Who Should I Start? Raheem Blackshear or Bam Knight

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.

Monday, October 13, 10:00 AM

Late Sunday morning, it was announced that Arizona Cardinals' running back Bam Knight was bumped up to the top of the Cardinals' depth chart at running back, and he responded with 34 yards on 11 carries and scored a one-yard touchdown in the Cardinals' 31-27 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. Knight also contributed through the air, hauling in one of his two targets for a 20-yard reception. Meanwhile, Michael Carter had a very similar line, rushing for 34 yards on 11 carries and had two receptions for 30 yards. Emari Demercado was barely involved, seeing only one carry on the afternoon. All of this to say, it appears that the Cardinals have no interest in giving Carter the full reins of this backfield, and moving forward, both Knight and Carter will provide RB3 value, and fantasy managers should expect them both to see 10-15 touches per game. The Cardinals have a tough matchup coming up against the Green Bay Packers before their Week 8 bye. Fantasy managers beware, Trey Benson (knee) is eligible to return in Week 10 and will likely become the lead back once he returns.