Fantasy Football News

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.

Panthers RB Chuba Hubbard tied his career high with 28 carries in Sunday's win over the Eagles. He took those for 120 yards and a TD. Hubbard came close to a second score late but got tackled at the 2-yard line after picking up a first down following the 2-minute warning. Carolina kneeled twice from there to close out the game. Hubbard added a 1-yard catch among 2 targets. Trevor Etienne played just three snaps and handled the Panthers' only other RB touch (a carry). RB Anthony Tyus III played two snaps but didn't get a carry or target.

Hubbard handled 20 rush attempts for 122 yards and 2 TDs while catching one of his 2 targets for another seven yards on his way to a season-high 25.9 PPR points in the Panthers’ primetime win over the Lions. With this latest RB6 finish in Week 4, he has now produced an RB1 ranking in every week of the season.

Panthers RB Jonathon Brooks is undergoing core-muscle surgery on Wednesday and will be out "at least" 6 weeks, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. It's the latest setback for a guy who's played just 5 games since arriving in 2024.

Update: Brooks has been placed on IR, knocking him out for the next 4 games. HC Dave Canales said Wednesday that he expects Brooks to miss 6-8 weeks.

The Panthers consider RB Jonathon Brooks "week-to-week while he gets second opinions on his groin injury," according to Tom Pelissero of The Ringer. Brooks suffered the initial injury in training camp and aggravated it in Sunday's win over the Falcons.

Panthers RB Chuba Hubbard rushed 10 times for 49 yards and a TD in Week 1 against the Bears. He also added 3 catches for 38 yards and another TD. Hubbard dominated the RB snaps for the Panthers. He played 48 snaps while Jonathon Brooks was the clear back-up, playing only 13 snaps.

Panthers RB Jonathon Brooks (groin) is not listed on the final Week 1 injury report. He was limited in the first two practices of the week with groin soreness but put in a full workout on Friday. Brooks will play vs. the Bears this weekend, although we’re projecting Chuba Hubbard to lead the backfield.

Panthers RB Jonathon Brooks (groin) was limited in Wednesday's practice. He'd been working off to the side of practice for the past week with what we now know is a groin issue. The limited practice should have Brooks on track to play vs. the Bears on Sunday, but he'd be a shaky fantasy start. RB Chuba Hubbard is off the Week 1 injury report after missing much of August with a hamstring injury.

After missing much of August with a hamstring injury, Chuba Hubbard is the healthier of Carolina's top two RBs heading into Week 1. HC Dave Canales said Monday that Hubbard "looks fast, strong, like he was before." RB Jonathon Brooks, meanwhile, has been working off to the side with trainers for close to a week now with what Canales has deemed "soreness."

Panthers RB Jonathon Brooks has worked off to the side of practice with trainers the past two days. HC Dave Canales said Brooks is dealing with "soreness" but wouldn't specify where, per ESPN's Mike Kaye.

Chuba Hubbard returned to practice after suffering a hamstring injury on August 12, per Mike Kaye of ESPN. Hubbard told reporters on August 24 that he feels good and felt the trainers were simply being cautious with him. Now, he’s officially back on the field.

Panthers HC Dave Canales said the backfield will be a committee to open the season with Chuba Hubbard alongside Jonathon Brooks. Hubbard told reporters his hamstring feels good and that he thinks trainers are being cautious after he may have returned too soon from a calf injury last season.

Panthers RB Chuba Hubbard is week-to-week with a hamstring injury, HC Dave Canales said Thursday. The team is confident that Hubbard will be ready for Week 1, which is exactly one month away. But his absence gives RB Jonathon Brooks even more opportunity to carve out an early-season role.

Panthers RB Jonathon Brooks was a full participant in Tuesday's padded practice, likely his first real contact since tearing his ACL in December 2024. He missed all of training camp in both 2024 and 2025 while rehabbing a pair of ACL injuries.

Panthers HC Dave Canales was asked about RB Jonathon Brooks earlier this week and highlighted his ability in the passing game. "JB has looked great, in the run game, certainly, but also in the pass game," Canales said. "Half of his highlights coming out of college were screen passes, wides, things down the field. He has a great ability to catch the ball, track it, and transition once he catches it. Just finding different packages and ways to get him involved in the offense, and he’s looked great so far."

Panthers RB Jonathon Brooks said Tuesday that he's been fully cleared to participate in the offseason program, according to The Athletic's Joe Person. Brooks missed the entire 2025 season after tearing his right ACL for the second time in a 13-month span. Brooks added Tuesday that he feels "close to 100%."

ESPN's David Newton doesn't expect free agent RB Rico Dowdle to return to the Panthers. "Unless Dowdle wants to return at a bargain price, he appears headed to his third team in three seasons," Newton wrote via ESPN.

Remember Jonathon Brooks? The 46th overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft has played just three games for the Panthers. He opened his rookie season rehabbing from a torn ACL suffered in college and then re-tore that ACL in his third game. Brooks missed the entire 2025 campaign. But he's "headed in a good direction" now, GM Dan Morgan said Tuesday.

Panthers RB Rico Dowdle missed Tuesday's practice with a toe issue. HC Dave Canales labeled him "day to day," so it doesn't sound like this is something that will keep Dowdle from playing against the Buccaneers on Saturday. But we'll keep you updated on his status over the next few days. RB Chuba Hubbard would step into a workhorse role if Dowdle missed Week 18.