Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Fellow Fantasy Football participants, lend me your ears and do take note. Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton is the man – period. As your mock draft, real draft, weekly draft or whatever draft you plan to partake in approaches, remember the name.
There is no risk associated with the pick, simply put he is nails, money, a sure thing or however you prefer to categorize it. The notion of a sophomore slump is simply a myth because it never happened. Sure he didn’t have identical stats to those he saw his rookie year, but he was still solid.
He threw for about 150 less yards and two less touchdowns between his rookie year and last season. He actually rushed for more yards but ended up with fewer touchdowns. That said he still rushed for more touchdowns than C.J. Spiller, Jamaal Charles, Chris Johnson and Matt Forte.
Yes, that is the same Spiller and Charles who you probably have high in your preseason running back projection lists. Newton scored more rushing touchdowns in 2012 than two of your top projected running backs.
And do not buy in to any stereotype that is associated with the “scrambling quarterback” when it comes to Fantasy Football. In most traditional scoring leagues you are awarded four points for passing touchdowns and six for rushing touchdowns. Therefore a passing quarterback has to throw 15 touchdowns to equal scoring totals from a rushing quarterback that runs for 10 scores. Much like the case of a Newton’s sophomore slump, the tale of a running quarterback is an equal myth in fantasy football
The bottom line is you get the dual threat with Newton. He will net his 4,000 yards passing and probably get you double-digit scores with his legs.
In most preseason projections Aaron Rodgers is the consensus number one fantasy quarterback, as he should be. From there on, rankings are up for discussion and debate. Newton is a top five guy in most projections, but he has the talent to net you top two or three stats at season’s end. It’s an anomaly to draft a top five-projected player at any position that comes equipped with upside. Newton is that guy in 2013.
A final word of advice before turning the decision over to you as you prepare for upcoming drafts. The playbook in Carolina has been revamped with the emphasis on making Newton better. Early indications following minicamps – the Panthers are seeing their desired result.
Barring unknown factors Newton is a can’t miss top five guy in 2013. Draft him with confidence.
Jim Heath is a Fantasy Football writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @jim_heath, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google
