After struggling badly early in the season, the Panthers have picked things up since turning back to Bryce Young ($5,300) as starter in Week 8. While Young has been solid, the team’s workhorse statistically has been Chuba Hubbard ($6,500). Hubbard has been very effective overall this season, and he’s set up for a great stretch run. He’s a strong RB1 for the season-long fantasy playoffs and a good option for DFS in the coming weeks as well. Let’s take a look at his success and why I think it will continue.
Chuba Hubbard’s secure role
Hubbard seemed like he might be about to fade into a timeshare in Week 13, when he has just 12 carries and a meager 3.3 fantasy points against the Bucs. Rookie Jonathon Brooks (knee) had a season-high six carries in that game and played a season-high 21% of snaps.
In Week 13, though Brooks went down with a knee injury on his third snap and first carry. On Monday, coach Dave Calanes confirmed the worst and ruled Brooks out for the season.
Panthers coach Dave Canales says rookie RB Jonathon Brooks suffered torn ACL. pic.twitter.com/60fJbO6TPb
— NFL (@NFL) December 9, 2024
It’s the same ACL Brooks tore last year at Texas, and he’ll face a long road to recovery. While that’s brutal news for him, it means that Hubbard is locked into an every-down role moving forward. Elsewhere on the depth chart, Miles Sanders (ankle) remains on IR and won’t be eligible to return for at least two more weeks. Raheem Blackshear ($4,000; chest) underwent additional testing at a local hospital after leaving Sunday’s game but was discharged and is day-to-day, according to Canales.
The Panthers may have to bring in some depth options, but none of them will be much of a threat to Hubbard, who played 97% of snaps on Sunday against the Eagles. He totaled 30 touches (26 carries and four catches) for 92 rushing yards, 15 receiving yards and a touchdown. Check out his elusiveness in these highlights:
Via @NextGenStats: Chuba Hubbard forced a career-high 10 missed tackles Sunday afternoon, the most by a Panthers player since Week 2, 2021 (Christian McCaffrey, 12) pic.twitter.com/0vidB1uNiL
— John Ellis (@1PantherPlace) December 9, 2024
A very solid season so far
Hubbard also crossed the 1,000-yard mark for the season on Sunday for the first time in his career. In his 13 games, he has 1,011 rushing yards, 141 receiving yards, nine touchdowns and an average of 16.3 fantasy points per game.
Over the last few weeks, Hubbard has been trending up with the exception of that rough showing in Tampa Bay. He has over 20 fantasy points in three of his last five weeks and at least 9.0 fantasy points in 11 of his 12 games since Week 1.
He brings both a high ceiling and a high floor for the Panthers.
Great matchups ahead
The Panthers have been on the prowl the last few weeks, losing close games to the Chiefs, Bucs and Eagles after beating the Saints and Giants before their bye week. Carolina has kept game competitive which keeps Hubbard vitally involved in the game plan.
For the fantasy playoffs, they should continue to be in competitive games where Hubbard has a favorable matchup. Next week, they host the Cowboys who will be on a short week after facing the Bengals. Dallas has been the third-best matchup for running backs this season. In the last three weeks, Running backs have scored four rushing touchdowns against the Cowboys, and they are averaging 101.9 rushing yards and 37.8 receiving yards per game.
After facing the Cowboys, the Panthers are at home against the Cardinals, who were just trampled by Zach Charbonnet on Sunday and have allowed the 11th-most fantasy points to the position this season. In Week 17, he does have a little tougher matchup on the road against the Bucs, but Tampa has been a little more beatable on the ground this season than in past years where they were a “stay away” matchup.
The bottom line
Hubbard should be a great option to count on for the next few weeks in season-long leagues. He is also worth a look in Week 15 against the Cowboys for DFS contests, like the NFL $2.5M Fantasy Football Millionaire [$1M to 1st].
The Cowboys haven’t played in Week 14 yet, but the Panthers are one-point home favorites over them right now on DraftKings Sportsbook.
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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is z.thompson) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
