WR Kelvin Benjamin - Carolina Panthers
| 6-5, 240 | Born: 2-5-1991 | College: Florida State | Drafted: Round 1, pick 28 |
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Benjamin left the Week 3 game with a knee injury and will not return.
News you need to know
General News (Fri Sep 22): practiced fully on Friday and is not on the team's injury report. He will play this week.
General News (Thu Sep 21): practiced fully on Thursday.
General News (Wed Sep 20): did not practice on Wednesday.
Week 3: vs New Orleans Saints
FBG says: Great matchup. Following offseason shoulder surgery, Cam Newton isn't quite himself right now. His numbers are generally in line with the rest of his career, but he's simply not throwing the ball well despite an overhaul of supporting talent. Newton has never been a particularly accurate passer, but he's missed on numerous key throws thus far, including badly missing would-be touchdowns in back-to-back weeks. The bad news grew far worse on Monday, when Greg Olsen was diagnosed with a broken foot that will sideline him for at least six to eight weeks. Considering the shaky state of the Panthers' offensive line - he was sacked six times in Week 2 - we're seeing a bit of a perfect storm working against his fantasy value. Expect to see further reliance upon Benjamin for contested catches, as well as expanded usage for rookie back Christian McCaffrey out of the backfield. There's plenty of dynamism there to be had, especially against the Saints' barely-there defense, but Newton simply doesn't look healthy and confident enough to snatch it right now. At least he has history on his side. Over his 4 meetings with the Saints under defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, Newton has averaged 290.0 yards and 2.5 touchdowns through the air, with 29.8 standard fantasy points. Cam Newton is struggling, but there's little better medicine in the NFL than a date with the Saints "defense." The unit is predictably shallow and weak down the field, ceding deep balls and wide-open intermediate completions everywhere. Through 2 games, they've surrendered the most yards (388.5 per game) and net yards (10.5 per attempt) in the league, as well as the second-most touchdowns (6). Simply put, there's nothing about this matchup not to like. Their poor deep-ball defense projects especially poorly against Newton's powerful downfield arm - thus far, opponents have completed an eye-popping 13 of 15 deep balls against them. Newton is no guarantee to scorch them, especially in his current state. But there's no better time for him to get on track.
Recent Stats and Projections
| WEEK | OPP | oSNAP | RSH | YD | TD | TARG | REC | YD | TD | FumL | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | at SF | 43 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 2.5 | |
| 2 | vs BUF | 43 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 6 | 77 | 0 | 0 | 7.7 | |
| 3 | vs NO | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0.8 | |
| 3 | vs NO | PROJ-Dodds | * | 0 | * | * | 5 | * | * | * | * | |
| 3 | vs NO | PROJ-Tremblay | * | 0 | * | * | 5 | * | * | * | * | |
| 3 | vs NO | PROJ-Bloom | * | 0 | * | * | 5 | * | * | * | * |
Recent Game Summaries
2017 Week 2 vs BUF (8 / 6 / 77 / 0 rec)
The apple of Cam Newton's eye, Kelvin Benjamin victimised Buffalo defensive backs at times as he used his brawn and strength to get open. Benjamin consistently won in contested catch situations and bullied defensive backs at the stem of his route, boxing them out to give his quarterback easy throws. Benjamin looked strong after the catch, dragging tacklers and refusing to go down on first contact. He was unlucky to have the ball jarred loose on an early red zone target; the defensive back drilled him in the back just as he was securing the football in two hands. He used his veteran savvy to exploit holes in the Buffalo zone at times, with Newton obliging. A second red zone target resulted in defensive pass interference, with the defensive back blocking Benjamin's route. The passing game went through Benjamin all day.
2017 Week 1 vs SF (5 / 1 / 25 / 0 rec)
A lack of rhythm in the passing game had a direct effect on Kelvin Benjamin in the early stages. Always a trusted target of his quarterback, Benjamin found it tough to establish any kind of separation against a well marshalled 49ers defense. Cam Newton was almost baited into an interception on a quick slant to Benjamin. Linebacker Reuben Foster read the quarterback's intentions and buzzed underneath the throw, but was unable to come up with it. The Panthers continued to line Benjamin up in stacked alignments to avoid him facing press coverage, but this did not have the desired impact. Subsequent targets on a shallow crossing route and on a sideline pattern were both incomplete. Newton finally let loose and targeted Benjamin on a deep pattern, but an excellent interception by a 49ers safety put paid to any potential big play. The ball was slightly underthrown, forcing Benjamin to reach back for it. The big receiver made a nice catch on a skinny post route late in the game, but this will be a clash he remembers more for missed opportunities than anything else.
Latest News
Panthers | Kelvin Benjamin appears to be fine (Sun Sep 24, 06:32 PM) - Updating a previous report, Carolina Panthers WR Kelvin Benjamin (knee) did not suffered a major injury, based on early indications, a source said Sunday, Sept. 24. Our View: If he can be ready to play for next week's game against the Patriots, he'll be a decent boom/bust WR3/Flex considering the number of points New England has given up this year.link to story Panthers | Kelvin Benjamin nearly invisible (Sun Sep 24, 04:38 PM) - Carolina Panthers WR Kelvin Benjamin posted just two catches for eight yards on his only two targets in Week 3 against New Orleans. Our View: Benjamin left early with a knee injury and didn't return. He was set up for a big day against the Saints secondary, but even if he can play against the Patriots next week, Benjamin will be a risky play with Cam Newton's struggles throwing downfield.
link to story Panthers | Kelvin Benjamin will not return (Sun Sep 24, 02:51 PM) - Updating a previous report, Carolina Panthers WR Kelvin Benjamin (knee) will not return to the team's Week 3 game. link to story Panthers | Kelvin Benjamin injures knee (Sun Sep 24, 02:03 PM) - Carolina Panthers WR Kelvin Benjamin (knee) suffered a knee injury in Week 3 and is considered questionable to return. Our View: Benjamin's knee was bent awkwardly and he labored as he left the field. Devin Funchess is the team's #1 receiver now.
link to story Panthers | Week 3 injury report for Carolina (Fri Sep 22, 03:03 PM) - Carolina Panthers LB Jeremy Cash (calf) and C Ryan Kalil (neck) did not practice Friday, Sept. 22, and have been ruled out for Week 3 against the New Orleans Saints. QB Cam Newton (shoulder, ankle) took part in a limited practice for a third straight day and is listed as questionable. WR Kelvin Benjamin (knee), DT Vernon Butler (shoulder), LB Thomas Davis (rest), DE Charles Johnson (rest), DE Julius Peppers (rest), RB Jonathan Stewart (rest) and CB Daryl Worley (knee) all participated fully in practice and have been removed from the injury report. link to story More News
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Schedule
| 3 | vs New Orleans Saints |
| 4 | @ New England Patriots |
| 5 | @ Detroit Lions |
| 6 | vs Philadelphia Eagles |
| 7 | @ Chicago Bears |
| 8 | @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| 9 | vs Atlanta Falcons |
| 10 | vs Miami Dolphins |
| 11 | --- BYE WEEK --- |
| 12 | @ New York Jets |
| 13 | @ New Orleans Saints |
| 14 | vs Minnesota Vikings |
| 15 | vs Green Bay Packers |
| 16 | vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| 17 | @ Atlanta Falcons |
