Raheem Blackshear - Fantasy Points Outlook

Panthers RB Chuba Hubbard injured an ankle in Friday night's preseason game, HC Frank Reich said afterward. Hubbard started that game with RB Miles Sanders out with his groin injury. We'll see when these guys are able to get back on the field. Carolina's healthy RBs are now Raheem Blackshear, Spencer Brown, and rookie Camerun Peoples.

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Joe Person of The Athletic says that fantasy football players should "keep an eye" on Panthers WR Laviska Shenault, "who has been getting significant reps in the backfield." We're taking note, because Carolina looks weak at RB behind Miles Sanders. Although Shenault's a WR, he's sturdily built at 6'1, 220 pounds. He has already logged 38 carries through three pro seasons and rushed 40 times over his final two college campaigns. Shenault's varied utility and a Panthers depth chart with questions at both RB and WR at least makes Shenault an interesting pick at the end of best ball drafts. He sits just fifth among Carolina wideouts in our fantasy football WR rankings.

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New Panthers RB Miles Sanders is clearly in line to lead the team's rushing after signing the biggest free-agent contract for any RB that switched teams this offseason. HC Frank Reich called him "a three-down back" in June, according to AP. And Sanders said he's excited to reunite with RBs coach Duce Staley, who "knows what I can really do." He certainly seems to be expecting more receiving work. But Sanders' past three years have been pretty terrible in that area. He went from 3.1 receptions per game as a rookie to 2.3, 2.2, and 1.2. And his 10.2 yards per catch fell to 7.0, 6.1, and 3.9. Sanders has also seen his Pro Football Focus pass-blocking grade decline each year. RB Chuba Hubbard doesn't look like a great bet to steal a big role after seeing his work decline in Year 2. RB Raheem Blackshear, however, caught 123 passes at 9.9 yards per catch over a 5-year college career that spanned two stops. There's also room for the Panthers to import a veteran such as Kareem Hunt. Sanders carries some upside from his mid-RB2 position in our fantasy football rankings. Just make sure you don't overrate him simply because you can't see who else in the Carolina backfield would claim significant opportunity share.

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Panthers RB D'Onta Foreman racked up 165 yards and a TD on 21 carries in Saturday's whipping of the Lions. RB Chuba Hubbard added 125 yards on 12 carries, and even RB Raheem Blackshear scored among his 3 carries. Carolina gets a rematch with Tampa Bay in week 17. Foreman and Hubbard combined for 181 yards on 24 carries in the 1st meeting. It'll still be tough to trust either member of this inconsistent backfield inside the top 24, but the upside is clear.

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