Redskins Vs. Panthers: Cam Newton Leads Panthers To 33-20 Win

Cam Newton was kind of a wildcard heading into his rookie season in the NFL, but the quarterback of the Carolina Panthers has lived up to -- and maybe even surpassed -- all expectations through the first seven weeks of the NFL season.

Newton continued to show the moxie that made his the Panthers No. 1 pick in the most recent NFL Draft on Sunday as he completed 18 of his 23 passing attempts for 256 yards and a touchdown and carried the ball 10 for 59 yards and an additional touchdown to lead Carolina to a 33-20 victory over the Washington Redskins.

Newton is also on his way to setting records. His seven rushing touchdowns has tied Vince Young as quarterbacks with the most rushing touchdowns in their rookie season -- and Newton has nine games left in his rookie season. Along with that, Newton already held the record most passing yards as a rookie when he threw for 422 yards in his debut before topping himself with 432 yards through the air the following week.

Those that have watched Newton the most during his professional career think Newton might be able to get even better, too, according to the experts at SB Nation's Cat Scratch Reader.

It isn't often that a rookie quarterback can step into the NFL and perform from Day 1, but that's exactly what Newton's been able to do. If the Panthers are able to put together their first win streak of the season with a victory over the Minnesota Vikings next week, expect quite a bit more Newton hype heading into the Panthers' bye week.

And, if the first few weeks of Newton's play is any indication, the hype might just be worth it.

There weren't very many receiving yards up for grabs with Steve Smith piling up 143 of Cam Newton's 256 passing yards for himself. But Jeremy Shockey still managed some stats for fantasy by grabbing four catches for 32 receiving yards.

That's a bit below average for the Panthers tight end. Shockey was averaging 43 receiving yards a game with 259 receiving yards on the season and 0 touchdowns through his first six games of the 2011 NFL season. Shockey's yards per game is up nearly 15 yards per game from last year.

Shockey was not ranked by Yahoo! heading into Week 7 taking on the Washington Redskins who rank 9th against the pass.

For more on Shockey and his matchup with the Redskins, check out SB Nation's Panthers blog, Cat Scratch Reader, and our Redskins blog, Hogs Haven. For more on fantasy football, check out Fake Teams. Follow @sbnationfantasy on Twitter.

James Stewart carried the ball 14 times, the heaviest workload he's received this season. He turned that fantasy football opportunity into 68 yards and a touchdown that he ran in from two yards out.

In Carolina, Stewart shares the football with backfield mates DeAngelo Williams and quarterback Cam Newton, who each rushed 10 times on Sunday. Newton scored a rushing touchdown as well, taking the ball in from the 16-yard-line.

Stewart has shared responsibilities and carries with DeAngelo Williams in Carolina, and hasn't had more than 14 touches in a game this year. He also hasn't had more than 59 rushing yards so far in 2011, but did snare eight passes for 100 yards in Week 2 against the Packers. Stewart's lone touchdown came in Week 6 against the Falcons.

For more on the Panthers, check out Cat Scratch Reader. For more on fantasy football, check out Fake Teams and SB Nation's fantasy football hub, and follow @sbnationfantasy on Twitter for up-to-the-minute updates and advice.

Not much to report regarding Greg Olsen's fantasy impact. Olsen put up his worst stats of the season, catching just one pass for four yards. Olsen has now gone two straight games without catching a touchdown after hauling in a score in three consecutive weeks prior.

Olsen was averaging 47 receiving yards a game with 282 receiving yards on the season and 3 touchdowns through his first six games of the 2011 NFL season. Olsen's yards per game is up nearly 20 yards per game from last year.

Olsen was ranked by Yahoo! as the 10th ranked tight end heading into Week 7 taking on the Washington Redskins who rank 9th against the pass.

For more on Olsen and his matchup with the Redskins, check out SB Nation's Panthers blog, Cat Scratch Reader, and our Redskins blog, Hogs Haven. For more on fantasy football, check out Fake Teams. Follow @sbnationfantasy on Twitter.

Fred Davis is looking like a favorite of new Redskins starting quarterback John Beck. Davis caught a team-high eight passes on Sunday for 80 yards and a touchdown. Davis' stats benefitted from the absence of Washington's top receiver, Santana Moss, who left the game in the first half with a left hand injury.

Davis was averaging 68 receiving yards a game with 343 receiving yards on the season and 1 touchdown through his first six games of the 2011 NFL season. Davis' yards per game is up nearly 50 yards from last season.

Davis was ranked by Yahoo! as the 7th ranked tight end heading into Week 7 taking on the Carolina Panthers.

For more on Moss and his matchup with the Panthers, check out SB Nation's Panthers blog, Cat Scratch Reader, and our Redskins blog, Hogs Haven. For more on fantasy football, check out Fake Teams. Follow @sbnationfantasy on Twitter.

Ryan Torain carried the ball just two times for -5 yards. That is not good, at all. The good news (if you can call it that) for Torain -- and fantasy owners with interest in the Redskins running back -- is that fellow Redskins running back Tim Hightower went down with a leg injury in the second half. That means there could be more carries for Torain in the future.

Torain's played very little in 2011, appearing in just two games and none of Washington's first three outings, but he had one of the finest days by a running back this season in Week 4. Torain rushed for 135 yards and a touchdown on just 19 carries against the Rams in a 17-10 Redskins win.

For more on the Redskins, check out Hogs Haven. For more on fantasy football, check out Fake Teams and SB Nation's fantasy football hub, and follow @sbnationfantasy on Twitter for up-to-the-minute updates and advice.

Another game, another 10 carries for DeAngelo Williams. The backfield is crowded in Carolina with Jonathan Stewart and now Cam Newton getting carries as well. Williams went for just 35 yards and did not score a touchdown. In the red zone, the Panthers called on Stewart and Newton, who each finished with one rushing touchdown.

Williams has had success in 2011 despite being used sparingly, averaging over five yards per carry. He's yet to get more than 12 carries in a game, but had 115 yards and a touchdown on nine carries against the Saints and 82 yards on 12 carries against the Bears' stout defense. Those are his only two outings of more than 44 yards this season, though.

For more on the Panthers, check out Cat Scratch Reader. For more on fantasy football, check out Fake Teams and SB Nation's fantasy football hub, and follow @sbnationfantasy on Twitter for up-to-the-minute updates and advice.

Tim Hightower suffered an injury in the second half, sending the Redskins running back to the locker room and hurting his fantasy stats for this week and making his value uncertain going forward.

Before leaving the game, Hightower was an integral part of the offense, racking up 88 yards on 17 carries and he could have been looking at a strong day. Instead, Ryan Torain and Roy Helu took over in the backfield in the Redskins loss. Washington's lone rushing touchdown came from quarterback John Beck. 

Hightower began the 2011 season on a high note before injuries slowed him. He ran for 72 yards and a touchdown in Week 1, then 96 yards in Week 2. Since then, he's accumulated just 65 yards, and missed Washington's Week 6 loss to the Eagles.

For more on the Redskins, check out Hogs Haven. For more on fantasy football, check out Fake Teams and SB Nation's fantasy football hub, and follow @sbnationfantasy on Twitter for up-to-the-minute updates and advice.

Cam Newton kept looking to Steve Smith and the Panthers wide receiver returned the favor by delivering catch after catch. Smith hauled in seven passes for 143 yards. Smith did everything but get in the end zone for a decent fantasy football day for his owners. The Panthers ran an end-around for Smith but he was only able to gain six rushing yards on the play.

Newton's arrival in Carolina has renewed Smith's value as a fantasy option. He's got three games of over 156 yards this year, and three touchdown catches. But the Panthers' lack of another threat in the passing game means that teams can lock down on Smith, and he's had to settle for being a home run threat more often than not.

For more on the Panthers, check out Cat Scratch Reader. For more on fantasy football, check out Fake Teams and SB Nation's fantasy football hub, and follow @sbnationfantasy on Twitter for up-to-the-minute updates and advice.

Redskins running back Tim Hightower had to be helped off the field following a leg injury in the third quarter vs. the Panthers on Sunday. Hightower appeared to hurt his left knee while cutting back on a run.

The Redskins will replace Hightower with Ryan Torain. The pair has split carries in the backfield this season for Mike Shanahan.

Here's more background from SB Nation DC's Mike Prada:

Hightower had been struggling with a shoulder injury this season, but he returned to have a strong game in this one before getting hurt. Hightower had already posted 88 rushing yards in this game, reclaiming the starting job he lost when he got hurt. However, two players needed to help Hightower off the field, so the injury appears serious. It happened when his knee buckled while trying to make a cutback run.

Cam Newton continues to make plays with his feet. This Cam Newton video made the highlight-reel in the first half when the Panthers quarterback ran all over and around hapless Redskins defenders.

On the Panthers first drive of the second half, Cam Newton scored a rushing touchdown, his seventh of the season. That number ties Newton with Vince Young for most rushing touchdowns by a rookie quarterback. It was his his fifth rushing in the last five games.

This run isn't as flashy, but it was worth six points. Watch Newton high-step his way into the end zone in the video below:

UPDATE -- Good news for fantasy football owners: Cam Newton scored a rushing touchdown on the Panthers opening drive of the first half.

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Panthers quarterback Cam Newton is making plays with his arm and his legs in the first half vs. the Redskins on Sunday. Newton's fantasy stats include 100+ yards passing and 34 rushing yards so far.

He does not have a touchdown (rushing or passing) yet, but he knocked on the doorstep in the first half, scrambling on 3rd-and-goal, but getting stopped short. But fantasy football owners can be glad that Newton has not turned the ball over yet either.

Newton was averaging 308 passing yards a game with 1,847 passing yards on the season and 7 touchdowns through his first six games of the 2011 NFL season. Newton also has 6 rushing touchdowns.

Newton was ranked by Yahoo! as the 3rd ranked quarterback heading into Week 7 taking on the Washington Redskins who rank 9th against the pass.

For more on Newton and his matchup with the Redskins, check out SB Nation's Panthers blog, Cat Scratch Reader, and our Redskins blog, Hogs Haven. For more on fantasy football, check out Fake Teams. Follow @sbnationfantasy on Twitter.

It's a bad day for Santana Moss and his fantasy football owners. The Redskins receivers left the field with a left hand injury in the first half and is not expected to return to the game. In limited action, Moss' stats: two catches for 17 yards and no touchdowns.

It's unclear at this point how much time Moss will have to miss.

Moss was averaging 57 receiving yards a game with 284 receiving yards on the season and 2 touchdowns through his first six games of the 2011 NFL season. Moss' yards per game is down nearly 10 yards from last season.

Moss was ranked by Yahoo! as the 21st ranked wide receiver heading into Week 7 taking on the Carolina Panthers.

For more on Moss and his matchup with the Panthers, check out SB Nation's Panthers blog, Cat Scratch Reader, and our Redskins blog, Hogs Haven. For more on fantasy football, check out Fake Teams. Follow @sbnationfantasy on Twitter.

Usually, NFL kickers are the ones taking crap from their teammates, the real football players (just ask Peyton Manning about "idiot kickers"). But Panthers kicker Olindo Mare is probably wondering if his bigger, stronger teammates could keep it together so he can do his job.

Mare gave Carolina a 6-3 lead against the Redskins on Sunday on his third consecutive made kick because the Panthers couldn't get out of their own way. First, Mare hit a 30-yarder, but a holding call brought it back. Then he hit a 40-yarder, but Carolina was whistled for a false start. Line it up again!

Finally, Mare split the uprights from 45 yards out ... and the play stood. Here's the video:

On the ensuing possession, the Redskins drove down the field to tie the game 6-6. Graham Gano only needed on attempt to make the field goal.

UPDATE: Redskins wide receiver Santana Moss is out for the game vs. the Panthers in Carolina. Moss injured his left hand in the first half. News via The Washington Post's Mike Jones:

More details below.

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Washington Redskins wide receiver Santana Moss has a left hand injury and his return is questionable, according to the Redskins official Twitter feed.

Moss was looked at by trainers on the sideline before heading to the locker room. He returned to the sidelines to join his teammates, but has not entered the game. The Washington Post's Rick Maese has more details from the stadium via Twitter:

I can see Moss on the sidelines, and his left hand is heavily wrapped right now. Moss does not have his helmet and won't be coming in for this drive. If we see him again, it prob wont be til second half.

Moss entered the game with the most catches and third-most receiving yards on the team this season. The absence of Moss hurts quarterback John Beck, who is starting his first game of the season for Washington. He will have to look to Jabar Gaffney and tight end Fred Davis to pick up the slack.

Cam Newton is just a rookie, but he's already one of the most electric players in the NFL. On Sunday vs. the Redskins, the Panthers quarterback flashed brilliance in the first quarter and could be on his way to a nice day for fantasy football stats.

In the video below, Newton picks up 25 yards on a ridiculous scramble -- dodging a sack, traversing the field, and shrugging off would-be tacklers in one absurd highlight. Words can't do it justice so watch for yourself.

The run set up a scoring drive that resulted for a field goal, and an early 3-0 lead for the Panthers. Carolina (1-5) is searching for a win against the Redskins.

Newton is averaging 307 passing yards and 34.5 rushing yards per game. His six rushing touchdowns are already just one behind Vince Young for most running TDs by a rookie quarterback in a season. This week, Newton is actually the more seasoned quarterback on the field. The Redskins are breaking in John Beck at quarterback, his first start this season.

For more on this matchup, check out our Panthers blog Cat Scratch Fever and our Redskins blog, Hogs Haven. And get the all the highlights on Sunday from our comprehensive NFL Week 7 StoryStream.