Miles Sanders's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

Carolina Panthers running back Miles Sanders (finger) is not carrying an injury designation into the team's divisional matchup against the New Orleans Saints. While limited in practice earlier in the week, Sanders practiced in full on Thursday and Friday. Although rookie Jonathon Brooks (knee) is on the PUP list and will miss four games, there still isn't a fantasy-worthy role for Sanders on the Panthers. He'll be the direct backup to Chuba Hubbard on a low-powered offense. The former Eagle averaged a career-low 3.3 yards per carry in his first season in Carolina in 2023.

Carolina Panthers running back Miles Sanders (finger) was a full-go in practice on Thursday after he was limited on Wednesday. After being limited in the first official practice of the regular season, Sanders now looks ready to go for the Week 1 regular-season opener this Sunday against the division-rival New Orleans Saints. Even with rookie Jonathon Brooks (knee) missing the first four games of the season while on the Physically Unable to Perform list, Sanders belongs on benches to open the year as the clear backup behind starter Chuba Hubbard in Carolina's backfield. The 27-year-old didn't have much of a chance in the Panthers' atrocious offense in 2023 and averaged a career-low 3.3 yards per carry. He is, at best, an early-season handcuff for Hubbard in deeper fantasy leagues.

Carolina Panthers running back Miles Sanders (finger) was limited in Wednesday's practice. While the injury isn't serious, the team is taking a cautious approach to ensure his full recovery before their season opener against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. Sanders was the Panthers' starting running back this time last year, but circumstances have shifted since then. He is expected to serve as a backup to Chuba Hubbard at the start of the season, provided his injury doesn't hinder his performance. However, this situation could change when Jonathon Brooks (knee) returns from the reserve/non-football injury list. If Sanders' participation is restricted, Hubbard will likely see an increased workload, as he is already expected to handle the majority of the running back duties for the Panthers.

The Dallas Cowboys could have running backs Miles Sanders and Dalvin Cook on their short list of targets as the regular season gets closer, according to Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. The insiders note that the Cowboys are still evaluating their backfield, which is currently headlined by Ezekiel Elliott and Rico Dowdle, and have started monitoring a few external options in case they feel the need to make an addition. Sanders is one of those players, and there's also a connection with Cook, who previously expressed interest in playing for the Cowboys. The latter is currently a more feasible option than the former given that Sanders is still under contract with the Panthers, but there's been speculation that he could be on Carolina's roster bubble. If the Cowboys do make a move at running back, it would add another confusing element for fantasy managers to decipher. Elliott, Dowdle, and the addition would presumably all be thrust to the low-end RB3 range while we try to figure out each back's expected usage.

Carolina Panthers running back Miles Sanders kept his balance on a hard hit at training camp and finished out his run. Sanders proceeded to point to the media members and said, "All y'all been talking on me, I got something for you!". Sanders is coming off a season in which he, indeed, did not have anything for us. Quarterback Bryce Young added that Sanders has a game mentality in training camp. After a breakout campaign with the Eagles in 2022, Sanders finished 2023 with 432 rushing yards and one touchdown. To make matters worse, Sanders signed a four-year $25 million contract with the Panthers ahead of the 2023 season. By season's end, he had ceded his job to Chuba Hubbard. The Panthers drafted Jonathon Brooks (knee) in the second round of April's draft. Unless Sanders can play much better in 2023, this backfield projects to belong to Brooks by season's end. Even so, keep an eye on Sanders through the camp to see if extra motivation can squeeze some production out of him, especially with Brooks on the active/Non-Football injury list as he is recovering from a torn ACL suffered in college.