The deeper we get into the season, the more hesitant I am about starting players on Thursday night. This week, we have the Carolina Panthers hosting the Atlanta Falcons. DJ Moore was one of my favorite draft targets this season but has been woefully disappointing for two months now. Should fantasy football managers expect anything on Thursday night against the Falcons?
DJ Moore’s Fantasy Outlook Against the Falcons
What to do with DJ Moore? On the season, Moore is averaging just 11.3 PPR fantasy points per game. More recently, he’s been resembling the player we confidently drafted in the third round of fantasy drafts. In Weeks 7 and 8, Moore posted 19.6 and 27.5 fantasy points.
Perhaps most relevant is that 27.5 number as it came against these very Panthers. In that game, Moore caught six of 11 targets for 152 yards and a touchdown.
It’s certainly not a surprise that Moore torched the Falcons. Everyone torches the Falcons. They allow the second-most fantasy points to wide receivers. 68% of their receiving yards allowed have gone to wide receivers, and their 16.2 receptions allowed to the position are the most in the NFL.
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Had Moore posted yet another strong fantasy outing last week, he’d probably be a no-brainer start. Unfortunately, it was actually his third-worst week of the season. Moore caught just two of six targets for 24 yards, falling well below his receiving yards projection on Underdog Fantasy.
There’s also the matter of the Panthers’ uncertain quarterback situation. P.J. Walker had won the starting job from Baker Mayfield but was benched in the second half of last week’s blowout loss to the Bengals. Yet, Walker is back in the saddle this week as the named starter. However, there’s a very real possibility he gets benched again.
Walker has proven better for Moore, with both of Moore’s WR1 performances coming with Walker under center. But the prospect of Mayfield getting into this game looms.
Should Fantasy Managers Start Moore?
Generally, I like to fade players on Thursday Night Football whenever possible. Given the genuine uncertainty as to whether fantasy managers should start Moore this week, I really wish he wasn’t playing on Thursday.
Moore checks in as our WR16 in the Week 10 wide receiver rankings. Based on that ranking, he seems like an obvious start. Even so, I have concerns.
I would rather not force fringe players into my lineup on Thursday night. It’s just not something I like to do. At the same time, the objective is to start your best players.
Based on the matchup, Moore looks like a good start this week. Unless you have a stacked wide receiver corps, I would lean toward keeping Moore in lineups this week. The matchup literally could not be better. Given that fact, fantasy managers should look past last week’s disaster and start Moore on Thursday night against the Falcons.