The Carolina Panthers will face the Arizona Cardinals in Week 16. Here’s the latest fantasy football news and advice to help you with your lineups this week and moving forward, especially regarding WR Adam Thielen.
Is Adam Thielen Playing in Week 16?
The oldest wide receiver in the league continues to receive Wednesdays off from practice. Thielen is fine and is fully expected to suit up this weekend.
We’ll continue to monitor the Panthers’ injury report. You can also visit and bookmark our NFL Injury Tracker and Fantasy News Tracker for the latest updates.
Should You Start or Sit Adam Thielen in Week 16?
Jalen Coker (quad) returned to action last week, and that means we are splitting a slot role that was fringe-worthy in the first place in terms of my confidence.
If Bryce Young is going to develop, I’d expect a very well-thought-out plan of attack down the stretch of this season, something like what we saw on his first 10 passes last week:
- Jalen Coker: Three targets (two catches for 19 yards)
- Chuba Hubbard: Three targets (three catches for 16 yards)
- Xavier Legette: Two targets (two catches for seven yards)
- Thielen: Two targets (one catch for five yards)
I’m not confident at all in the hierarchy of targets in Carolina to close this season, nor am I confident in Young paying off those targets with fantasy points. I’d hang onto Thielen with a plus schedule the rest of the way, but I’m doing so with very little in the way of expectations.
Are you looking for start/sit advice for other players in your lineup? Read our Week 16 Fantasy Start-Sit Advice Cheat Sheet for every fantasy-relevant player in every game.
Adam Thielen’s Fantasy Points Projection in Week 16
As of Sunday morning, Thielen is projected to score 11.5 fantasy points in PPR formats. This includes 4.3 receptions for 46.7 yards and 0.4 touchdowns.
Check out the free PFN Fantasy Start-Sit Optimizer for the latest projections and advice for your lineups this week.
PFN Insight on the Cardinals' Defense
The Arizona Cardinals' defense had some strong performances this season, particularly at home. Though they didn't have one of their best games, returning home to face the talent-poor Patriots offense was an excellent antidote to Arizona's three-game losing streak.
The Cardinals posted a middling 75.3 (C) grade, which ranked 19th for the week. For the season, Arizona has the 20th-ranked Defense+ unit in home games but 29th in road games.
The Cardinals' third-down defense was the star of Sunday's win, holding the Patriots to 0 for 6 on third downs. This has been a massive weakness for the defense all season. Even with that shutout, the Cardinals have the third-worst third-down conversion rate allowed (44.6%).
This remains the defense with the lowest pass success rate (50.5%) this season, which will always lead to a very low ceiling. Even in the win, Arizona had the sixth-lowest pass success rate for any defense in Week 15.
The Cardinals' trend arrow is pointed downwards on both sides of the ball, which is concerning. Consistency has been a big issue in the last two years under Jonathan Gannon, and the post-bye downturn could cost them a playoff spot if they don't reel off another win streak.
For more insight on all other team defenses, head to our PFN Defense+ Metric Analysis.
Adam Thielen’s Fantasy Ranking
Our Weekly Consensus PPR Rankings are below — both positional and overall. They were last updated at 6:05 AM ET on Sunday, December 22. If you're in a Superflex league, make sure you check out our Weekly Consensus Superflex Rankings.
Week 16 WR PPR Rankings
1) Ja'Marr Chase | CIN (vs. CLE)
2) Puka Nacua | LAR (at NYJ)
3) Justin Jefferson | MIN (at SEA)
4) Amon-Ra St. Brown | DET (at CHI)
5) Nico Collins | HOU (at KC)
6) Mike Evans | TB (at DAL)
7) A.J. Brown | PHI (at WAS)
8) CeeDee Lamb | DAL (vs. TB)
9) Davante Adams | NYJ (vs. LAR)
10) Tyreek Hill | MIA (vs. SF)
11) Drake London | ATL (vs. NYG)
12) Tee Higgins | CIN (vs. CLE)
13) Courtland Sutton | DEN (at LAC)
14) Cooper Kupp | LAR (at NYJ)
15) Jauan Jennings | SF (at MIA)
16) Malik Nabers | NYG (at ATL)
17) Terry McLaurin | WAS (vs. PHI)
18) Jaxon Smith-Njigba | SEA (vs. MIN)
19) Garrett Wilson | NYJ (vs. LAR)
20) Jerry Jeudy | CLE (at CIN)
21) Brian Thomas Jr. | JAX (at LV)
22) Ladd McConkey | LAC (vs. DEN)
23) Khalil Shakir | BUF (vs. NE)
24) DJ Moore | CHI (vs. DET)
25) Calvin Ridley | TEN (at IND)
26) Jordan Addison | MIN (at SEA)
27) DK Metcalf | SEA (vs. MIN)
28) Zay Flowers | BAL (vs. PIT)
29) DeVonta Smith | PHI (at WAS)
30) Jakobi Meyers | LV (vs. JAX)
31) Jameson Williams | DET (at CHI)
32) Jayden Reed | GB (vs. NO)
33) Marvin Harrison Jr. | ARI (at CAR)
34) DeAndre Hopkins | KC (vs. HOU)
35) Darnell Mooney | ATL (vs. NYG)
36) Keenan Allen | CHI (vs. DET)
37) Josh Downs | IND (vs. TEN)
38) Elijah Moore | CLE (at CIN)
39) Rome Odunze | CHI (vs. DET)
40) Michael Pittman Jr. | IND (vs. TEN)
41) Adam Thielen | CAR (vs. ARI)
42) Tank Dell | HOU (at KC)
43) Xavier Worthy | KC (vs. HOU)
44) Quentin Johnston | LAC (vs. DEN)
45) Amari Cooper | BUF (vs. NE)
46) Romeo Doubs | GB (vs. NO)
47) Rashod Bateman | BAL (vs. PIT)
48) Christian Watson | GB (vs. NO)
49) Jalen Coker | CAR (vs. ARI)
50) Jalen McMillan | TB (at DAL)
51) Ray-Ray McCloud III | ATL (vs. NYG)
52) DeMario Douglas | NE (at BUF)
53) Tim Patrick | DET (at CHI)
54) Deebo Samuel Sr. | SF (at MIA)
55) Joshua Palmer | LAC (vs. DEN)
56) Nick Westbrook-Ikhine | TEN (at IND)
57) Michael Wilson | ARI (at CAR)
58) Marquez Valdes-Scantling | BUF (vs. NE)
59) Keon Coleman | BUF (vs. NE)
60) Cedric Tillman | CLE (at CIN)
61) Sterling Shepard | TB (at DAL)
62) Devaughn Vele | DEN (at LAC)
63) Wan'Dale Robinson | NYG (at ATL)
64) Parker Washington | JAX (at LV)
65) Calvin Austin III | PIT (at BAL)
66) Tre Tucker | LV (vs. JAX)
67) Brandin Cooks | DAL (vs. TB)
68) Mike Williams | PIT (at BAL)
69) Marvin Mims Jr. | DEN (at LAC)
70) Tyler Lockett | SEA (vs. MIN)
71) Dontayvion Wicks | GB (vs. NO)
72) Kendrick Bourne | NE (at BUF)
73) Hollywood Brown | KC (vs. HOU)
74) David Moore | CAR (vs. ARI)
75) Darius Slayton | NYG (at ATL)
76) Kayshon Boutte | NE (at BUF)
77) Kevin Austin Jr. | NO (at GB)
78) Ricky Pearsall | SF (at MIA)
79) Andrei Iosivas | CIN (vs. CLE)
80) Van Jefferson | PIT (at BAL)
81) Allen Lazard | NYJ (vs. LAR)
82) Demarcus Robinson | LAR (at NYJ)
83) Dyami Brown | WAS (vs. PHI)
84) Tutu Atwell | LAR (at NYJ)
85) Tyler Boyd | TEN (at IND)
86) KaVontae Turpin | DAL (vs. TB)
87) Mack Hollins | BUF (vs. NE)
88) Jalen Tolbert | DAL (vs. TB)
89) Jalen Nailor | MIN (at SEA)
90) Michael Woods II | CLE (at CIN)
91) Troy Franklin | DEN (at LAC)
92) JuJu Smith-Schuster | KC (vs. HOU)
93) Olamide Zaccheaus | WAS (vs. PHI)
94) Devin Duvernay | JAX (at LV)
95) Curtis Samuel | BUF (vs. NE)
96) Malik Washington | MIA (vs. SF)
97) Justin Watson | KC (vs. HOU)
98) Adonai Mitchell | IND (vs. TEN)
99) Greg Dortch | ARI (at CAR)
100) Cedrick Wilson Jr. | NO (at GB)
101) Derius Davis | LAC (vs. DEN)
102) Jahan Dotson | PHI (at WAS)
103) Lil'Jordan Humphrey | DEN (at LAC)
104) Luke McCaffrey | WAS (vs. PHI)
105) Jalin Hyatt | NYG (at ATL)
106) Tylan Wallace | BAL (vs. PIT)
Cardinals at Panthers Trends and Insights
Arizona Cardinals
Team: Since Week 3, the Cardinals are 3-0 against the AFC East (29.7 PPG) and 3-6 against the rest of the NFL (17.3 PPG).
QB: The Cardinals improved to 6-1 this season when Kyler Murray completes a pass that gains more than 30 yards (1-6 otherwise).
Offense: Arizona converted 10-of-15 third downs against New England on Sunday, following a two-game stretch in which they converted just nine-of-25 opportunities.
Defense: The Lions scored a touchdown on both red zone trips against the Cardinals in Week 3 – that was the last time a team converted all of their red zone drives into TDs against this defense (past six games: seven-of-18).
Fantasy: Marvin Harrison Jr. has 28 catches for 349 yards and three touchdowns in quarters 2-4 this season. If you extend those 42 quarters for a full season – 46 catches for 565 yards and five touchdowns. That’s essentially the stat line Chris Godwin posted in seven games this season before his season ended (50-576-5).
Betting: Arizona is 7-3 ATS in their last 10 road games (most recent: 23-22 loss to the Vikings as a 3.5-point underdog).
Carolina Panthers
Team: The Panthers missed a chance on Sunday to end one of the more odd trends in recent memory – we are now over 1,180 days (that’s the number as of Monday) since the last time Carolina won a game as an outright favorite.
QB: The 83-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Coker under duress was good to see, but on 14 other pressured dropbacks against Dallas, Bryce Young produced one (1) passing yard.
Offense: After showing some signs of growth over the month prior, the Panthers picked up just 27.3% of their third downs (three-of-11) on Sunday against the Cowboys, their worst rate since Week 5.
Defense: Carolina has allowed a touchdown on seven-of-eight red zone trips over their past two games (previous three: five-of-13).
Fantasy: Chuba Hubbard is one touchdown away from joining Christian McCaffrey as the only Panther RB since 2010 with 1,000 rushing yards and 10 total scores in a season.
Betting: From Weeks 4-8, Carolina was 0-5 ATS. From Weeks 9-14, they were 5-0. After failing to cover on Sunday, is another run of underachieving awaiting?