2012 NFL Team Preview: Carolina Panthers

Cam Newton added the firepower needed to put a spark back in Carolina Panthers' fans. They spent the last few years without an identity and tore through three bad quarterbacks the year before his arrival. Expectations are now at an all-time high for the franchise, but can they deliver?

Fans need to take a step back from Newton's hype and remember they were the worst team in the NFL as recently as 2010. If they can slowly improve their team each year, they are building a foundation to be a yearly contender...but they are not there yet.

Carolina was 6-10 in 2011 and Newton won the 'Rookie of the Year' award. He broke a handful of rookie records and teams will now be building defensive plans to stifle him. Can he still produce with the entire team's defensive game plan focused on only shutting him down?

Here's our 2012 NFL team preview for the Carolina Panthers.

2011 Win/Loss Record: 6-10

Key Additions: RB Mike Tolbert, LB Luke Kuechly, WR Joe Adams, S Haruki Nakamura, S Reggie Smith, OG Mike Pollack, OG Amini Silatolu, DE Frank Alexander and LB Kenny Onatolu.

Key Losses: LB Dan Connor, WR Legedu Naanee, OG Mackenzy Bernadeau, DT DeMario Pressley and OG Geoff Schwartz.

Non-Divison Schedule: AFC West and NFC East

Fantasy Sleeper: WR David Gettis - Gettis is a very interesting sleeper this year. He suffered an ACL tear last season and never had the opportunity to experience the regular season with Cam Newton. He had 500+ yards in 2010 with a hodgepodge of quarterbacks throwing to him (Matt Moore, Jimmy Clausen and Tony Pike). Steve Smith had a Pro Bowl year in 2011 and Brandon LaFell had a promising season with 613 receiving yards. Gettis should win the #3 WR spot over Armanti Edwards and Joe Adams. Adams is someone to keep your eye on as a very deep sleeper. He is an impressive talent and could impress Carolina's coaching staff in training camp.

Team Analysis: I am in the minority with my opinion of Carolina in 2012. I foresee teams going all-in on stopping Newton and causing a sophomore slump. If teams can keep him in the pocket and double-team Steve Smith, he'll have a tough season. He will have to rely on Greg Olsen and Lafell heavily. Another reason for a regression in Newton's numbers is the acquisition of Mike Goodson. He was a touchdown vulture in San Diego and Rob Chudzinski, Carolina's offensive coordinator, was his coach there. Newton will not get the goal line carries he received in 2011. Carolina did add a nice young defensive piece by drafting Kuechly, but they need to fill a few more gaps on defense to stop New Orleans and Atlanta. Charles Johnson had a great season last year, but he needs more helping rushing the passer. I don't see Carolina doing much this year, but keep an eye on them in 2013 and beyond. They need more playmakers on defense and another receiver to become a dependable option before they are playoff contender.

2012 Wins Over/Under Line: 7.5 (Prediction: UNDER)

2012 Projected Win/Loss Record: 6-10

NFL Week 6: Fantasy Football Sit/Start

These are the weeks where a fantasy football team owner can build a team to win a championship. Teams will start dropping players to fill needs due to bye weeks. Mike Sims-Walker probably killed many of you last week, but if you started Austin Collie or Miles Austin, you won. These kind of pick-ups are what you need to win. Here are my fantasy football sit'em or start'em for Week 6.

It's that time of year where you have to be rash judgments on players. You need to cut the dead weight before it causes you to lose games. I have listed a few guys that you need to cut and some guys that you need to grab off of the waiver wire right now.

START'EM

Aaron Rodgers - Ben Roethlisberger hosted WWE RAW last week and still put up huge numbers against Detroit. Rodgers didn't host RAW, so I expect that he'll do even better.

Rashard Mendenhall - Is Willie Parker even alive at this point? Mendenhall has done a great job so far this season and looks like the starting job could be his when Parker gets back. He faces the Browns and he'll be running all over them.

Matt Hasselbeck - Looks like he's back to the pass-happy QB that he was a few seasons ago. A side-note, I also like Nate Burleson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh, they'll have nice weeks against Arizona.

Mike Sims-Walker - I lost a game last week because he was suspended at the last minute before the game. He has a lot to prove and look for him to be the #1 option in the Jaguars passing attack.

Both Steve Smiths - Having the name Steve Smith will be beneficial if you're an NFL wide receiver this week. Carolina's Steve Smith faces Tampa Bay and New York Giants version plays the Saints. They will both have nice weeks.

Cedric Benson - Yes, I am finally telling everyone to start Cedric Benson this week. He has looked like the running back that he was supposed to be coming out of Texas. Houston has given up tons of rushing yards against opposing running backs and he'll help you this week.

Matt Forte - The sophomore slump may not be over yet, but I think he'll have a good game against Atlanta. He showed signs two weeks ago and a bye week only helped him get back to 100%.

Brent Celek - The Eagles play in Oakland this weekend and Celek is going to have a monster game. Donovan McNabb looks healthier than expected and even if he gets knocked out, Kevin Kolb likes Celek as a main target.

Jeremy Shockey - Do you think that he has a chip on his shoulder? He does and he should, he was a productive player when he was on the field and they sold him for 10 cents on the dollar. When he's targeted this week, you better be sure that he'll catch the ball.

Philadelphia Eagles Defense - I would feel safe starting any team's defense against a team that has JaMarcus Russell at quarterback.

Donnie Avery - He had a nice game last week and he's the only receiver on the Rams that could start on any other team. The Rams play Jacksonville and it could be a close game, especially if the Jaguars play like they did last week.

Mike Wallace - DEEP LEAGUE START - He's barely owned in any leagues and this guy is a legit #3 WR on the Steelers. He has surpassed Limas Sweed at that position and Big Ben is looking for him.


SIT'EM

Eli Manning - His injury scares me and I am not sure if he can go 100% against the Saints. A couple scrambles or a sack, he could be out of the game.

Pierre Thomas - ESPN has his projected points as 20+ this week against the Giants, but I'm not buying it. The G-men are solid against the run and I don't see him having that good of a game.

Brandon Jacobs - I'm starting to worry about the big man. Ahmad Bradshaw has looked very good, yet Jacobs can barely get yards. He could breakout this week, but he's a risky play against a better than expected Saints defense.

Larry Johnson - He looks like an old man out there and I have completely written him off. The Chiefs play the Redskins this weekend, but LJ is a fantasy dud.

Willis McGahee - Ray Rice seems to be the #1 back in Baltimore and McGahee's touchdowns have been very fluky. I don't like him against the Vikings stiff run defense.

Mark Sanchez - Buffalo is in town and last week they made Derek Anderson go 2 for 17 from the field. I don't care if it was Derek Anderson, but they were doing something right. The Jets will run against the Bills and Sanchez will just try to play it safe.

Jeremy Maclin - The Eagles will not have to pass that much against Oakland, since they will have a healthy lead by halftime. Maclin is a nice player, but I like Desean Jackson and Brent Celek much more in this game. Rookie wide receivers will have nice games, but they are usually very inconsistent.

New York Giants Defense - They are usually an automatic start, but I fear Drew Brees. They will stop the running game, but Brees is this generation's Dan Fouts. He will get his numbers, no matter what team he faces.

Owen Daniels - The Bengals have an upgraded linebacking corps and Daniels will have a hard time getting open. Daniels has been a nice target for Matt Schaub so far this season, but he'll have a rough game.

Fred Jackson - Marshawn Lynch is back from suspension and Jackson didn't get near as much action as expected last week. It appears that the starting role is still Lynch's and Jackson is a possible flex option, but not against the Jets.

Jerricho Cotchery - The trade for Braylon Edwards has hurt his stock and it could be time to go out and pick up a guy like Miles Austin or Austin Collie.