Who Should I Start? Raheem Blackshear or Ronnie Rivers

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.

Sunday, March 16, 3:14 PM

The Los Angeles Rams have agreed to re-sign running back Ronnie Rivers to a one-year deal. The contract amount has not been disclosed. Rivers has spent the last three seasons with LA, though he never garnered more than 32 carries despite appearing in 34 games since 2022. He's a versatile back and profiles to be a solid handcuff if ever called upon in that capacity. However, he's more of an asset on special teams for the Rams, piling up 75.7% of his 2024 snaps in that phase of the game. The 26-year-old will continue to vie for offensive snaps with backup Blake Corum behind incumbent starter Kyren Williams. Rivers can currently be ignored for fantasy purposes.