This Saturday, the Carolina Panthers will face off against the Los Angeles Rams in the Wild Card Round. The Panthers, who claimed the NFC South title, ended the season with an 8-9 record. Meanwhile, the Rams wrapped up a solid 12-5, securing the second spot in the NFC West. Carolina struggled with a minus-69 point differential; on the other hand, the Rams boasted a plus-172. Currently, the Rams are favored by 10.5 points as they head into this contest. Interestingly, the Panthers previously managed to defeat the Rams 31-28 just six weeks ago, pulling off some remarkable fourth down plays. So, yeah, it’s possible they could surprise again. Despite the odds, my confidence in predicting this weekend’s playoff outcomes is, well, not high at all.
In their last meeting, both teams racked up significant fantasy points. The Rams saw Blake Collum and Kyren Williams average 7.2 yards per carry, each finding the end zone. In contrast, Bryce Young impressed by tossing three touchdowns to three different receivers on just 15 completions. However, as usual, the Panthers’ run defense lagged behind their pass defense. Stafford had a mixed day, managing only 243 yards, with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Carolina’s running backs combined for 35 carries and 141 yards without scoring. They really tried to support Young, who had a mere 20 passing attempts. Moving forward, I think they’ll focus on sustaining drives to ease the pressure on Young, while the Rams will likely tighten up their fourth down defense and rely more heavily on their running game.
Here are some noteworthy DFS picks for this wild-card showdown.
Kyren Williams, RB, Rams (FLEX $11,000, CPT $16,500)
I have a good feeling about both Williams and Collum this week, especially since the Panthers sit at 24th in rushing defense DVOA and 9th in fantasy points allowed to running backs. I still see some potential with Stafford and the passing game, but honestly, putting together a strong running game seems a lot easier against Carolina.
Davante Adams, WR, Rams (FLEX $10,400, CPT $15,600)
While Puka Nacua has great potential, I feel Adams offers a bit of an edge on FanDuel. Last time they played, Adams caught both of Stafford’s touchdown passes, and he’s currently leading the league in touchdown catches. With some time to recover from his hamstring issue, I’m keen on using him—maybe even over Nacua—if he’s running at full capacity, although having both could be ideal.
Teitairoa McMillan, WR, Panthers (FLEX $9,800, CPT $14,700)
He may not be heavily featured in a captain role for this game, but if he does play, I think McMillan is someone to watch. He’s shown elite receiver potential, and had he been in a stronger passing situation, he could’ve really excelled. If the Panthers find themselves trailing, Young will likely target McMillan frequently.
Jalen Coker, WR, Panthers (FLEX $7,000, CPT $10,500)
Coker has been closely trailing McMillan in targets since Week 13 and has scored three touchdowns in the last five games. He now steps ahead of Xavier Leggett as the WR2 and carries similar potential to McMillan, though he’s priced lower. The Rams struggled with their pass defense later in the season, though their run defense remained solid. I’m not sure the Panthers can establish as much of a run game this time, but Coker should see plenty of opportunities.
Blake Collum, RB, Rams (FLEX $7,600, CPT $11,400)
It’s quite possible the Rams will capitalize on their running game and make good use of both Williams and Collum. Honestly, I might even think Collum has the potential to surpass Williams if he puts in the effort—he could absolutely prove to be a worthy captain if he steps up.
Colby Parkinson, TE, Rams (FLEX $5,600, CPT $8,400)
Tyler Higbee returned last week, but rookie Terrence Ferguson had to sit out due to a hamstring issue. Parkinson actually saw more playtime than Higbee, and both found the end zone, putting up solid numbers. Much like Adams, I think Parkinson offers good touchdown potential on FanDuel, given his consistent presence near the goal line.
