In Week 16, the Panthers face a Cardinals defense that has been struggling against both the pass and run. Arizona is the sixth-best matchup for opposing running backs in terms of fantasy points allowed. Chuba Hubbard is one of the only playable assets in the Panthers offense, anyway, especially in the fantasy playoffs. He has not come off the field much in the last two, with 97.1-percent and 92.7-percent Snap Shares in Weeks 14 and 15, respectively.

Mike Boone (now reverted to the practice squad) was the only other back to receiver a carry in Week 15, taking two carries for 14 yards. Raheem Blackshear and Velus Jones are the only other backs on the active roster. Neither has carried the ball or received a target in the Carolina offense yet this season. There are not many backs who are going to get a more dominant share of their backfield than Hubbard. He’s a solid RB2 play against the Cardinals.

The Carolina passing attack is not exactly one to rely on in the second round of the fantasy playoffs. Adam Thielen has been the most prominent target for Bryce Young, earning 32 targets since returning from injury in Week 13. The veteran wide receiver has led the team in targets for three straight games, but brought in just five of seven passes for 51 scoreless yards in Week 15.

The Cardinals secondary has been ineffective against the run in real football terms (No. 32 in Dropback Success Rate Against), but stingy against fantasy wide receivers. They give up the 12^th-least fantasy points to receivers. Thielen is an okay PPR flex play this week. The rest of the Panthers pass catchers are low-volume avoids.

– Joel Ybarra, @metaffb