Hubbard’s day was cut short by the lopsided score in a 43-13 loss to Tampa Bay. He ran 7 times for 33 yards and caught 4 of 5 targets for 27 yards, finishing as RB26 for the week. The usage was still strong before garbage time. He handled 75% of the RB opportunities, 78% of the rush attempts and every third-down snap, and he ran a route on 76% of dropbacks. Trevor Etienne played just 9 of 43 snaps before garbage time, and Hubbard was pulled along with the other starters once the game got out of hand.
2026 Fantasy Football Impact
The 7 carries were a season low after Hubbard handled 20 and 28 carries in his previous two games, totaling 242 rushing yards and 3 TDs. He now has 459 rushing yards and 4 TDs on 96 carries (4.8 per carry), plus 15 catches for 112 yards and 2 TDs. The depth chart behind him also looks thin. AJ Dillon was inactive for a second straight week despite practicing in full. The Panthers signed Anthony Tyus III off their practice squad, and he scored a late TD. The bigger concern is up front, as RT Taylor Moton was carted off with an ankle injury early in the third quarter.
The schedule sets up well for Hubbard. Carolina visits Green Bay in Week 8, hosts Denver in Week 9 and visits New Orleans in Week 10. Heading into Week 7, the Saints had allowed the most fantasy points per game to RBs (30.07), the Packers ranked third (26.82) and the Broncos seventh (23.80). Hubbard’s workload makes him a must-start, low-end RB1, even if Moton misses time.
