Is Cam Newton’s role as Carolina’s preferred goal-line rusher set to end?

The NFL season continues to fly by and provide excellent storylines. Even with six teams on bye this week, there are a lot of storylines surrounding tomorrow’s action. Here’s what I’ll be watching.

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Is Cam Newton no longer the Panthers goal-line back?

Newton made public comments about not feeling safe playing anymore and given his injury history, both this season and in the past, the Panthers have to be growing concerned. While there is a growing belief that Newton will be hesitant to run moving forward, it hasn’t manifested itself that way to this point.

In Week 8, Newton rushed the ball seven times and in Week 6 (the Panthers were on a bye in Week 7) he recorded a rushing touchdown. That said there is the risk that Newton himself is hesitant to run or the Panthers stop calling his number, but the current drama about him not running seems overblown.

If he were to run less, the fantasy implications for Newton are clear, but there would also be a positive effect on Jonathan Stewart. Stewart has recorded four rushing touchdowns in his past two games.

While this hasn’t required Newton to stop or decrease rushing attempts, his recent track record will certainly be more sustainable if Newton cuts back his goal line carries. Stewart isn’t a name among favorite running backs, but he could be someone to acquire moving forward and won’t come at the acquisition cost of an “elite” back.

Can Todd Gurley get on track?

Three yards per carry and three touchdowns through seven games aren’t exactly what fantasy owners had in mind when they took Todd Gurley as high as the number one overall pick in July and August. That’s been the reality, but Gurley can redeem himself for fantasy purposes by making a push in the final third of the season, helping owners into the playoffs and ultimately to a championship.

Whether that will happen is an entirely different question. In the next two weeks, he faces the two best defenses against the run in terms of yards per attempt, so he won’t get any help form the matchups. After that, he does have three average to above-average matchups, which would be just in time for the fantasy playoffs.

What’s going on in the Saints’ backfield?

We’re all familiar with the fact that Mark Ingram was benched last week for Tim Hightower, but the question is which back will be the workhorse against the 49ers in Week 9. It is a question worth following throughout the lead up to Sunday as the 49ers are a matchup that can be exploited. Both backs are likely highly owned at this point, and while the Ingram owners may have little choice but to start him, this question will play a major factor in DFS outcomes for the week.

Which wide receivers will be productive in Cleveland?

Cody Kessler is back at quarterback for the Browns, in a smart move for the team but what has been perceived as bad news fantasy purposes. Meanwhile, Corey Coleman is poised to return this week. Coleman should immediately have value as a WR3/flex type option. Though he has only played in one game with Josh McCown this season, in that game he recorded five receptions on eight targets for 104 yards and two touchdowns.

Meanwhile, the narrative would seem to be that Pryor will be hurt by the return of Kessler. But through eight games this season that narrative has not come to pass as Pryor has averaged 17.64 PPR points in games with Kessler at quarterback and 10.7 with any other quarterback and he has yet to catch a touchdown pass from anyone other than Kessler.

The same can be said for Gary Barnidge, as in games with Kessler playing quarterback, he is averaging 11.68 points as compared to 4.97 in games with any other Browns’ quarterback. It’s time to see the future of the Browns’ aerial attack, and a team in desperate need of good news might finally get it.

Is Jay Ajayi an RB1?

Before the Dolphins’ bye week in Week 8, Ajayi had consecutive 200-yard performances. This was a historic performance, but it will be tough for him to replicate that against the stout Jets’ run defense.

Given the combination of his performance and the retirement of Arian Foster, Ajayi should unquestionably be the workhorse back in Miami. Given that and the situation with six teams on byes this week, he will likely be forced into many starting lineups. If he performs again, it’s time to think he’s matchup proof.

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Daniel Marcus is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Daniel, check out his archive, visit fantasy-phenoms.com, or follow him @danmarcus3.