Chuba Hubbard, Jonathon Brooks' Panthers Usage Updated in NFL Rumors, Fantasy Impact, Draft Advice

The Carolina Panthers have a pair of talented running backs in six-year veteran Chuba Hubbard and third-year speedster Jonathon Brooks, but their shared backfield creates a dilemma for fantasy football managers.

Brooks was selected in the second round of the 2024 draft, but he played in just three games as a rookie after suffering his second ACL tear in his right knee, and he missed the entire 2025 season while recovering. According to ESPN's Dan Graziano, Brooks' questionable durability gives Hubbard the edge as the Panthers' most dependable ball-carrier.

"They're excited about Brooks, but his health history means they will be extremely careful with him. He offers a lot of potential and explosiveness, but only if they can keep him on the field," Graziano explained. "That's why, to my understanding, the plan is for Hubbard and Brooks to split carries this season. If Hubbard stays healthy, he's the one in whom they've built up more trust, so I'd expect him to be the one the Panthers lean on to try to grind out games when they have the lead."

Hubbard recorded career highs of 1,195 yards and 10 touchdowns during Brooks' absence in 2024, but he was slowed by a calf injury last season that eventually cost him his starting role. He finished with just 511 yards and one rushing score while splitting carries with Rico Dowdle, who signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers in free agency.

Despite Hubbard's down year, Graziano pointed out that the Panthers "like Hubbard a lot -- as a runner, as a locker room leader, as many things." Brooks is expected to get a chance to prove his worth, but it still sounds like Carolina trusts Hubbard more.

"The split should be pretty close, but it would not be a surprise at all to get to the end of the season and see that Hubbard got the majority of the work," Graziano added.

Fantasy football managers should view both Hubbard and Brooks as boom-or-bust RB2 options. It's hard to justify drafting one of them without getting the security of also drafting the other, and it's far from ideal to dedicate two roster spots to players who play the same position on the same team.

For now, it appears that Hubbard would be the safer pick in fantasy drafts. Until Brooks can stay healthy, it won't be easy to depend on him without having a strong backup plan in place.