They say money talks. If that’s the case, could Miles Sanders’ (signed for four years and $21.4 million last March) dynasty value rebound after being pushed aside in his first season with the Carolina Panthers?
With a new head coach at the controls and youth still on his side, let’s dive into Sanders’ resume and what fantasy football managers should do with the former second-round pick as he looks to earn your trust after a disastrous 2023 campaign.
Miles Sanders’ Dynasty Outlook
Sanders came into the NFL with high expectations in 2019. He spent two years practicing behind Saquon Barkley at Penn State before taking over the reins in 2018 and racking up over 1,400 yards with nine touchdowns.
That production elevated him to the second round, where the Philadelphia Eagles selected him and promptly gave him 229 touches as a rookie. He was viewed as a strong prospect with some versatility in his profile and the potential to lead a backfield for years to come.
Huge run for Miles Sanders!#WASvsPHI
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) December 22, 2021
Injuries limited Sanders over the next two seasons, but in 2022, he nearly doubled his career touchdown total and was used again as a true bell-cow back (259 carries, eighth-most in the league). The ability to thrive in that role earned him a four-year, $25.4 million deal from the Panthers ahead of the 2023 season.
“Shiny Car Sanders” may not be an official nickname, but that was the story of Year 1 in Carolina. The second the ink dried on that lucrative contract, Sanders’ value tanked.
Sanders averaged just 3.3 yards per carry (3.0 if you remove a single big play that showed such ineptitude from the New Orleans Saints on a tackling front that the Panthers headlined the highlight as “Sanders looks like Barry Sanders on 48-yard run”) and didn’t get more than 10 carries in a game after November.
Thomas Brown was the offensive coordinator last season. Once he took over play-calling duties, Chuba Hubbard was the clear lead, while Sanders was an afterthought.
The good news for managers holding a Sanders bag is that Brown is now the passing coordinator for the Chicago Bears. But the point remains that a running back guru (Brown was drafted at the position in 2008 and has spent most of his coaching career involved with backfields at various levels) had more faith in Hubbard, a running back whose four-year deal was worth less than Sanders’ annual payment.
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Sanders is entering his age-27 season in an offense that can only improve and a franchise that is financially motivated to give him every opportunity to succeed.
Working in his favor is that Hubbard wasn’t anything special in his extended role down the stretch of 2023 (3.8 yards per carry with none of his 238 carries gaining more than 22 yards).
By nature, backfields are fluid in the NFL — will Sanders get the opportunity that he lost last season and run with it?
Sanders’ Dynasty Ranking
Where does Sanders land in the dynasty RB landscape going into the 2024 offseason? Here are Soppe’s latest rankings, featuring where Sanders lands in comparison to other top names at the position.
1) Bijan Robinson | ATL
2) Christian McCaffrey | SF
3) Breece Hall | NYJ
4) Jonathan Taylor | IND
5) Jahmyr Gibbs | DET
6) Saquon Barkley | PHI
7) Travis Etienne Jr. | JAX
8) Kyren Williams | LAR
9) James Cook | BUF
10) Kenneth Walker III | SEA
11) De’Von Achane | MIA
12) Isiah Pacheco | KC
13) Javonte Williams | DEN
14) Alvin Kamara | NO
15) Rhamondre Stevenson | NE
16) Derrick Henry | BAL
17) Nick Chubb | CLE
18) Josh Jacobs | GB
19) Rachaad White | TB
20) Zamir White | LV
21) D’Andre Swift | CHI
22) Tony Pollard | TEN
23) Aaron Jones | MIN
24) Jaylen Warren | PIT
25) Brian Robinson Jr. | WAS
26) Najee Harris | PIT
27) Tyjae Spears | TEN
28) Blake Corum | FA
29) James Conner | ARI
30) Joe Mixon | HOU
31) Jonathon Brooks | FA
32) Trey Benson | FA
33) Austin Ekeler | WAS
34) David Montgomery | DET
35) Keaton Mitchell | BAL
36) Raheem Mostert | MIA
37) Gus Edwards | LAC
38) Devin Singletary | NYG
39) Zack Moss | CIN
40) Kendre Miller | NO
41) Zach Charbonnet | SEA
42) Dameon Pierce | HOU
43) Roschon Johnson | CHI
44) Khalil Herbert | CHI
45) AJ Dillon | GB
46) Chase Brown | CIN
47) Tank Bigsby | JAX
48) Chuba Hubbard | CAR
49) Tyler Allgeier | ATL
50) J.K. Dobbins | LAC
51) Jerome Ford | CLE
52) Miles Sanders | CAR
53) Alexander Mattison | LV
54) Antonio Gibson | NE
55) Elijah Mitchell | SF
56) Justice Hill | BAL
57) Darrell Henderson Jr. | FA
58) Jamaal Williams | NO
59) Rashaad Penny | FA
60) Kenneth Gainwell | PHI
Should You Trade Sanders in Dynasty?
Are you considering trading Sanders? Our free PFN Trade Analyzer allows you to find the best trade offer to make in seconds!
While I think Sanders offers upside from where public perception currently sits, I simply can’t bring myself to buy the dip and would be looking to move on if presented with the opportunity.
- First 2 seasons: 3.30 yards per carry after contact
- Next 2 seasons: 2.98 ypc after contact
- 2023: 2.65 ypc after contact
That’s a 9.7% drop from Sanders’ first two to his next two and then another 11.1% drop last season. Hubbard didn’t excel last season, but he was 15.2% better on a per-carry basis behind the same iffy offensive line and did manage to catch 39 of his 44 targets (88.6%).
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I have this essentially as a coin flip as to who gets the first carry of 2024, and to be honest, I’m not sure it matters. It’s difficult for a good offense to sustain two running backs, and I’m not close to labeling the Panthers as merely average.
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