Quick Funchess Question Pertaining to the Season Opener...

[Saca312]

So the season opener starts this Thursday, and I'm pumped. I feel like with Funchess' improvement and KB back, we'll have more opportunities on offense, and it'll be a different game from last year. 

Now, how much of a factor will Funchess be this game? I'm thinking he's going to be Cam's prime target just because of his ability to win battles against corners, route running, and how Denver will likely account for Kelvin more than Funchess.

Like say for example you're in a fantasy league and you have WRs Allen Robinson, Mike Evans, and Marvin Jones as potential starters, but you still have Funchess as your dark horse in your belt. Would you start Funchess over one of these players if he were to make that much of an impact? Or do you think Funchess will make an impact, but not in a way that'll make flashy Fantasy points compared to the other receivers.

Any thoughts?

 

[Mojo]

I think Funchess will be a factor personally. KB still looked rusty last game.  Funchess and to a lesser degree Philly are our two most physical receivers after Kelvin.   Matching physicality will be important considering our opponent.

According to Rotoworld (via Charlotte Observer) KB should be playing around 35 snaps so that's barely more than half on average.  We averaged just under 67 snaps last year.

I wouldn't start him over Evans or robinson though.  Jones is a toss up.  I think Golden Tate is still the alpha dog up there.

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/9321/kelvin-benjamin

The Charlotte Observer reports the Panthers plan to play Kelvin Benjamin "around 35 snaps" Week 1 against the Broncos.

Benjamin was limited all preseason with conditioning issues as he attempts to return from a torn ACL, and it does not sound like he is all the way back yet. Carolina rotated Devin Funchess in plenty with the first-team behind Benjamin and Ted Ginn in the third preseason game, and he will likely play big snaps Week 1 as well. Against a top defense with an uncertain workload, it will be tough to trust any Carolina receiver Week 1. Sep 3 - 8:45 AM

Source: Charlotte Observer

[PhillyB]

while funch and KB are generally interchangable, i'm guessing KB will mostly be used as the flanker in a classic possession receiver role, whereas funch has the speed and quickness to take on the WR1 role.

he will absolutely be a factor.

[Razeyfingers]

I think the thing that often gets missed is the coaching valuation. I think this staff relies on vets a tad too much at times and holds guys back occasionally. Obviously they want to give the vets a chance to prove themselves and as DG said "everybody gets 2 years to prove it".

 

What will hinder Funchess more than anything this season imo is RR and Shula's hesitation to line him up over Ginn. I still like Ginn, but I really think Funchess would do a better job than him stretching the defense vertically just because he reduces risk when being thrown at. His hands vice grip that ball, it's crazy. Top ten value.

[Davidson Deac II]

I don't think we are going to score a lot of points in this game period.  Well, unless we force several turnovers.  I don't expect either team to break 20 points and I don't think our receivers will show much at all.  The main thing our offense as a whole has to do is avoid the mistakes that plagued us in the SB.  Do that, and we win a defensive struggle. 

 

That being said, I do think that our receivers will show us something this year, just not in this game. 

[CRA]

9 hours ago, Saca312 said:

So the season opener starts this Thursday, and I'm pumped. I feel like with Funchess' improvement and KB back, we'll have more opportunities on offense, and it'll be a different game from last year. 

Now, how much of a factor will Funchess be this game? I'm thinking he's going to be Cam's prime target just because of his ability to win battles against corners, route running, and how Denver will likely account for Kelvin more than Funchess.

Like say for example you're in a fantasy league and you have WRs Allen Robinson, Mike Evans, and Marvin Jones as potential starters, but you still have Funchess as your dark horse in your belt. Would you start Funchess over one of these players if he were to make that much of an impact? Or do you think Funchess will make an impact, but not in a way that'll make flashy Fantasy points compared to the other receivers.

Any thoughts?

 

Well fantasy football impact and real football impact are different. 

For example, a 2003 Prohel type year.  Impactful in reality not stat sheet wise.

I could see him this year with about 800 yards and 8 TDs

[outlaw4]

From a purely fantasy perspective, I'd just stay away from this game altogether for all offensive players. 

[GoobyPls]

Funchess is still behind Ginn. And Olsen is still on top of the pecking order.

 

If You want to gamble on a 4th option go right ahead.

[CRA]

2 hours ago, outlaw4 said:

From a purely fantasy perspective, I'd just stay away from this game altogether for all offensive players. 

Yep.  Only kickers and D

[t96]

I did my fantasy draft tonight to win instead of just picking all Panthers like I always do and losing so I nabbed Funch in like the 11th round, while KB was taken in the 3rd round. Very possible Funch ends up the better fantasy player this year with defenses keying in on KB and Funch being so versatile. And I got him around 96 picks after KB. Actually was the only Panther I got this year since people went outrageous and took Cam in the first (I never go QB that early), Olsen in the 2nd (I was going to take him pretty early as my TE but 2nd was too early), KB in the 3rd as I said, our D in the 5th or so (I don't go D until after round 10 and used to always be able to get our D), and Stew in the 5th (PPR, no way I'd take Stew that early. Got Carlos Hyde and Ryan Mathews in the 6th and 7th and frankly those two will probably both be better fantasy wise than Stew this year). This is a family league and I'm sure most of those guys being picked early was just to piss me off but whatever.  Oh and Gano was taken 2 rounds before Gostkowski... I picked to win but I also happened to pick all players who the Panthers don't play this year except for Hyde and Demaryius Thomas, who I only took because it was the 7th round and I won't play him week 1 vs us.