Carolina Panthers DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

According to the team, the Carolina Panthers have activated running back Miles Sanders (ankle) off the injured reserve. While Sanders still carries a questionable tag, this transaction suggests he should be in line to return to action in the season finale. The 27-year-old has been sidelined since suffering a sprained ankle during their Week 10 contest against the New York Giants. If Sanders is able to return on Sunday afternoon, fantasy managers should expect him to take the lead role in the backfield. As a result, Rasheem Blackshear and Mike Boone will be used as change-of-pace options and may not be given enough opportunities to have productive fantasy outputs. As a result, fantasy managers should fade this backfield if possible as Sanders carries low-end flex upside in a crowded backfield.

Carolina Panthers rookie wide receiver Jalen Coker has mainly been a stash candidate in dynasty/keeper fantasy leagues in his first season in the NFL. He heads into the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival Atlanta Falcons with only 25 catches for 416 yards and two touchdowns on 39 targets over 10 games played. That has been good enough to make him the WR74 in average half-PPR points per game (6.6), so it's safe to say he wasn't rostered in most standard-sized fantasy leagues in 2024. However, the 23-year-old could make some noise as a WR4/flex sleeper in the final game of the regular season this weekend against a Falcons defense that has allowed the sixth-most half-PPR points per game to opposing wideouts this year. Although the undrafted rookie had only 35 yards in last weeks loss to the Bucs, he finished second on the team in receiving behind veteran Adam Thielen.

Carolina Panthers kicker Eddy Pineiro hasn't gotten many opportunities to kick field goals the past few weeks. Over the past four games, he has only attempted three field goals. The silver lining for Pineiro is that between Weeks 10 and 13, he made nine of his 11 field goal attempts. In Week 18, the Panthers take on their division rivals, the Atlanta Falcons, who have allowed the sixth most fantasy points to opposing kickers, giving some hope for Pineiro in this contest. However, the lack of consistent attempts makes it difficult for fantasy managers to trust Pineiro in this one. The 29-year-old comes in as K27 in the latest RotoBaller kicker rankings for Week 18. There are likely better options at the kicker position for fantasy managers.

Carolina Panthers running back Miles Sanders (ankle) was a full participant in Friday's practice but is still considered questionable to play in the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival Atlanta Falcons. Sanders also practiced in full on Wednesday but was limited on Thursday. The Panthers opened the 27-year-old's 21-day practice window to return from Injured Reserve on Wednesday, but they'll have to officially activate him from IR on Saturday if they want to let him play in the final game of the season on Sunday. Despite having not played since Week 10, Sanders could be the favorite to lead Carolina's backfield this weekend in Atlanta if he's activated since Chuba Hubbard (calf, knee) is on IR. However, if Sanders does return, we wouldn't recommend relying on him for fantasy purposes with Raheem Blackshear and Mike Boone also likely being involved for Carolina.

According to the team, Carolina Panthers rookie wide receiver Xavier Legette (hip/wrist) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons. The rookie wideout opened the week as a full participant on Wednesday but was downgraded to a limited participant on Thursday and Friday, which caused him to carry a questionable tag. The 23-year-old missed their Week 16 contest with these same injuries but was able to suit up last weekend. In Week 17, the South Carolina Product caught five of his nine targets for just 28 yards. If Legette can turn the corner in time for Sunday, he would slot in as the No.2 WR on the team, behind Adam Thielen. Fantasy managers should view him as a risky flex option, as he has not scored double-digit PPR points over his past five games despite seeing 6.8 targets per game.