The Worksheet, a comprehensive fantasy football preview by Rich Hribar, breaks down everything you need to know about the Week 16 matchup between the Panthers and Cardinals.
Find a breakdown of every Week 16 NFL game in our Worksheet Hub.
| Arizona | Rank | @ | Carolina | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| -4.0 | Spread | 4.0 | ||
| 25.5 | Implied Total | 21.5 | ||
| 22.4 | 15 | Points/Gm | 17.6 | 28 |
| 21.9 | 10 | Points All./Gm | 29.9 | 32 |
| 59.7 | 26 | Plays/Gm | 58.4 | 30 |
| 60.9 | 11 | Opp. Plays/Gm | 67.1 | 32 |
| 5.9 | 7 | Off. Yards/Play | 5.0 | 27 |
| 5.6 | 22 | Def. Yards/Play | 5.8 | 28 |
| 46.05% | 9 | Rush% | 40.51% | 24 |
| 53.95% | 24 | Pass% | 59.49% | 9 |
| 44.43% | 18 | Opp. Rush % | 51.65% | 32 |
| 55.57% | 15 | Opp. Pass % | 48.35% | 1 |
- Arizona is 5-0 against teams with a losing record compared to 2-7 against teams with a winning record.
- The Panthers have allowed a touchdown on 29.7% of opponent drives, the highest rate in the league.
- Carolina averages 97.3 fewer yards per game than their opponent, the worst differential in the league.
- The Panthers average 70.1 fewer rushing yards per game than their opponent, the worst differential in the league. The next closest team is at 38.5 fewer rushing yards per game.
- 16.4% of Arizona's running plays have gained 10 or more yards, the highest rate in the league.
- Opponents have converted a league-high 47.8% of their third downs against Carolina.
- Arizona has allowed opponents to convert 44.6% of their third downs, 30th in the league.
Trust = spike production for that player
Quarterback
Kyler Murray (TRUST): I can already feel the collective eyes roll here, but we must call it as it is.
Murray had his best fantasy season matchup since Week 2 on Sunday, but he only managed a QB22 (10.1 points) scoring week.
Now, he completed 76.7% of his passes (his third-highest rate in a game this season) for 7.5 yards per attempt (sixth highest), but he did not throw a touchdown pass.
Murray now has 1 or fewer touchdown passes in 11-of-14 games this season.
While the Kyler Coaster is still in full effect (he has six QB1 weeks with another six as QB21 or lower), this is objectively another excellent matchup.
Carolina has allowed multiple passing touchdowns in 10 games, the most in the league.
They just allowed 19.1 fantasy points to Cooper Rush and have allowed top-10 scoring weeks this season to Caleb Williams (23.6 points), Marcus Mariota (19.6 points), and Bo Nix (29.8 points) as part of their sample of ranking 31st in passing points allowed per attempt (0.521).
As was the case last week, I have more confidence in James Conner heads up versus the passing game, but this is another spot where, if you have Murray, you want to play him based on the layout.
Bryce Young: For as much goodwill as Young built up since returning to the lineup, we have not seen a clean overlap in fantasy results.
Young ended last week as QB18 (12.0 points), his fifth game as a QB2 over the seven weeks since he returned.
Young has single-digit passing points in four of his past six games while throwing multiple passing touchdowns in just one outing this season.
Arizona is not a scary matchup based on where Dallas created a lot of havoc for this passing game, but the Cardinals have done a good job in preventing spike weeks to passers, keeping Young as a floor-based QB2.
Young has been pressured on over 40% of his dropbacks the past three weeks and 40.2% since returning in Week 8.
Young has handled the pressure well, averaging 7.1 yards per pass attempt under pressure (7th) compared to 5.6 Y/A from a clean pocket (28th).
Arizona is 25th in pressure rate.
They also play a lot of zone coverage, executing a “bend but don’t break” game plan.
Arizona has allowed a 70.1% completion rate (31st) but 10.6 yards per completion (14th) with a 3.7% touchdown rate (10th).
Running Back
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More Week 16 Fantasy Breakdowns From The Worksheet:
| Matchup | Time |
|---|---|
| Broncos @ Chargers -- FREE | Thursday Night Football |
| Texans @ Chiefs -- FREE | Saturday -- 1 p.m. ET |
| Steelers @ Ravens -- FREE | Saturday -- 4:30 p.m. ET |
| Giants @ Falcons | Sunday -- 1 p.m. ET |
| Lions @ Bears | Sunday -- 1 p.m. ET |
| Browns @ Bengals | Sunday -- 1 p.m. ET |
| Titans @ Colts | Sunday -- 1 p.m. ET |
| Rams @ Jets | Sunday -- 1 p.m. ET |
| Eagles @ Commanders | Sunday -- 1 p.m. ET |
| Cardinals @ Panthers | Sunday -- 1 p.m. ET |
| Vikings @ Seahawks | Sunday -- 4:05 p.m. ET |
| Patriots @ Bills | Sunday -- 4:25 p.m. ET |
| Jaguars @ Raiders | Sunday -- 4:25 p.m. ET |
| 49ers @ Dolphins | Sunday -- 4:25 p.m. ET |
| Bucs @ Cowboys | Sunday Night Football |
| Saints @ Packers -- FREE | Monday Night Football |
