By
Vincent Frank on Wednesday, September 19
th 2012
Both Eli Manning and Cam Newton are QB1 options in standard leagues. Depending on where you value each one, they are probably right next to one another on the big board. They go up against one another on Thursday night when the New York Giants take on the Carolina Panthers.
Lets take a look at which one is the better fantasy bet this week.
The New York Giants have given up an average of 260 passing yards per game in their first two outings against the Dallas Cowboys and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That is about run of the in regards to pass defense at this point in the season.
Meanwhile, Carolina has been stout against the pass. After yielding just 128 passing yards against Josh Freeman and Tampa Bay, the Panthers intercepted Drew Brees twice in route to a home upset over the New Orleans Saints.
The advantage in regards to pass defense has to go to the Carolina Panthers here, but that is pretty much where it ends.
Manning has put up over 700 passing yards in just two games and possesses a wide array of options on the outside. Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks combined for nearly 400 yards on 21 receptions last week against Tampa. You got that right, nearly 400 receiving yards between the two.
Carolina is also going to focus on the run more in this game with Jonathan Stewart back from injury and appearing to be 100 percent. Stewart, DeAngelo Williams, Mike Tolbert and Newton represented the deepest and most talented backfield in the National Football League. In short, they won’t have to rely on the passing game like New York will.
The Giants finished dead last in rush offense last season and have compiled a total of 176 yards on the ground through two games this season. This has forced Manning to put it up 83 times thus far in 2012.
All this correlates to Manning having a better fantasy output come Thursday night. Of course this doesn’t mean that the Giants are going to win the game. Instead, I am simply focusing on which quarterback will put up more fantasy points. My money is on the younger Manning here.
Fantasy Update (9/19. 3:30 PM PST) Hakeem Nicks will not play. Article coming on this fantasy development soon.