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Brooks remains a mystery box, with two ACL tears and just nine NFL carries on his resume. But he was an exciting prospect combining size and three-down production. He returns to a backfield led by Chuba Hubbard, who’s coming off an ugly 2025.
Brooks’ 2026 range of outcomes spans from non-factor to Panthers starter and fantasy RB2. Don’t chase him too hard, but he’s an excellent upside bench stash.
Customize Brooks’ projection for your exact league settings inside the Draft War Room.Brooks missed the entire 2025 season after tearing his right ACL on December 8, 2024. That marked the second time Brooks tore that ACL in a 13-month span, with the first injury ending his college career.
Brooks spent his first two seasons at Texas playing behind RBs Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson.
Those guys left for the NFL in 2023, clearing the way for a Brooks breakout. Across 10 games, he averaged 114 rushing yards and 1.0 rushing TDs on 6.1 yards per carry, ranking top 25 among 158 qualifying RBs in yards after contact per attempt, missed tackles forced per attempt, and Pro Football Focus rushing grade.
Brooks was also a weapon as a receiver, averaging 2.5 catches and 29 receiving yards per game. He ranked 21st among 112 qualifying RBs in yards per route and 12th in PFF receiving grade.
But Brooks’ big season ended on Nov. 11 with a torn right ACL.
That prevented him from working out prior to the 2024 draft. But it didn’t stop the Panthers from making him the first RB off the board as the 46th overall pick
Brooks missed the first 10 games of his 2024 rookie season working back from that knee injury.
He debuted in Week 12 but carried just nine times for 22 yards across three games before re-tearing that right ACL.
The Panthers’ backfield moves this offseason look like a vote of confidence in Brooks’ health. They lost Rico Dowdle to Pittsburgh in free agency and made no significant additions, leaving the room to Brooks, Chuba Hubbard, and Trevor Etienne.
Hubbard will head to training camp atop the depth chart, but he’s coming off a disappointing season that saw him lose the lead job to Dowdle. Hubbard mustered just 3.8 yards per carry and bombed in advanced metrics. Among 51 RBs with 90+ carries, he ranked:
Hubbard was much better in 2024, averaging 4.8 yards per carry and finishing top-9 among 47 qualifying RBs in rush yards over expected per attempt, yards after contact per attempt, and PFF rushing grade.
The version of Hubbard Carolina gets in 2026 will go a long way toward determining Brooks’ opportunity. The team at least sounds excited about Brooks’ prospects.
HC Dave Canales in January: “Jonathon Brooks is trending in the right direction. He’s flying around, he’s big, he’s beautiful-looking. He’s one of the more powerful, explosive athletes that we have. He’s gonna have an opportunity to compete to start for this team, just like a lot of other guys.”
GM Dan Morgan on Brooks in May: “He’s doing great. He worked his way back. Fully healthy now, feeling great, looking great out there. Cutting, running fast. So, obviously, we’re super excited about him and potentially where he could bring our offense. In the pass game and the run game, I think he’ll really help us out.”
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 signed Rasheed Walker to a one-year, $4 million deal in free agency and spent 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 was 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.
A healthy Brooks could quickly prove to be the best RB in Carolina. He has a chance to overtake Hubbard early in the season and be the lead back in a run-centric offense. That’d give Brooks a path to RB2 production.
Brooks might never be the same player after a second right-ACL tear.
There’s also environmental risk here. Carolina hasn’t ranked better than 27th in total yards in any of Young’s three seasons.
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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 Jonathon Brooks is available in your leagues.
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