Raheem Blackshear

Head coach Dave Canales said earlier in the week that the team is looking forward to having Sanders back this week, hinting at a return for the veteran running back. Sanders hasn't played since suffering an ankle injury in Week 10, but had totaled just 38 carries for 139 yards and a touchdown in his first 10 games. Assuming he's activated from injured reserve, Sanders could stumble into a season-high in touches in Week 18 after Raheem Blackshear and Mike Boone provided little to no upside in the running game last week.

Panthers HC Dave Canales said Monday that RB Miles Sanders (ankle) has been cleared to play. He was actually cleared to play late last week, per Canales, but didn't have enough time to get prepped for the Buccaneers game. But it sounds like, barring a setback, Sanders will play in Sunday's finale vs. the Falcons. With RB Chuba Hubbard out with his calf injury, Sanders would be the favorite to lead Carolina's backfield in touches over RBs Raheem Blackshear and Mike Boone. Sanders has mustered just 3.7 yards per carry this season and wouldn't be an exciting fantasy option. But he could be a volume-based RB3 or Flex play.

Blackshear drew the start with Chuba Hubbard out for the final two weeks of the season. He out-carried Mike Boone 8-2, though Boone was the only back to see a target. On the receiving end of a blowout, Carolina had no chance to establish a ground game, dooming Blackshear in his first start of the year. Blackshear will be a desperation RB4 when the Panthers travel to Atlanta for their 2024 finale next week.

Panthers RB Raheem Blackshear will start today's game vs. the Buccaneers. That, of course, guarantees nothing besides Blackshear being on the field for the first snap of the game. We're expecting RB Mike Boone to mix in and would avoid this backfield in fantasy lineups if at all possible. But if you're forced to get involved, Blackshear is the slightly better bet.

Blackshear will start at running back in Sunday's game against the Buccaneers, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.