The running back position doesn’t have a ton of superstars available on the free agent market, but there are a few names of interest … including Miles Sanders. He’s coming off a solid season, posting a career-best 1,347 scrimmage yards and 11 touchdowns. That was good enough for him to finish with 216.7 fantasy points.
The best fantasy scenario is that Sanders remains with the Eagles, whether it’s via a new contract or the franchise tag. But where else would he retain the most fantasy value if he doesn’t remain in Philadelphia? This doesn’t have anything to do with salary caps, money, etc., but it’s more about his overall fantasy appeal.
Top Five Fantasy Landing Spots: Aaron Rodgers | Jimmy Garoppolo | Saquon Barkley | Tony Pollard | JuJu Smith-Schuster
Here are five teams that could have a need at running back and would be interesting spots for Sanders to land next season. Let’s start things off in South Beach.
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Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins could have a gaping hole in the backfield – Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson Jr., Salvon Ahmed (RFA) and Myles Gaskin are all slated to be free agents. If the team decides to go the free agent route, Sanders could become an option. While he had only 20 catches a season ago, he did catch 50 balls as a rookie and could be used as a three-down back in what will remain a high-powered offense.
Carolina Panthers
The Panthers could be in the market for a running back, as D’Onta Foreman is slated to become a free agent. Sanders could be an option, forming a backfield committee with Chuba Hubbard in an offense that could use more playmakers. Carolina will want to run the football under new head coach Frank Reich, and Sanders would have a pretty attractive offensive line blocking in front of him.
Buffalo Bills
Devin Singletary is slated to become a free agent, and James Cook isn’t built to be a true featured back. So, what if the Bills decided to go with Sanders as their new lead runner? He would lose red-zone opportunities to quarterback Josh Allen, but Sanders would also be in a balanced offense where defenses couldn’t key on the run. Sanders would remain in the conversation as a No. 2 fantasy running back.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs appear to be done with injury-prone and inconsistent Clyde Edwards-Helaire, and Jerick McKinnon is slated to become a free agent. The team does have Isiah Pacheco in the backfield, and I’m not sure pairing him with Sanders makes a ton of sense. Still, Kansas City has tended to use a backfield committee in recent seasons and Sanders would benefit from playing in a high-octane offense.
Chicago Bears
The Bears utilize a run-based offense with an up-and-coming young quarterback in Justin Fields, but the team lacks for playmakers around him. If the Bears decide to let David Montgomery walk as a free agent, Chicago could decide to add Sanders as his replacement. This is an odd and unlikely scenario because Montgomery is a better running back (in my opinion) and he’s basically the same age as Sanders.
Michael Fabiano is an award-winning fantasy football analyst on Sports Illustrated and a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association (FSWA) Hall of Fame. Click here to read all his articles here on SI Fantasy. You can follow Michael on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram for your late-breaking fantasy news and the best analysis in the business to help you win a fantasy championship!
