Fantasy football managers drafted Miles Sanders this summer on the promise of the lion’s share of work in the Carolina Panthers‘ backfield but didn’t quite get what they were promised.
Yet, with a higher share of the carries in Week 11, is Sanders worth adding off of waivers?
Should Miles Sanders Be a Fantasy Waiver Wire Add in Week 12?
Sanders started the year out with 18 attempts in Week 1, but managers saw the number slowly decrease as the year went on. It was unclear if this was because of the emergence of Chuba Hubbard as the RB2 or the lingering effects of a preseason groin injury.
It seemed to be a combination of both, with Sanders missing Week 6 due to injury and Hubbard being successful with the touches he was given. Since Week 4, Hubbard has been out-carrying Sanders, sometimes by double the amount. However, this week, the rushing workload reverted to a near 50/50 split — Hubbard handled 10 carries, and Sanders finished with 11, with the latter parlaying those attempts into 50 yards.
It is a tough landscape out there for RBs, and with bye weeks still to account for — not to mention the multitude of injuries at the position — Sanders is worth a glance. However, he is not a high-priority waiver add heading into Week 12 for a few reasons.
First of all, the Carolina offense is still sputtering, having only won one game with rookie Bryce Young under center. The Panthers stand very little chance of being in a game script that would lend itself to their RBs being used to run out the clock with a sizable lead in hand.
Another reason Sanders is not a priority is that the team still values Hubbard. Even with Sanders logging one more carry Sunday, Hubbard ran more routes and was targeted more than Sanders, showing that the team plans on keeping him involved in their offensive plan.
Finally, the RB schedule for the Panthers moving forward is tough. They have Tennessee, Tampa Bay, and New Orleans still on their 2023 ledger — all teams that are above average at stopping the run.
MORE: PFN Consensus Rankings
Sanders is worth a look in a larger league with a deeper bench, but he doesn’t look to be an integral cog in a fantasy manager’s championship wheel. You would be better off using a bench spot to grab a backup for one of your starters if you are already playoff-bound.
Looking to make a trade in your fantasy league? Having trouble deciding who to start and who to sit? Setting DFS lineups? Check out PFN’s Free Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer, Start/Sit Optimizer, and DFS Lineup Optimizer to help you make the right decision!