Who Should I Start? Miles Sanders or Craig Reynolds

Thursday, February 20, 10:48 AM

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).

Monday, January 6, 1:13 AM

Detroit Lions running back Craig Reynolds rushed eight times for 39 yards during Sunday's Week 18 win over the Minnesota Vikings. He also commanded two targets but was unable to haul in either pass. The 28-year-old has looked like a solid change-of-pace option in three games since David Montgomery (knee) went down, bringing his season totals to 139 rushing yards and 40 receiving yards. He remains a valuable backup for the Lions and handcuff for fantasy managers, but he can't be started in fantasy football as long as Jahmyr Gibbs is healthy. The highly anticipated return of Montgomery soon would also impact Reynolds, dropping him to third on the depth chart. At the moment, he's not on the fantasy radar for the Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs.