Free-agent running back Miles Sanders plans to sign an undisclosed one-year deal with the Dallas Cowboys, sources tell ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. Sanders heads to Dallas for the 2025 season after a disappointing two-year run with the Carolina Panthers in which he averaged just 3.5 yards per carry on 184 rushing attempts for 637 yards and three rushing touchdowns in 27 games (seven starts), adding 51 receptions (71 targets) for another 302 yards and a TD through the air. The 27-year-old lost the lead-back role to Chuba Hubbard in 2023 and played in just 11 games (two starts) in 2024 due to injury. Sanders could have a shot to see a bigger workload for the Cowboys after last year's lead back, Rico Dowdle, joined the Panthers in free agency. However, Dallas also brought in former Broncos RB Javonte Williams and could add to the position in what is a deep draft class. At best, Sanders will likely be involved in a committee.
Mar 14, 2025 12:27 AM EST
The Carolina Panthers announced on Tuesday that they have released running back Miles Sanders. This move does not come as a surprise as Sanders' tenure in Carolina was marred by injuries and poor performance. The 27-year-old lost the starting job to Chuba Hubbard in 2023 and averaged only 3.5 yards per carry on 184 rushing attempts for 637 yards and three touchdowns in 27 games (seven starts) in his two seasons with the Panthers, adding 51 receptions (71 targets) for 302 yards and a TD through the air. It was a no-brainer move for Carolina, even though second-year RB Jonathon Brooks (knee) tore his ACL again in 2024 and may miss all of the 2025 season. Sanders played in only 11 games (two starts) last year due to injury and had 205 rushing yards and two touchdowns on just 55 carries. He's still young but will probably only land in a change-of-pace role on the open market.
Mar 11, 2025 12:41 PM EST
Running back Miles Sanders signed a four-year, $25.4 million deal with the Carolina Panthers before the 2023 season, but his biggest supporters, head coach Frank Reich and assistant coach Duce Staley, were fired 11 games into that season. Sanders then took on a backup role behind Chuba Hubbard. The Athletic's Joseph Person writes that the Panthers will create $5.23 million in salary cap space this year by cutting Sanders. Jonathon Brooks is expected to miss the entire 2025 season after a second ACL surgery, but Carolina should be able to find cheaper RB options than Sanders to serve in a backup role to Hubbard. The 27-year-old was a first-time Pro Bowler in his final season with the Eagles in 2022, but he was not the same back in Carolina, averaging only 3.5 yards per carry while racking up 637 rushing yards and only three touchdowns on 184 rushing attempts in 27 games (seven starts).
Feb 20, 2025 10:48 AM EST
Carolina Panthers running back Miles Sanders rushed for 66 yards on 17 carries during Sunday's Week 18 win over the Atlanta Falcons in overtime. He also caught three of his four targets for 50 yards through the air. Additionally, Sanders scored two touchdowns one on the ground and one through the air. The veteran running back delivered a major outing in his first game back from injured reserve, turning in his best fantasy performance (PPR) since Week 14 of the 2022 season. He remains under contract with the Panthers in 2025, making him an appealing fantasy handcuff behind Chuba Hubbard to open next season.
Jan 5, 2025 6:54 PM EST
Carolina Panthers running back Raheem Blackshear earned lead running back duties in Week 17 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with Chuba Hubbard (calf, knee) landing on the injured reserve. Blackshear finished with four carries for 47 yards in Sunday's 44-38 overtime win over the Atlanta Falcons. The Panthers activated Miles Sanders (ankle) off the injured reserve ahead of Sunday's game, and Blackshear took a clear backseat to Sanders in this one. In this matchup, he was out-touched by Sanders 17 to four. Although he only had four carries, he turned that into 47 total yards to provide some value for fantasy managers. Blackshear finishes the 2024 season with 15 carries for 80 yards. He will not be a recommended fantasy option for managers in 2025.
Jan 5, 2025 5:45 PM EST
Carolina Panthers running back Miles Sanders (ankle) is officially active for Sunday's Week 18 contest against the Atlanta Falcons. He had been listed as questionable but was widely expected to play after being activated from injured reserve on Saturday. The 27-year-old will lead Carolina's backfield with Chuba Hubbard (calf, knee) on injured reserve. Sanders, who totaled 237 yards and one touchdown through 10 games earlier this season, will take over the backfield from Raheem Blackshear. He ranks as a mid-to-low RB3 in fantasy football against the Falcons.
Jan 5, 2025 11:46 AM EST
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.
Jan 4, 2025 2:08 PM EST
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.
Jan 3, 2025 7:25 PM EST
Carolina Panthers running back Miles Sanders (ankle) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice, according to team reporter Mike Kaye. The 27-year-old was recently designated to return from the Injured Reserve list, where he has been since the Week 11 bye. With Chuba Hubbard (knee) and Jonathon Brooks (knee) on Injured Reserve, Sanders could make a fantasy and DFS impact if he returns for the season finale against the Atlanta Falcons. However, he could ultimately share the backfield with Raheem Blackshear and Mike Boone. Either way, none of the Panthers' backs have a ton of upside against a Falcons defense that has allowed the 10th-fewest fantasy points per game to running backs.
Jan 2, 2025 2:41 PM EST
The Carolina Panthers announced on Wednesday that they opened the 21-day practice window for running back Miles Sanders (ankle) to return from Injured Reserve, meaning he can be activated to the 53-man active roster ahead of the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons. With Chuba Hubbard (calf, knee) going on season-ending IR last week, the Panthers could get Sanders back this weekend for additional RB depth alongside Raheem Blackshear, Mike Boone and Velus Jones Jr. The 27-year-old Sanders isn't guaranteed to be active to close out the season, though, and he'll need to show enough in practice this week to get the green light. And even if Sanders is active against Atlanta, there's no guarantee he'll see enough snaps after being sidelined since Nov. 10. Sanders has averaged only 3.7 yards per carry on his 38 rushing attempts in 2024 in his second year in Carolina.
Jan 1, 2025 12:12 PM EST
Carolina Panthers running back Miles Sanders (ankle) was cleared to play last week, and head coach Dave Canales said he's looking forward to getting Sanders onto the practice field this week. Sanders is not being ruled out from playing in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. The 27-year-old is still on Injured Reserve, so if he is going to return to play in the last game of the year, Carolina will need to officially activate him by Saturday. Chuba Hubbard (calf, knee) and Jonathon Brooks (knee) are both done for the year, but even if Sanders is able to play on Sunday, he'd likely be sharing backfield touches with both Raheem Blackshear and Mike Boone and wouldn't be a viable fantasy option. Sanders hasn't played since Week 10 and was averaging a mere 3.7 yards per carry in a limited role before hurting his ankle.
Dec 30, 2024 6:25 PM EST
Carolina Panthers running back Miles Sanders (ankle) is going through "return to play" protocols on a daily basis. Sanders was placed on Injured Reserve in late November due to a sprained ankle, but it sounds like he has a shot to return to play in one of the final two games of the season for the Panthers. However, especially at this point in the year, the 27-year-old has no business being rostered in redraft fantasy leagues. He was eligible to come off IR and play in the Week 16 overtime win over the Arizona Cardinals. The Panthers have yet to open Sanders' 21-day practice window to return from IR, but that could come on Wednesday for the team's first practice of Week 17. If Sanders is able to return in the next two weeks, he'll be a clear backup to Chuba Hubbard and will likely see a limited role on offense.
Dec 23, 2024 4:41 PM EST
The Carolina Panthers have placed running back Miles Sanders (ankle) on injured reserve. The veteran playmaker suffered a significant ankle injury during Week 10 in Germany. He had already been ruled out for Week 12, and now his placement on IR will hold him out for a minimum of four games. Sanders has appeared in 10 games this season, totaling 139 rushing yards, 98 receiving yards, and one touchdown in a backup role behind Chuba Hubbard. Carolina will proceed with Hubbard in the lead-back role and Jonathon Brooks (knee) slated to make his NFL debut as the No. 2 option out of the backfield.
Nov 23, 2024 4:58 PM EST
After missing practice all week, Carolina Panthers running back Miles Sanders (ankle) has officially been ruled out for Week 12 against the Kansas City Chiefs. Sanders said he's dealing with a severely sprained ankle that he suffered in the Week 10 loss to the New York Giants in Germany, which means he may not be ready to return for Week 13 to face the division-rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His fantasy stock is taking another hit with rookie Jonathon Brooks (knee) fully expected to make his NFL debut this weekend against the Chiefs after recovering from an ACL tear that he suffered in 2023 in his final collegiate season at Texas. Brooks will serve as the change-of-pace back behind starter Chuba Hubbard on Sunday and most likely for the rest of the 2024 season, relegating Sanders to the RB3 role whenever he recovers from his ankle injury.
Nov 22, 2024 1:14 PM EST
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.
Nov 21, 2024 3:18 PM EST
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.
Nov 20, 2024 3:35 PM EST
Carolina Panthers running back Miles Sanders (ankle, foot) is likely to be out for the team's Week 12 game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday after injuring his ankle/foot in the Week 9 win over the New York Giants in Germany. It's a bad sign for Sanders, as the Week 10 bye didn't provide him with enough time to recover from the injury. On top of it, Sanders' already limited fantasy appeal in 2024 is taking another hit with rookie second-rounder Jonathon Brooks (knee) on track to make his NFL debut against the Chiefs. The 27-year-old lost the starting job to Chuba Hubbard last year and will likely find himself third on the RB depth chart in Carolina by season's end. In his second year with the Panthers, Sanders has 38 carries for 139 yards and one TD, averaging 3.7 yards per carry in his 10 games played. Sanders has also caught 21 of 26 targets for an additional 98 yards.
Nov 18, 2024 12:36 PM EST
Testing revealed that Carolina Panthers running back Miles Sanders (foot/ankle) avoided a major injury, according to a report from NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The Penn State product was carted off the field during the Panthers' victory against the New York Giants in Munich, but he appears to have dodged the worst-case scenarios. Rapoport reported that Sanders will be considered "day-to-day" as the team waits for swelling to dissipate. The Panthers are idle this week, but the veteran back has little fantasy relevance even at full health. Chuba Hubbard has been the clear lead running back in Carolina, while second-round rookie Jonathon Brooks (knee) is close to making his NFL debut.
Nov 13, 2024 9:20 AM EST
Carolina Panthers running back Miles Sanders (foot, ankle) is considered doubtful to return for Sunday's Week 10 matchup against the New York Giants. It appears Sanders suffered some type of leg injury during the first half of this game. After further evaluation it sounds like the Panthers are likely going to hold him out for the rest of the game. Before exiting, Sanders rushed the ball twice as the primary backup to Chuba Hubbard. The absence of Sanders should mean a few more snaps for Hubbard during the second half of this game.
Nov 10, 2024 10:32 AM EST
Carolina Panthers running back Miles Sanders saw increased involvement in the offense during last week's loss to the Denver Broncos. Sanders only rushed the ball once for seven yards, but was extremely active through the air. The 27-year-old hauled in all seven of his targets for 38 yards which are both season highs for Sanders. The expectation is that Sanders is going to continue having a minimal role behind Chuba Hubbard in the backfield. That seven-catch performance was likely more of a fluke than anything else. Fantasy managers should consider Sanders a risky flex option for the Week 9 matchup against the New Orleans Saints.
Nov 3, 2024 10:01 AM EST
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