Carolina Panthers - Fantasy News

Who to Start: Jarvis Landry or Devin Funchess?

by Mike Rose

11/11/17

NFL

Carolina Panthers

Devin Funchess

A meaningful matchup is set to go down at Bank of America Stadium on Monday Night Football when the Carolina Panthers welcome the Miami Dolphins into town for the first time since 2013.

These two teams have only played five previous times with the Dolphins winning four of the five meetings and the Panthers claiming the last one. Both Miami’s Jarvis Landry and Carolina’s Devin Funchess were still lighting up college defenses then. This time around, they both hope to put on a show in front of a nationally televised audience.

Fantasy Matchup: Jarvis Landry (11.0 PFP) vs. Devin Funchess (9.5 PFP)

Landry has averaged 11.79 Dober Fantasy Points for the season, which is more than Funchess, so he enters as a 1.5-point favorite despite the former Michigan Wolverine having the benefit of Cam Newton throwing to him.

For the season, Landry has 56 receptions for 430 yards and four touchdowns. He’s averaged 7.7 yards per reception and is the No. 6 ranked wide receiver in fantasy football. He’s failed to reach the 100-yard plateau in 2017, but he has scored a touchdown in four of the last five weeks. The LSU product has been very consistent as he has hauled in at least five passes in every game.

Week 9 saw Landry reach a milestone as he passed star receiver Anquan Boldin for the most receptions through the first four seasons of a career with catch No. 343. He’ll be facing a Carolina defense that ranks No. 12 against fantasy pass catchers. The so-so Panthers secondary has also allowed 136.2 yards and 29.5 points per game to fantasy receivers.

Meanwhile, halfway through the year, Funchess has compiled 38 receptions for 443 yards and three touchdowns. As the trade deadline came and went, the Panthers shipped off former No. 1 wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin to the Buffalo Bills. In turn, this has paved the way for Funchess to become the team’s go-to guy. He’s also the top red zone weapon for Newton because he is such a big target.

The No. 25 receiver in fantasy has been on fire in Carolina’s wins. He’s recorded all three touchdowns as well as 308 receiving yards in Panthers victories. In the losses, he has not had a single score. He’ll need to be a big part of the offense on Monday night in this Dober player matchup with Landry.

It may be a tall task, though, against a Dolphins defense that has been a stingy No. 10 against opposing pass catchers. The Fins have allowed 135.3 yards per game while giving up the 10th fewest points per game to receivers (28.7) in fantasy.

Landry has been on a roll the majority of the last five weeks, while Funchess showed signs last week that he could become the new No. 1 receiver in the Carolina offense. Right now, though, go with the hot hand when selecting players for your Dober Play Card. That hot hand belongs to Landry.

Week 10 Fantasy Projection: Jarvis Landry (-1.5) vs. Devin Funchess