Who Should I Start? Patrick Taylor Jr. or Raheem Blackshear

Sunday, August 10, 5:35 AM

San Francisco 49ers running back Patrick Taylor Jr. scored the team's first points of the preseason on Saturday. Taylor ran it into the end zone from five yards out to seal the deal on the Niners' first drive. The touchdown ended up being the 49ers' only offensive score in their 30-9 loss to the Broncos. The fifth year back was otherwise unimpressive, finishing the game with seven yards on five carries. He also caught his sole target of the game for a four-yard gain. Taylor ranks fourth on San Francisco's early depth chart but drew the start with coach Kyle Shanahan opting to preserve Christian McCaffrey's health, and with fellow backs Isaac Guerendo (shoulder) and Jordan James (finger) already ailing and expected to miss multiple weeks. Taylor will have to overcome this week's inefficiencies when the 49ers face the Las Vegas Raiders next week if he wants to maintain his position.

Tuesday, July 1, 9:30 PM

Carolina Panthers running back Raheem Blackshear will "almost exclusively be a special teams player" in 2025 if the team elects to keep a fourth RB around beyond training camp, writes The Charlotte Observer's Alex Zietlow. The Panthers only kept three RBs a year ago. Even with rookie Jonathon Brooks (knee) out for most of last season, Blackshear didn't have a single rushing attempt until Week 16. The 27-year-old will primarily be competing with David Moore, Jimmy Horn Jr. and Hunter Renfrow for a spot on the team's 53-man roster as a return option. The former undrafted free agent in 2022 has had 68 touches for 341 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns on offense for the Panthers in the last three years while adding 66 kickoff returns for 1,734 yards and 23 punt returns for 200 yards. He's off the fantasy radar in the vast majority of leagues.