Carolina’s Week 4 meltdown against New England laid bare a fragile mix: a special-teams collapse (missed extra point and a 55-yard FG misfire) and Marcus Jones’ 167 punt-return yards including an 87-yard TD, a tepid pass rush that allowed Drake Maye to dissect the defense, and a shaky Bryce Young–Tetairoa McMillan connection. With three home games in four, coaching and play-calling are under scrutiny as the Panthers seek momentum and stability.

Mick Abel dominated on an abrupt return to the mound, firing six scoreless innings with nine strikeouts in a 5-0 win for Minnesota over Philadelphia. His fastball averaged near 97.5 mph and touched 98.9 in the opening frame, signaling a bright future as he strides toward a possible rotation spot next season.

Buxton’s leadoff homer kicked off the scoring as the Twins plated two more runs behind Outman and Fitzgerald, while the Phillies’ former Twin Harrison Bader, along with Schwarber, Harper and Realmuto, were stymied. Abel’s performance, coupled with a crisp bullpen and stifling defense, underscored the swing potential Abel offers in dynasty and keeper leagues while giving Minnesota a look at the high-end ceiling they traded for last July.

Twins 5, Phillies 0 as Mick Abel shines in his first start against his former club, fanning nine over six scoreless innings to underscore his upside in Minnesota’s postseason push. Buxton, Outman and Fitzgerald punish Ranger Suárez with solo shots, while Jeffers adds an RBI double. Suárez exits with a left-thigh contusion after a hard-hit 106 mph line drive. The win secures home-field for Minnesota’s postseason run, while Philadelphia locks in the No. 2 seed.

While Abel dazzles, the Twins’ lineup pages another chapter in late-season form, and the Brewers’ tiebreaker edge looms large in the NL playoff picture. With regular-season finales looming, Minnesota looks every bit a dangerous rotation and bullpen mix, while Philly eyes consistency behind Suárez’s replacement and a resilient pitching staff in October.

Next up: Woods Richardson for Minnesota against Cristopher Sánchez for Philadelphia, in a finale that could shape pivotal playoff seedings and DFS value across the league.

Carolina’s 30-0 win over Atlanta signals a sharp, multi-facet turnaround: a ball-hawking defense, cleaner ball security from Bryce Young, and a special-teams surge that pins opponents with poor field positions. The unit-wide improvement—especially in the turnover column and run defense—fuels a momentum swing after a rough start, setting up a palpable upgrade in approach and confidence for the Panthers.

Key contributors include Derrick Brown setting the tone upfront, Moehrig and Scott locking down the back end, and Ryan Fitzgerald drilling a 57-yarder as part of a revamped kicking game. With a stingy defense and a cleaner offense, Carolina rides the momentum into a favorable matchup against New England and beyond.

Weather delay paused Week 1 action in Jacksonville, but the Jaguars grabbed a 10-3 edge as Trevor Lawrence connected with Hunter Long for a 6-yard TD after Cam Little opened with a 35-yard field goal. Carolina stalled early, with Bryce Young completing 3 of 6 passes for 16 yards and an INT before the stoppage. Ryan Fitzgerald added a 48-yard FG for the Panthers, while Long drew early attention in Jacksonville’s offense.

Fantasy takeaway: Lawrence’s early rhythm and Long’s involvement hint at a higher floor for Jaguars pass-catchers, while Young must unlock efficiency to support Carolina’s gains. The weather-adjusted rhythm and kicker reliability also shape Week 2 projections for both teams.