The latest word out of Carolina Panthers camp is that head coach Ron Rivera is considering resting Cam Newton for his team's Week 1 game vs. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Newton is battling a rib injury.
This news puts Newton's fantasy owners into a bit of a pickle, as the Panthers play at 4:25 p.m. EDT and we likely won't know Newton's official status until after the 1 p.m. EDT games kick off, drastically limiting the replacement options for Newton owners.
Colin Kaepernick and Tony Romo also play at 4:25, but they're likely owned in all fantasy leagues. Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck play on Sunday night, but there's no help to be found there, either.
Newton owners should wait until we hear his official status before making a roster move. If Newton's active, he should be in your lineup. If he's out, the best options for a replacement are Carson Palmer (who plays in the late Monday night game) and Josh McCown (who'll be on the other side of the field in the Panthers-Bucs game and would likely benefit from Newton sitting). Eli Manning (early Monday nighter) is also an option for desperate owners in deep leagues.
