI) - Concussion - Inactive
  • Wendell Smallwood (RB, PHI) - Knee - Active
  • Fletcher Cox (DT, PHI) - Calf - Active
  • Kurt Coleman (S, CAR) - Knee - Inactive
  • Ryan Kalil (C, CAR) - Neck - Inactive

 

Offensive and Defensive Rankings (2017):

Eagles Panthers
Passing Yards  8th 3rd
Rushing Yards  5th  19th
Pass Defense  29th  5th
Run  Defense  2nd  6th

 
 

Must Starts

Top Performers That Have To Be In Your Lineup

Zach Ertz (TE, PHI)

Now that the undisputed No. 1 fantasy tight end, Rob Gronkowski, is dealing with a nagging injury, Ertz is making the case to steal that spot as one of the most consistent playmakers at the position. He has caught no fewer than five passes per game game through five weeks of regular season action and is Philadelphia's leader in red zone targets, meaning his role is here to stay as quarterback Carson Wentz' security blanket.

Cam Newton (QB, CAR)

The Philadelphia Eagles' secondary is ripe for exploitation and Newton has thrown for over 300 passing yards in his previous two games. Owners who have Newton as their No. 1 option should definitely trust him this week given his recent hot streak and the potential for rushing attempts to serve as a useful buffer. The Eagles haven't faced a truly proficient dual-threat quarterback in 2017 and Newton will serve as one heck of a welcoming party.

Kelvin Benjamin (WR, CAR)

The Philadelphia Eagles are relatively thin at the cornerback position and have had trouble dealing with big-bodied wide receivers a-la Odell Beckham Jr. and Terrelle Pryor Sr., giving up a combined 16 receptions for 145 yards and two touchdowns to those two alone. While Benjamin is nowhere near the same physical freak as Beckham, he has a guaranteed floor in PPR due to his hefty target share (16-percent, third-most on the team) accompanied by touchdown upside without tight end Greg Olsen in the starting lineup. He should churn out high-end WR2 production in a game that has the potential to be a shootout.

 

Must Sits

Players To Avoid Putting In Your Lineup

LeGarrette Blount (RB, PHI)

With the potential return of fellow runner Wendell Smallwood and a tough road date with one of the league's more imposing run defenses, Blount's Week 6 prospects do not look good unless Philadelphia manages to accumulate an early lead. If fellow running back Wendell Smallwood is out, volume alone should help him to stumble for a touchdown or two given how effective the Eagles' offensive line has been. That situation will be critical for Blount owners to follow should they wish to start him on Thursday night.

Alshon Jeffery (WR, PHI)

Jeffery was shadowed by one of the undisputed top cover-corners in Patrick Peterson last week, so owners are expecting his output to improve against a mediocre Panther's cornerback group. I'm a bit more skeptical, however, as far as his usage is concerned given both opposing team's focus on eliminating him from the game plan and Wentz's propensity to spread the football around. Jeffery catches fewer than 50 percent of the passes thrown his way despite seeing more snaps than any other wide receiver on the Eagles, not a very promising figure given how exceptional his quarterback has played as of late. This is one of the sits that fantasy owners will have to make at their discretion, but those who can afford to do so would do well to let Jeffery ride the pine this week.

Jonathan Stewart (RB, CAR)

The Carolina offensive gameplan looks to be trending in the wrong direction for Stewart, with rookie running back Christian McCaffrey playing on 70-percent of offensive snaps to Stewart's 42-percent to this point in 2017. Despite receiving the bulk of the team's rushing workload, he has yet to find pay-dirt since a receiving touchdown in Week 1 and hasn't put up outstanding yardage in that time (50.2 yards per game). An ankle injury he suffered in Week 5 could further serve to limit his reps and hinder his production, making J-Stew a tough sell on Thursday night against a stout Eagles front-seven.

Other Notable Sits: Wendell Smallwood (RB, PHI), Ed Dickson (TE, CAR)

 

Solid Options/Sleepers

Which Players Will Have Solid Games and Which Could Surprise?

Solid Option: Carson Wentz (QB, PHI)

The keys to the Philadelphia offense were handed over to Wentz last week against Arizona and he did not disappoint.  In a game in which he threw for over 300 yards and four touchdowns, Wentz showed off his deep ball proficiency by completing 59-yard and 72-yard touchdown passes to wideouts Torrey Smith and Nelson Agholor respectively. His current QB6 ranking is emblematic of a near every week starter, but the lack of a truly proficient run game could prove to be especially problematic against Carolina's stingy defense. Certainly, don't expect a repeat of Week 6's performance from Wentz.

Solid Option: Devin Funchess (WR, CAR)

Funchess has led the Carolina receiving core in targets over the last three games, suggesting quarterback Cam Newton is getting a lot more comfortable with throwing to the 6'4, 225 lb wideout when the ground game becomes a liability. With Benjamin drawing the tougher coverage matchups, it looks as if Funchess is here to stay as a hot fantasy commodity for another few weeks while tight end Greg Olsen returns to full health.

Sleeper: Christian McCaffrey (RB, CAR)

Many McCaffrey owners have realized by this point that the Stanford product is equating more to an RB-2/flex option than a week-in, week-out starter. Although he provides an added dimension to the offense as a whole, he simply doesn't have enough volume (especially outside of PPR formats) to be a fantasy stud. In a matchup with Philadelphia's second-ranked run defense, I would expect McCaffrey to out-touch teammate Jonathan Stewart when Carolina needs a spark to the offense and produce a respectable performance through the air at a minimum.

Other Notable Sleepers: Nelson Agholor (WR, PHI)

 

More Week 6 Lineup Prep




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

Cincinnati Bengals

Shemar Stewart, Bengals Continue Contract Talks, No Progress Made
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Potential Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade may not Happen Until "August, September"
Ha-Seong Kim

Removed Early During Season Debut
ARI

Christian Fischer Retires From NHL at 28
NHL

Spencer Martin Moves to Russia
WAS

Anthony Beauvillier Re-Signs With Capitals for Two Years
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Sitting Out With Foot Issue
Isaiah Neyor

Impresses at Minicamp
Houston Rockets

Jock Landale Waived by Rockets
Bo Bichette

Back in Blue Jays Lineup
Jonas Valančiūnas

Jonas Valanciunas Considering Returning to Europe
Miles Sanders

Works With Starters During Mandatory Minicamp
Jabari Walker

Signs Two-Way Deal With Sixers
Chimere Dike

Titans Could Move Chimere Dike Inside
Keandre Lambert-Smith

KeAndre Lambert-Smith not Guaranteed Roster Spot
Anthony Bradford

Working Hard to Win Back Starting Job
Byron Young

Still Improving?
Cody Simon

Jonathan Gannon has Been Impressed With Cody Simon
SirVocea Dennis

has Impressive Offseason
Trevor Penning

Could Still Have a Role in New Orleans
Jonathan Kuminga

Warriors Decline Recent Offer for Jonathan Kuminga
Orlando Magic

Moritz Wagner, Magic Agree to One-Year Deal
Clarke Schmidt

Placed on Injured List
José Soriano

Jose Soriano Throws Gem Against Braves
Robbie Ray

Earns Ninth Win in Complete Game
T.J. Watt

Likely to Reset the Edge-Rush Market
George Springer

Blasts Two Homers, Drives in Four
James Wood

Goes Yard in Five-Hit Night
Bradley Beal

Suns Discussing Potential Buyout
Los Angeles Lakers

Jaxson Hayes Staying with the Lakers
NBA

Damian Lillard "Open" to Signing With a Team This Offseason
Max Muncy

Out at Least Six Weeks
Clarke Schmidt

Leaves Start with Forearm Tightness
Colson Montgomery

Promoted to the Major Leagues
Pittsburgh Steelers

Omar Khan, Steelers Agree to Three-Year Contract
Max Muncy

Goes on Injured List With Knee Bruise
Max Muncy

Out of Thursday's Lineup
James Wood

Joining Home Run Derby
SJ

Sharks Claim Nick Leddy Off Waivers
Max Scherzer

Cleared to Start on Saturday
SJ

Sharks Sign Dmitry Orlov to Two-Year, $13 Million Contract
CAR

Nikolaj Ehlers Joins Hurricanes on Six-Year Contract
Kodai Senga

Could be "in Play" to Return Before All-Star Break
Ha-Seong Kim

Rays Reinstate Ha-Seong Kim From Injured List
Christian Moore

Placed on Injured List With Thumb Sprain
Luis L. Ortiz

the Subject of Gambling Investigation
Jordan Lawlar

to Miss Multiple Weeks With Hamstring Injury
Yordan Alvarez

Receives Encouraging News on his Hand
Chau Smith-Wade

Having Stellar Offseason
Ace Bailey

Inks Rookie Contract With Jazz
Divine Deablo

Could be the Quarterback of the Defense
Isaiah Rodgers

a Likely Starter for the Vikings
Jacob Monk

Sees Plenty of Work With Starters
Avonte Maddox

has Impressed Dan Campbell
Boston Celtics

Josh Minott Inks Deal With Celtics
Chicago Bears

Ruben Hyppolite Shows Notable Improvement
Sandro Mamukelashvili

Heading to Toronto
Daron Payne

Commanders Coaches Impressed With Daron Payne
Danny Gray

Makes Impression During Offseason Workouts
Jared McCain

Not on 76ers Summer League Roster
Dane Belton

Should Have a Role in 2025
Dylan Harper

Unavailable for California Classic
COL

Brent Burns Inks One-Year Deal with Avalanche
STL

Blues Land Pius Suter on Two-Year Deal
Morgan Frost

Agrees to Two-Year Extension with Flames
WPG

Gustav Nyquist Moves to Winnipeg
Cody Glass

Devils Re-Sign Cody Glass to Two-Year Deal
PIT

Anthony Mantha Joins Penguins
Cleveland Cavaliers

Larry Nance Jr. Headed Back to Cavaliers
Eric Gordon

Remaining with 76ers
Los Angeles Lakers

Deandre Ayton Joining Lakers
Emil Heineman

Signs Two-Year Deal with Islanders
Simon Holmstrom

Re-Signs with Islanders for Two Years
UTA

Nate Schmidt Signs Three-Year Deal with Mammoth
UTA

Brandon Tanev Moves to Utah on Three-Year Contract
NJ

Evgenii Dadonov Joins Devils on One-Year Deal
BUF

Sabres Snap Up Alex Lyon on Two-Year Contract
Dallas Mavericks

Dante Exum Returning to Dallas
Ryan McLeod

Inks Four-Year Extension with Sabres
NAS

Predators Bring in Nick Perbix on Two-Year Deal
Jaren Jackson Jr.

Has Surgery to Repair a Turf Toe Injury
LA

Cody Ceci Moves to Los Angeles
Charlotte Hornets

Spencer Dinwiddie Lands With Charlotte
Bud Cauley

in Great Form Ahead of John Deere Classic
Christiaan Bezuidenhout

a Player to Avoid at John Deere Classic
Jake Knapp

Riding Momentum Ahead of John Deere Classic
PGA

Sungjae Im Looking for Consistency at John Deere Classic
Ryan Gerard

a Solid Option at John Deere Classic
Rickie Fowler

Looking to Rebound at John Deere Classic
Cameron Champ

a Volatile Option at John Deere Classic
Jackson Suber

Staying Below 70 is Key to Success for Jackson Suber
Kevin Roy

Playing Better Heading into John Deere Classic
Justin Lower

Hoping for Something Positive in Illinois
Ben Kohles

a Long Shot at John Deere Classic
Stephan Jaeger

Attempts to Stop Roller-Coaster Ride
Beau Hossler

Needs a Challenge in Illinois
Harry Higgs

Has Potential at John Deere Classic
Nick Dunlap

Keeps Plugging Through Tough 2025 Season
Milwaukee Bucks

Taurean Prince Staying in Milwaukee
Kevin Yu

a Near Must-Play at TPC Deere Run
PGA

J.T. Poston Returns to John Deere Classic Looking for Another High Finish
Thriston Lawrence

a Decent Fit For John Deere Classic
Tom Kim

Not Finding Much to be Happy About Ahead of John Deere Classic
Si Woo Kim

is a Prohibitive Fade at John Deere Classic
Ben Griffin

is the Appropriate Favorite at TPC Deere Run
Daniel Suarez

and Trackhouse Racing Parting Ways After 2025 Season
Ilia Topuria

Becomes The New Lightweight Champion
Charles Oliveira

Knocked Out At UFC 317
Kai Kara-France

Alexandre Pantoja Submits Kai Kara-France
Kai Kara-France

Submitted At UFC 317
Joshua Van

Extends His Win Streak
Brandon Royval

Drops Decision
Renato Moicano

Loses Back-To-Back Fights
Beneil Dariush

Gets Back In The Win Column
Felipe Lima

Suffers His First UFC Loss
Payton Talbott

Bounces Back
Alex Bowman

Competitive Run Ends With Third-Place Finish at Atlanta
Erik Jones

Secures A Top-Five Finish After Adversity In Atlanta
Tyler Reddick

Collects A New Career-Best Finish At Atlanta
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF