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Sunday Debate: Cam Newton Top Fantasy Quarterback in 2016

By Mark Morales-Smith

Nov 8, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) with Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) after the game. The Panthers defeated the Packers 37-29 at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 8, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) with Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) after the game. The Panthers defeated the Packers 37-29 at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Our Sunday Debates have become a popular weekly installment here at NFL Spinzone. Mark Morales-Smith will once again debate Brendan Pignataro. This week will focus on Fantasy quarterbacks.

It’s time for yet another Sunday Debate when I once again put my undefeated streak on the line against Brendan. It has become abundantly clear I will not be defeated, but we can still have a good time even if we know the outcome. This week we will be debating who the top Fantasy quarterback will be. Brendan will be arguing the side of Aaron Rodgers, while I correctly choose reigning MVP Cam Newton.

Related Story: Sunday Debate: Aaron Rodgers Top Fantasy Quarterback in 2016

Obviously Newton was the far superior option last year throwing for 3,837 yards, rushing for an additional 636 yards and accounting for 45 touchdowns. Rodgers sputtered to the Fantasy QB7 slot and while he also threw for 3,821 yards, he rushed for nearly 300 fewer yards and only accounted for 32 total touchdowns.

I’m sure Brendan made the argument that Rodgers struggles were because of Jordy Nelson tearing his ACL and now that he’s back everything’s going to change. Newton also lost his top and only viable wideout in Kelvin Benjamin. Unlike Rodgers, Newton still thrived without his top option and Newton had Ted Ginn, not Randall Cobb to fall back on. At just 27 years old, Newton is only going to get better and I’ll take the reigning MVP getting his 25-year-old wideout back from a torn ACL than Rodgers getting his 31-year-old WR coming back off a torn ACL.

Don’t get me wrong, I completely understand that Rodgers is a better pure passer than Newton in real life. Nonetheless, in Fantasy he just isn’t capable of doing many of the things Newton is. Newton is a super-athlete the likes we have never seen at the quarterback position. He’s like Gronk with cannon for an arm. The only other quarterbacks whose skill set comes close to matching his is Andrew Luck. He has similar freakish combination of size, speed and arm talent. In my eyes, those two have more upside than any other quarterbacks with Newton getting the edge because of what he showed last season.

It’s hard to imagine how Cam doesn’t get better next season. He’s getting Benjamin back and Devin Funchess has an important year of experience under his belt as does Philly Brown. Of course Greg Olsen is still there to be his reliable safety blanket as well. Jonathan Stewart and Cameron Artis-Payne will open things up on the ground too, which always helps Newton attack on the ground and deploy play action bombs. Their strong offensive line along with talented defense allows the Panthers offense to fully utilize their playbook at almost all times and keep defenses on their heels.

This is a pretty cut-and-dry argument we have here. Yes, Rodgers is an outstanding real life quarterback, but he doesn’t compare in Fantasy leagues. As a matter of fact, Newton has finished higher than Rodgers in two out of the past three seasons and he has only once finished outside of the top-four Fantasy QBs. That was in 2014 when he dealt with injuries and missed two games.

must read: NFL: Breakout Player of the Year Candidates

The ref is calling this one early. Sorry Brendan, but the winner and still champion by first round knockout is Mark Morales-Smith!

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