This is an example of the type of information you can gain access to if you pick up a copy of the fabulous 2014 Fantasy Alarm Fantasy Football Draft Guide. Click on the link to learn how to gain access to the Guide, the articles, the rankings, all of it so that you can take down your competition. Let's take a look at Cam Newton (Jeff Mans will argue for) versus Matt Ryan (Ray Flowers will argue for).

Cam Newton
By Jeff Mans

The thing that I always say about Cam Newton is that he is a 16-ounce drink in a 12-ounce glass. There is so much talent pouring out of this kid that it is bound to show up in the fantasy numbers. I will be the first to admit that Newton didn’t play all that well in 2013 and yet he somehow finished as the third leading fantasy QB in total points. 

What I hope that Ray doesn’t argue is the Carolina Panthers receiving corps. Every time somebody says that the Panthers receivers are worse this year than they were last year didn’t watch any Panthers games last year. Steve Smith is an old 5’9” WR whose only move these days is to jaw with and instigate opposing defensive players. Brandon LaFell has been as inconsistent as any WR in the league over the last few seasons. The point here is that just because fantasy owners don’t know the names of these WRs doesn’t mean they aren’t better than the previous guys. Because Kelvin Benjamin, Jerricho Cotchery and Jason Avant are far superior in every way than Steve Smith, Brandon LaFell and Ted Ginn. So this is a good thing for Cam Newton this year.

What bothers me the most about Newton this year is his offensive coordinator in Mike Shula. Shula is simply put the worst football coach in the NFL. His offense is as vanilla as it gets and he doesn’t challenge the defense whatsoever. But where the offense doesn’t intimidate the opposing defense, Cam Newton surely does. There has never been a bigger, stronger or faster QB especially one that as the arm of Cam Newton. His rushing ability is what puts him on that next level of fantasy QBs. A QB with the ability to throw for 25+ TDs and rush for another 10+ is far more valuable than a guy who will barely beat Newton’s passing numbers alone in Matt Ryan.

Matt Ryan
By Ray Flowers

Look, Jeff might be right about the Panther's receiving corp being equal or better than the lousy group they ran out there last year, but that's kind of like saying that a Ford Fiesta is better than a Kia Rio. Is that really saying much? The group is terrible, and if I were to draw a car comparison between the Panthers and Falcons wideouts it would be something like a Ford Fiesta compared to a Chevrolet Corvette.

Ryan completed 439 passes last year, third in the league (Newton completed 292). Ryan threw for 4,515 yards, fourth in the league (Newton threw for 3,379). Ryan threw 26 touchdown passes (Newton threw 24). Ryan's production dwarfed that of Newton even though Julio Jones played five games and Roddy White 13 (including several that he should have been sidelined for because of an ankle issue). The fact is that Ryan has two elite weapons at wide receiver. Newton has nary an elite option at any skill position to throw the ball too. Ryan could be hurt by the loss of Tony Gonzalez, it's not like Levine Toilolo is going to replace the lost production, but a full season from Jones and White would certainly benefit Ryan.

Ryan also isn't coming off of surgery, and that ankle is reportedly still nagging at Newton a bit (it really shouldn't matter though, I'll grant that). I simply worry about Newton's ability to elevate the play of his teammates. When have we seen him do that? I'm also reluctant to count on him continuing to average nine rushing scores a season. Aren't you?

 

 This is an example of the type of information you can gain access to if you pick up a copy of the fabulous2014 Fantasy Alarm Football Draft Guide. Click on the link to learn how to gain access to the Guide, the articles, the rankings, all of it so that you can take down your competition.