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Hubbard heads to training camp atop Carolina’s depth chart. Hanging on to that spot would give him a good shot at RB2 production.
But he’ll need to play much better than he did last year to hold off the talented and now seemingly healthy Jonathon Brooks.
Consider Hubbard a risk/reward RB3 target in fantasy drafts.
Customize his projection for your exact league settings inside the Draft War Room.Hubbard ran for 511 yards and 1 TD and caught 30 balls for 223 yards and three more scores across 15 games last year.
He finished 43rd among RBs in PPR points per game; 44th in half-PPR.
Hubbard opened the season as Carolina’s lead back. Over the first three weeks, he:
But Hubbard injured his right calf in Week 4, missed the next two games, and vacillated between operating as the 1B and clear No. 2 RB behind Rico Dowdle the rest of the way.
Hubbard ranked RB57 in PPR points per game from Week 7 on.
Hubbard was one of the least effective runners in the league last year. Among 51 RBs with 90+ carries, he ranked:
Hubbard’s advanced metrics were mostly better before the calf injury:
Hubbard wasn’t much better in the passing game, finishing 28th in yards per route and 30th in PFF receiving grade among 40 qualifying RBs.
The 2025 Panthers finished 27th in both total yards and points.
It was a run-leaning offense that leaned even further in that direction after the opening few games.
From Week 4 on, Carolina ranked:
Hubbard ran behind an offensive line that finished fifth in Pro Football Focus run-blocking grade and eighth in adjusted line yards.
Hubbard’s play has yo-yoed through five NFL seasons. His yards per carry:
Hubbard was excellent in 2024, ranking top-9 among 47 qualifying RBs in rush yards over expected per attempt, yards after contact per attempt, and PFF rushing grade. He finished 13th among RBs in PPR points per game as Carolina’s lead back that year.
He’s been generally inefficient as a receiver, though, averaging fewer than 5.8 yards per target in four of five seasons. His 5.1 career yards per target ranks 62nd among 76 active RBs with 50+ career targets.
Hubbard has missed four games across five NFL seasons, two with an ankle injury in 2022 and two with the calf last year.
He also missed the last four games of his final college season with an ankle injury.
Hubbard will head to training camp atop Carolina’s depth chart after Dowdle left for Pittsburgh in free agency.
But he’ll face fresh competition from Brooks. The 46th overall pick of the 2024 draft missed all of last season after a second ACL tear. But he was fully cleared in April and is capable of pushing Hubbard for snaps.
Brooks averaged 114 rushing yards and 1.0 rushing TDs on 6.1 yards per carry, plus 2.5 catches and 29 receiving yards, across 10 games at Texas in 2023. His 3.91 yards after contact and 0.33 missed tackles forced per attempt were both top-25 marks among 158 qualifying RBs. The 6’0, 207-pounder has workhorse upside.
Hubbard will need to be better than he was last year to fend off Brooks.
QB Bryce Young returns for his fourth NFL season, limiting this offense’s upside. Young has mustered just 6.0 yards per attempt for his career, including 6.3 in each of the last two seasons. Carolina hasn’t finished better than 23rd in total yards or points in any of Young’s three seasons.
The Panthers also have a couple of question marks on the offensive line. The biggest is at LT, where Ikem Ekwonu is expected to miss the start of the season after rupturing a patellar tendon in the playoff loss to the Rams.
Carolina tried to patch that loss by signing Rasheed Walker to a one-year, $4 million deal in free agency and spending the 19th pick of this spring’s draft on Monroe Freeling as potential fill-ins for Ekwonu.
The Panthers also lost C Cade Mays to Detroit in free agency. He’s expected to be replaced by Luke Fortner, who has been subpar across four NFL seasons.
This unit could decline vs. 2025, especially early in the season without Ekwonu.
HC Dave Canales and OC Brad Idzik return for their third season running the Panthers offense. The results have been underwhelming:
It’s been a good spot for RB fantasy production, though. Hubbard finished 13th at the position in PPR points per game in 2024. Last year, Hubbard sat RB17 through Week 4, and Dowdle ranked 12th from Week 5 on.
Canales also helped Rachaad White to a RB10 finish as Buccaneers OC in 2023.
Expect the Panthers to lean on the run again in 2026, creating plenty of fantasy value in the backfield.
Hubbard is just a couple of seasons removed from a RB13 finish in PPR points per game as Carolina’s lead back. If he rediscovers that form and holds off Brooks, he could at least be a strong RB2 for fantasy squads.
Hubbard was one of the least effective runners in the NFL last year and has never been very good in the passing game. If his play doesn’t bounce back, Hubbard could quickly lose the lead job to Brooks and become a fantasy reserve.
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Jonathon Brooks Takes Another Important Step In Comeback
Jonathon Brooks Takes Another Important Step In Comeback
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.
Jonathon Brooks Could Get Pass-Catching Work
Jonathon Brooks Could Get Pass-Catching Work
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."
Jonathon Brooks Fully Cleared From Second ACL Tear
Jonathon Brooks Fully Cleared From Second ACL Tear
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%."
Is Rico Dowdle Likely to Leave Carolina?
Is Rico Dowdle Likely to Leave Carolina?
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.
Will Jonathon Brooks Be A Factor In 2026?
Will Jonathon Brooks Be A Factor In 2026?
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.
See whether Chuba Hubbard is available in your leagues.
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