Chuba HubbardJustin Edmonds/Getty Images
Key Injuries
The New Orleans Saints are pretty beat up heading into Week 9. Wide receivers Cedrick Wilson Jr. (hip) is questionable. Running back Kendre Miller (hamstring) and wide receiver Bub Means (ankle) have been ruled out. Running back Alvin Kamara has been on and off the injury report for weeks, but his Week 9 availability isn’t believed to be in doubt.
There is some good news for the Saints. After missing multiple games with an oblique injury, quarterback Derek Carr is off the injury report and will return in Week 9.
The Carolina Panthers have quarterback issues of their own. Andy Dalton missed Week 8 with a thumb injury and is iffy for Sunday. That could mean another start for Bryce Young, who will be down a receiver after Diontae Johnson was traded. Wideout Adam Thielen remains on injured reserve and is doubtful, and rookie Xavier Legette (toe) is questionable.
OK, so Young may be down more than one receiver.
Start of the Week
Chuba Hubbard, RB, Carolina Panthers [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,500]: Both Hubbard and Kamara should pile up the fantasy points Sunday. The Panthers are tied for last in the league in run defense, and no team is giving up more total yards per game this season than the Saints.
Sit of the Week
Xavier Legette, WR, Carolina Panthers [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,300]: With Johnson gone, Legette is the new No. 1 wide receiver for the Panthers, at least until Adam Thielen returns. That means a coverage date with Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore—a tough ask for the banged-up rookie.
New Orleans Saints Defense [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,800]: The Saints aren’t playing especially well defensively this year. But the Panthers are a bottom-five offense in terms of both yards and points per game, and they have given up the eighth-most fantasy points per game to defenses this season.
Stat to Know
104.6. The dismal number of passing yards per game Young has amassed this season—and that’s after a season-high 224 yards last week against the Denver Broncos. The cold truth is this—if Young starts under center, then Hubbard is the only Panthers player who should be anywhere near starting lineups, even against a bad Saints defense.
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