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The Week 6 matchup between the Carolina Panthers and the New Orleans Saints features two division rivals just trying to stay afloat. We've got the fantasy projections courtesy of numberFire.
Carolina Panthers
Quarterback Derek Anderson simply couldn’t do enough to get the Panthers past the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 5. Fantasy owners of tight end Greg Olsen didn’t notice. The veteran set a franchise record for receiving yards in a game against the Bucs. He caught 9 of 13 targets for a career-high 181 receiving yards. It’s too bad one of those catches didn’t come in the end zone. A touchdown would have won the game. It remains to be seen whether Cam Newton will start in New Orleans, but it is clear Olsen will get his targets whether he or Anderson is calling the shots. That’s good news given this Week 6 contest could be a shootout.
Hopefully running back Cameron Artis-Payne can continue to contribute. With Fozzy Whittaker taking a clear backseat and Jonathan Stewart still working his way back from injury, Artis-Payne will continue to get a chance to make an impact in Week 6. He rushed for 85 yards and two touchdowns against the Buccaneers. He did it on 18 carries, which works out to 4.7 yards per carry. Not bad at all. The New Orleans Saints have given up the most fantasy points to running backs in the NFL this season. It looks like everything is going Artis-Payne’s way right now.
New Orleans Saints
Coming off a bye week, the Saints will look to build on a Week 4 victory in San Diego. Leading a mediocre team, there’s no question quarterback Drew Brees is going to be responsible for carrying his club against Carolina. Fortunately for Brees, the Panthers are no longer as intimidating defensively as they used to be. Brees is currently averaging 317 passing yards per game. If he can limit turnovers and find his receivers in the end zone, he might just flirt with 350 passing yards and a trio of scores in Week 6.
Hopefully some of his touchdown passes find their way into the hands of wide receiver Brandin Cooks. Cooks is arguably the team’s most talented pass catcher, but he hasn’t been the most productive. He has just 112 receiving yards in the last three weeks combined after opening the season with six catches for 143 yards and two touchdowns against the Oakland Raiders. He’s come crashing down lately, to say the least. Cooks has lacked consistency this season, but a home game against Carolina might be just what he needs to get going again.