#The solution to the Cam Newton fantasy football dilemma

Few quarterbacks conjure as much divisiveness as Cam Newton. From his erratic accuracy to his recent bouts with various injuries to his showboating to his ridiculous postgame outfits, detractors have plenty of ammunition.

But the Patriots new signal-caller was also was a game-changing talent in his prime, with a skill set that confounded defensive coordinators. Sure, he has battled shoulder and foot injuries the past two seasons that put his health in doubt. And that is exactly why you shouldn’t draft him as your fantasy starter. But in a season in which we wholly endorse carrying a backup QB on your fantasy roster, there is enough to justify making him your No. 2.

Think back to 2018, just a season-and-a-half ago. Newton had led the Panthers to a 6-2 start. They were among the handful or so teams in the Super Bowl conversation. They had missed the playoffs just once the previous five seasons with Newton under center. He was just a few years removed from an incredible MVP season in which he led his team to a 15-1 mark and a few crucial plays from a possible Super Bowl title.

Even after a three-game losing streak that followed that hot start in 2018, through 11 games he had 22 passing touchdowns to just seven interception and a completion percentage near 70 — plus four touchdowns and 417 yards on the ground.

That is all good news. And it happened not long ago. Yet, the next season-and-a-half did happen. That can’t be ignored. He has played just five games since Week 13 of 2018. In those games, he had two passing TDs, seven INTs, a completion percentage under 60 and zero rushing scores. It was an abject disaster.

We have no reservations about chalking up those disgusting numbers to him playing with injuries – be it a shoulder at the tail end of 2018 or an ankle issue early last season. Now, with all that time off – just two games played over the past 17 regular season weeks covering nearly two full calendar years – it is possible he is healthy again.

Now, we won’t really know until we see him on the field, and we won’t get that chance before fantasy drafts because there is no preseason. But let’s just say he is at least over his lower body/foot problems, even if his shoulder is still an issue affecting his deep throws. If so, can he still be productive?

In a Patriots offense that the past several years are leaned on a short passing game, it fits perfectly for a weak-armed QB, if Newton is actually still weak-armed. If his ankle is better, it means he could be a threat on the ground again, which adds to his value.

Is there risk? Of course. But if we’re evaluating risks for our backup QB, and our other options are rookies with no offseason to adapt (think: Joe Burrow, Tua Tagovailoa) or younger/unproven upstarts whose upside is lower and who lack Newton’s track record (think: Baker Mayfield, Jimmy Garoppolo, Daniel Jones, Sam Darnold), if those are our options, we’re going Cam without thinking twice.

Based on current average draft position, he goes in roughly the same range as Ben Roethlisberger. If we can land Big Ben, we would rather do that. But the others in that range, no thanks, give us Cam.