Is Miles Sanders The RB1 Of The Panthers In 2023? Fantasy Football Outlook

March 17, 2023

Will Miles Sanders be the Panthers' starting running back in 2023? How did Sanders play during the 2022 fantasy football season? Read the outlook here.

The running back market has been busy to start the 2023 NFL offseason as the big names switch places. The carousel includes Miles Sanders, who is set to join the Carolina Panthers on a four-year, $25 million deal.

It’s an excellent move for Carolina after Christian McCaffrey was traded to the San Francisco 49ers midway through last season, and D’Onta Foreman signed with the Chicago Bears.

Heading into 2023, will Sanders be the RB1 of the team or will he face stiff competition for the role?

Is Miles Sanders The Panthers' RB1 In 2023?

Sanders was the undeniable star of the Philadelphia Eagles' backfield last season. While they fell short of a Super Bowl victory, the former Penn State standout finished the regular season with 259 carries for 1,269 yards (fifth-most in the league) and 11 touchdowns (fourth-most). It’s the first time in four seasons that Sanders reached the 1,000-yard plateau. Those numbers also earned him his first Pro Bowl selection.

Without question, Sanders will be the primary backfield option for the Panthers. However, Chuba Hubbard and Raheem Blackshear will also get some snaps to give him a breather. The 2019 second-rounder can help the Panthers gain enough yards on first and second downs to keep drives going or establish manageable third-down situations. After all, his average of 5.1 yards per carry ranks third among active running backs with at least 250 carries.

It’s also good news that Sanders played all 17 regular-season games in 2022, a feat that he has only done twice in four seasons. Carolina’s offensive line must create spaces for Sanders to breeze through. But while Sanders will fill a massive void in the Panthers’ offense, several questions remain, starting with the man behind center.

More Concerns To Address For The Panthers

Opposing defenses can quickly stop Sanders and the Carolina run game if they know what’s coming. Luckily, they have also added tight end Hayden Hurst, who did reasonably well for the Cincinnati Bengals last season. Terrace Marshall Jr. and Laviska Shenault Jr. are also serviceable as wide receivers. But these pieces won’t work without a steady quarterback in place.

The Panthers trading up for the number one overall pick in the 2023 draft means they are keen on getting a franchise quarterback. Andy Dalton is still on their roster but is not the long-term option. They drafted Matt Corral last year, but his health- and probably his ability to be the starter- are still in question. Sanders’s success in Carolina will depend on the front office getting a play-caller who is a legitimate threat. Otherwise, they might overwork him, causing more injuries that will break down his body.

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