Who Should I Start? Raheem Blackshear or Pierre Strong 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.

Monday, August 11, 8:38 PM

Cleveland Browns running back Pierre Strong Jr. (undisclosed) returned to practice as a limited participant on Monday. Strong had been down with an undisclosed injury. After appearing in 14 games and rushing for 108 yards on 26 carries last year, Strong is competing for a backup role this summer. He's currently third on the Browns' unofficial depth chart behind Jerome Ford and rookie fourth-round pick Dylan Sampson. The team also has rookie second-rounder Quinshon Judkins, who remains without a contract as he deals with an ongoing misdemeanor battery/domestic violence case. The longer Judkins is away, the more opportunities Strong should receive. Strong didn't play in the Browns' 30-10 preseason-opening win in Carolina last week, and it's unclear if he'll suit up against the Philadelphia Eagles this Saturday.