Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks ($4,700) has been sidelined since Week 2 with a groin injury but could be back on the field sooner rather than later. Brooks returned to practice this week and got full sessions on Wednesday and Thursday, giving him a strong chance to play in Sunday’s Week 10 matchup with the Saints.
With Brooks likely to return, should fantasy managers be stashing the running back on their roster?
Jonathon Brooks Fantasy Outlook
Brooks is an elite prospect the Panthers used a second-round pick on in 2024, but he has been very injury-prone during his collegiate and professional career. The running back tore his right ACL during his final season with Texas in 2023, then tore it again during his rookie season with the Panthers in 2024, missing the entire 2025 season.
Brooks finally entered this season cleared to play and was a trendy fantasy pick this summer, but it only took two games for him to go down with a groin injury that has cost him the last six games.
Brooks wasn’t producing or playing much before he got hurt, either. He scored just 7.2 and 2.1 FPTS in the first two games of the season, with just nine carries on a 25% snap rate. Brooks also only saw three targets on 15 routes.
Given Brooks’ injury history, it’s hard to imagine the Panthers giving him much work over the next few weeks. Brooks should see 5-10 touches a game behind Chuba Hubbard ($7,200), who should remain the Panthers’ bell cow back.
Brooks could eat into Hubbard’s role more significantly later in the season. He’d also likely see a featured role if Hubbard ever gets hurt, making Brooks a solid bench stash. Unfortunately, Brooks can’t be viewed as anything more than a stash right now, and expecting him to be a viable fantasy starter while Hubbard is healthy is unreasonable.
