Kelvin Benjamin Injury: Fantasy Aftermath
Kelvin Benjamin’s injury hit the Carolina Panthers hard. For the second straight year, the team is looking to replace its leading receiver with most hope being placed on a rookie. The difference is that Devin Funchess does not quite the college resume that Benjamin did.
As hard as the Panthers were hit, your fantasy team might have been hit harder. Benjamin was a highly valued wide receiver on the Yahoo Draft Board, rating higher than Cam Newton in some cases. That means early drafters may already have been hit with dead weight on a high draft pick.
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For those of you who have not drafted yet, there is still time to adjust and look at the aftermath that has been created amongst other players’ value by Benjamin’s absence.
1. Cam Newton – QB – Value: Down
Newton will really have to dig around for options. He still would be a good fantasy quarterback to have because he might run more with fewer targets, but his production has to go down with his primary deep threat and circus catch guy out for the year.
2. Jonathan Stewart – RB – Value: Down
Teams may be more willing to go eight in the box if they do not believe the Panthers can beat them deep. That would drag down some of Stewart’s production. The silver lining is that his receiving yards as the dump off man may increase.
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3. Devin Funchess – WR – Value: Up
The Panthers have made no secret that they intend to try and plug Funchess into Benjamin’s spot and see what happens. From a size perspective this makes sense, but Funchess is an unproven commodity. He is going to see some passes.
4. Ted Ginn – WR – Value: Up
With Benjamin out, Ginn makes the most obvious deep option for quick strike scores.
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5. Greg Olsen – TE – Value: Up
Olsen is already the security blanket for Cam, and with Benjamin out he could see even more balls if Newton does not like his options down the field. Olsen was already a highly valued tight end in fantasy, he has only become more so.
6. Ed Dickson – TE – Value: Up
You won’t draft Dickson, but depending on how the season goes he might become a decent bye week play. Multiple tight end formations have been successful for the Panthers in the past and Dickson really came on at the end of last year.