Carolina Panthers DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

For the second straight day this week, Carolina Panthers running back Miles Sanders (ankle) was listed as a non-participant at Thursday's practice. Sanders suffered a severely sprained ankle in the Week 10 win over the New York Giants in Germany and is considered week-to-week despite having last week's bye to heal up. He's not expected to play in Week 12 versus the Kansas City Chiefs and will probably be third on the RB depth chart when he does return with rookie Jonathon Brooks (knee) expected to make his NFL debut this Sunday. The 27-year-old was already not much of a fantasy asset this year behind starter Chuba Hubbard, and his fantasy value has taken another hit with the return of Brooks. Sanders belongs on the waiver wire. He's currently rostered in only 1% of Yahoo fantasy leagues.

Carolina Panthers rookie running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) is well on his way to making his NFL debut this weekend against the visiting Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. Brooks put in another day of full practice on Thursday and is fully expected to be the backup to lead back Chuba Hubbard in Week 12. The 21-year-old also practiced in full before the Week 10 win over the New York Giants in Germany, but the Panthers held him out as a precaution going into their bye. Because Brooks will take a back seat to Hubbard in his debut, he won't be a realistic starting fantasy option in his debut. However, the former Texas RB and first RB off the board in this year's draft has plenty of long-term upside in Carolina and will at least be a worthwhile handcuff for those that have Hubbard the rest of the season. Miles Sanders (ankle) is expected to sit out this weekend and could be the RB3 when he's healthy.

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen (hamstring) was limited in practice for the second straight day this week on Thursday as he looks to make his return to game-day action this Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs for the first time since injuring his hamstring in Week 3. Thielen was activated from Injured Reserve during the team's bye week, but he's still not in the clear to return for Week 12. An upgrade to a full practice session on Friday could do the trick. The 34-year-old veteran expects to play against KC, although the Panthers could monitor his workload on Sunday if that's the case given his long layoff. When he's fully up to speed, though, Thielen should be one of quarterback Bryce Young's top targets opposite rookie Xavier Legette. Thielen is worth stashing for WR depth in deeper leagues, but he's trending as a shaky fantasy play against a tough Chiefs defense if he's active on Sunday.

Carolina Panthers running back Miles Sanders (ankle) said he has a severely sprained left ankle and is considered week-to-week. Sanders isn't going to rush things and is not expected to play in Week 12 this Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs. The 27-year-old unsurprisingly did not practice on Wednesday after he was carted off in the Week 10 overtime win over the New York Giants in Week 10 in Germany. The Panthers were on bye in Week 11. Sanders had very limited fantasy appeal as the backup to Chuba Hubbard in Carolina before his injury, and he'll have even less fantasy appeal whenever he makes it back from his ankle injury with rookie Jonathon Brooks (knee) fully expected to make his NFL debut this weekend. In 12-team fantasy leagues, Sanders should be on the waiver wire for the remainder of the season.

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen (hamstring) was listed as a limited participant in the team's first practice of the week on Wednesday coming off their bye. Thielen has been on Injured Reserve since suffering a pretty serious hamstring injury all the way back in Week 3. However, the 34-year-old veteran pass-catcher said earlier this week that he expects to return to play against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 12 on Sunday. He's probably going to need to upgrade to a full practice on either Thursday or Friday to avoid a questionable tag on the final injury report, and Thielen may be eased back into the offense if he's eventually cleared to play this weekend. Thielen should have a significant role when he's back to full speed alongside rookie Xavier Legette, but he won't be the most attractive fantasy lineup option if he returns this Sunday against a tough Chiefs defense.UPDATE: Thielen has been medically cleared to play and is excited to be back in team drills for the first time in eight weeks.