Who Should I Start? Raheem Blackshear or Carlos Washington Jr.

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.

Saturday, August 24, 12:25 AM

Atlanta Falcons running back Carlos Washington Jr. finished his preseason with an inefficient seven rushing yards on four attempts while pitching in one reception for seven yards in Friday night's 31-0 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Washington finished the preseason the way he began it, and it can't bode well for his spot on the depth chart with the beginning of the season right around the corner. Although he did find the endzone one time, Washington finished the preseason with an abysmal 2.4 YPC on 29 attempts. Jase McClellan outperformed him in every way during camp, and it wouldn't be surprising to see McClellan jump Washington as the RB3 on the depth chart to begin the season.