Fantasy FanHouse

Never Too Early: Carolina Panthers Fantasy Football Preview

Will Brinson — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 07:00:00 EST

Filed under: Panthers, NFC South, Carolina, Fantasy Football

Hear that? It's the pitter-patter of fantasy football season approaching. Fantasy FanHouse is here to get you ready by previewing every team from a fantasy perspective.

Meet the ...
Super Bowl Champions. Look, people can claim they're not homers all day long, but the fact of the matter is, I read/watch/write re: the Panthers a lot. (Well, as often as I can anyway.) And maybe I'm a little biased, but they're going to win the NFC South this year and they're going to do it by scoring a ton of points. Of course, if Jake Delhomme goes down again, I may look stupid. But it wouldn't be the first time.

The Breakout
The bad news? Jonathan Stewart is already getting a lot of preseason love (check him dead center of the sixth round in an average 12 teamer). The good news? The love is warranted. Stewart was thought to be a top choice of plenty of teams in the draft, but a turf toe injury let him hang around for the Cats. Note that the Carolina team doctor performed his surgery

The Bust
Honestly, I don't see one on the depth chart ... assuming that Delhomme stays healthy. (DeAngelo Williams would qualify, but he's getting drafted later than Stewart). Which means I have to pick the highest rated guy and assume that the worst could happen. And that makes Steve Smith a bust candidate; without Delhomme, he is a substantially worse option at WR1, considering what you have to pay for him. (Note that I'd still draft him, but it has to be noted.)

The Depth Chart
QB -- Jake Delhomme
RB1 -- DeAngelo Williams
RB2 -- Jonathan Stewart
WR1 -- Steve Smith
WR2 -- D.J. Hackett
WR 3 -- Mushin Muhammad
TE -- Jeff King

The Team D/ST
The once ridiculous defensive line is a lot thinner than in years, with Julius Peppers being the only holdover. But the additions of Landon Johnson and Terrence Holt are going to help shore up the linebackers and secondary. The Cats aren't the early round D/ST they once were but a nice later round alternative to overpaying.

The Skinny
The Panthers are going to be heavily undervalued in fantasy drafts; Delhomme is going to be an unbelievable steal in the 10th round (or thereabouts) while Hackett is a nice later round steal as well. King provides decent value as a low end TE2 and both Williams and Stewart will have RB value in leagues, particularly the latter. In other words, you want to target the Cats in your draft and let the haters play on without them.

Never Too Early: Carolina Panthers Fantasy Football Preview originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Mon, 07 Jul 2008 07:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Spin: Panthers Spice Draft Up By Taking Jonathan Stewart

Will Brinson — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 16:45:00 EST

Filed under: Panthers, NFC South, NFL Draft, Carolina, Fantasy Football

Fantasy FanHouse will be chiming in throughout the NFL draft with fantasy analysis of each fantasy relevant pick.

This was not what a lot of people thought would happen. I think Ryan Clady was the pick if the Broncos hadn't grabbed him, but Fox and Hurney probably didn't like Otah enough to pull the trigger there. This is also a deep draft for offensive linemen, so that taking Rashard Mendenhall or Jonathan Stewart here wouldn't be out of the question. Unlike, say, taking a quarterback, as many of the draft "experts" seemed to think the Cats might do.

From a fantasy perspective, Stewart is going to be huge sleeper material. Most owners are going to assume -- barring a training camp/pre-season that sees Stewart win the starting job -- that DeAngelo Williams will be the go to guy in Charlotte and a beasty RB2 for fantasy leagues. I don't think it's that simple.

In fact, I think Stewart may end up being the most valuable back out of the two. Stewart is a big, bruising runner who dropped because of issues with turf toe. And if you recall the Panthers teams of a few years ago, with Stephen Davis, you will remember that John Fox absolutely loves to pound the rock. DeShaun Foster and Williams did not allow him to do that. Stewart will.
Keeper leagues should jump all over this guy; he seems to me to be the second best option out there as of right now, immediately behind Darren McFadden (who simply doesn't have to compete with anyone else right now.)

Single season leagues will want to plan on taking a flier on Stewart in the later rounds. I would think, based on Williams' status as starter, that Stewart will be cheap come draft day. But given the first rounder success that Panthers front office has had in recent years coupled with Fox's choice of running style, he may end up being a worthy RB2, or worst case a lower end flex option.

Fantasy Spin: Panthers Spice Draft Up By Taking Jonathan Stewart originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Sat, 26 Apr 2008 16:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsonov Back From the Dead

Jes Golbez — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 15:10:00 EST

Filed under: Carolina, General NHL, Hurricanes, Fantasy Hockey

When the Chicago Blackhawks, a team that doesn't ooze offensive depth from its pores, put the enigmatic Sergei Samsonov on waivers in December, most of us thought that it was the end for the little Russian. He had his last chance, and blew it.
Sammy appeared to care little about doing much other than whining and pouting, despite the fact that given every opportunity to succeed during his brief tenure in the Windy City. Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, and Robert Lang had no problems scoring, but Samsonov certainly did.

Who would really want to take a chance on a whiny, me-first player who put up just 4 points in 23 games? The Carolina Hurricanes, apparently, who took Samsonov on waivers, and made a lot of fans scratch their heads.

Whatever magic tonic Peter Laviolette has been giving Sergei could make a mint on eBay. Somehow, some way, the Canes' head coach has coaxed 24 points and +11 in 27 games out of the little bugger.

Frankly, I am quite amazed and shocked. Even with Samsonov's skill set, there was nothing to suggest that there was something left in the tank. It's not just the production that has suddenly reappeared, but the passion for the game and the willingness to work hard. For whatever reason, Samsonov didn't care much about winning when he was with the Habs or Hawks, but is now working his buns off to backcheck, forecheck, hipcheck, bodycheck, cross-check, and produce offensively.

Just think ... it could very well be Sergei Samsonov, of all people, that turns out to be the best in-season transaction in the NHL for this campaign. With Justin Williams and Rod Brind'Amour lost to injury, Samsonov may very well be the reason why Canes win their division.

Samsonov Back From the Dead originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Mon, 10 Mar 2008 15:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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