The Carolina Panthers are off to a 1-3 start to the season and in search of their second win as they face the Miami Dolphins this weekend. But they may be forced to do so without starting running back Chuba Hubbard, as his calf issue is proving worse than the team initially expected. Head coach Dave Canales spoke with reporters following today’s practice, saying Hubbard is considered day-to-day and missed practice today.
Hubbard is off to a respectable start to the season with 53 carries for 217 yards already notched this year, along with 94 receiving yards and two touchdowns on the season. From a fantasy football perspective, he is averaging 14.0 points per game based on DraftKings scoring, which ranks 18th among running backs. Hubbard has scored at least 9.6 fantasy points in every game this year and tallied as many as 18.7 across the four games played.
If Hubbard is limited or set to miss the matchup, it would open the door for production from other rushers on the roster. Rico Dowdle would headline the list of beneficiaries and has made his impact felt in his limited chances already this season.
Is Rico Dowdle a Must-Start if Chuba Hubbard Misses Week 5 vs. the Dolphins?
For the time being, keep an eye on Hubbard’s status as the week progresses. But in fantasy football, opportunity can be more important than talent level, and this is a situation where this applies. Chuba Hubbard’s 66 touches rank 19th in the NFL to this point.
Someone will have to make up for these if he is sidelined, and Rico Dowdle is the obvious beneficiary. Through his first four games in Carolina, Dowdle has rushed the ball 28 times for 83 yards and a touchdown and added five receptions for 20 yards through the air. The former Cowboys standout is averaging 5.3 fantasy points per game based on DraftKings scoring. Dowdle posted a season-best 10.8 fantasy points in the Panthers’ Week 3 victory and is coming off a career-high 13.2 fantasy points per game last year in Dallas.
This is an exciting matchup for whatever running back takes the field with Miami’s defensive shortcomings in mind. Through the opening four weeks, the Dolphins rank 26th in points and yards allowed. Looking just at their rush defense, they rank 30th in yards given up, 29th in net yards per rush attempt and 25th in rushing touchdowns conceded. They gave up 197 yards and a touchdown collectively in their most recent matchup with the Jets and have allowed 122+ yards and a rushing touchdown in every game this season.
Dowdle is not a caliber of talent who will be confused for Bijan Robinson or Saquon Barkley, but he is completely serviceable if given the proper opportunity. He rushed for over 1,000 yards last season with the Cowboys in his lone year as the featured back. The South Carolina product finished ranked 21st among running backs in fantasy production.
With the favorable matchup and injury to Hubbard in mind, Dowdle should be viewed as a must-start in every league if Hubbard is to miss. Pencil him in for an RB2 or low-end RB1 and stay tuned for more updates on the current starter before making a full decision.
