Panthers vs. Seahawks: Latest Odds and Stat Predictions for Top Fantasy Stars

Winning won't be all that matters when the Seattle Seahawks host the Carolina Panthers in the 2015 NFL playoff divisional round.

Well, for the players and the teams involved, it will be. But for betting aficionados and fantasy obsessors alike, that's only the beginning of the stakes.

While the winner of the Seahawks and Panthers will punch one of two tickets to the NFC title game, the style of victory will loom large for those looking to earn some extra coin, or for fantasy owners looking to erase memories of subpar 2014 seasons. With only eight teams left standing in the NFL playoffs, the pickings are slim when it comes to figuring out which players will stand out.

Let's look at how each of the top fantasy stars in the game should perform.

Matchup	Date	Time (ET)	TV	Predicted Winner	Spread
Carolina Panthers at Seattle Seahawks	Jan. 10	8:15 p.m.	Fox	Seattle	SEA -10.5

Player	Team	Projected Stats
QB Russell Wilson	Seahawks	180 passing yards, 60 rushing yards, 2 TDs
QB Cam Newton	Panthers	210 passing yards, 35 rushing yards, TD
RB Marshawn Lynch	Seahawks	90 rushing yards, TD
RB Jonathan Stewart	Panthers	50 rushing yards
WR Doug Baldwin	Seahawks	61 receiving yards
WR Kelvin Benjamin	Panthers	78 receiving yards
TE Luke Willson	Seahawks	48 receiving yards
TE Greg Olsen	Panthers	60 receiving yards, TD

Note: Odds courtesy of Odds Shark, last updated January 6

Best Fantasy Option: QB Russell Wilson vs. Panthers

Elaine Thompson/Associated Press

Think the Panthers are on a hot streak coming into Seattle? Don't make Russell Wilson and the Seahawks laugh.

While Carolina finished the regular season with four straight wins and knocked off Arizona at home to start out the postseason, the Seahawks have them one-upped. Seattle finished out its 2014 season 6-0, winning all six games by 10 or more points.

Wilson's dual-threat ability has been a central part of Seattle's offensive resurgence throughout the season's second half. He had three 100-yard rushing contests in his first nine games but still averaged well over 50 yards per game in those last six victories.

That doesn't mean he's not getting it done through the air, however. He threw for 339 yards and two scores in Week 16 against the Cardinals, and eclipsed 235 yards passing in four of the final six games.

His play has caught the eye of Panthers coach Ron Rivera, per ESPN's David Newton:

As if defending Wilson alone isn't enough, his read option with bruising running back Marshawn Lynch—a handful in his own right—makes things even tougher. 

The Panthers defense is absolutely buzzing off the best defensive performance in NFL history in terms of yardage. But it faces a completely new beast in Seattle, with Pete Carroll's crew healthy and ready for a postseason run.

Although Carolina comes in with an 8-8-1 record, the Seahawks won't be overlooking the Panthers given the high stakes. That will result in some big numbers as usual for Wilson and his offense.

Worst Fantasy Option: RB Jonathan Stewart vs. Seahawks

Chuck Burton/Associated Press

Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart returns to his home state of Washington on a tear, but he's likely to be brought to a halt by the Seahawks defense.

With DeAngelo Williams going down for the season, Stewart has returned to full health down the stretch run—and it's showed. In four must-win games to close out the season, Stewart had at least 20 carries in three of them, passing the 120-yard mark twice.

Stewart's production only increased in the playoffs. He carried the ball 24 times against the Cardinals for 123 yards, scoring a touchdown in the process.

The Seahawks coach is quite familiar with Stewart from his high school days and said he's returned to his old form, per The Charlotte Observer's Joe Person:

Alongside a Cam Newton, who looks to be getting back to his old form as well, Stewart proves to be a tough stop for the Seahawks defense.

But don't expect them to have their hands full. Only two teams in the NFL have been better against the run than the Seahawks, allowing just 81.5 yards per game on the ground. 

To make matters even tougher, the Legion of Boom secondary has anchored a top-ranked passing defense that should make life difficult for Newton through the air. 

First and foremost, though, the Seahawks will put the onus on stopping the run in order to prevent Carolina from building any momentum early. They'll have to throw multiple bodies at Stewart to bring him down, but if they're able to push him backward on his first few carries, it could take him out of the game plan.