Chuba Hubbard

Activated off IR before Week 10 but was inactive for game Panthers HC Dave Canales told reporters that rookie second-round pick Jonathon Brooks is expected to make his debut Sunday vs. the Chiefs. (ESPN - Adam Schefter) FF Today's Take: The Panthers have slow-played Brooks more than anyone could have imagined before the season, but it appears he will get his first NFL touch at some point in Week 12. Unfortunately for him and his fantasy owners, it seems extremely likely he will begin his NFL career operating as a clear backup to Chuba Hubbard, who signed a rich extension about two weeks ago. Fantasy managers feeling the bye week pinch can use Brooks as a desperation flex option, but it is likely his Week 12 ceiling will be 8-10 touches against a very good run defense.

He called Sanders' ankle injury "week to week," which is a degree stronger than Ian Rapoport's assertion that Sanders would be considered "day to day" last week as the Panthers headed into their bye week. Sanders has a 38/139/1 line on the season as the main Chuba Hubbard backup. Jonathon Brooks will take over that role this week. Sanders can be dropped in any leagues he was still being held in.

It's been a long time coming for Brooks, who was the first running back selected in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Panthers activated Brooks from the reserve/NFI list on November 6th but opted not to play him in Week 10. He had an extra week to recover during the team's Week 11 bye, but is now expected to be active for Week 12's game against the Chiefs. Brooks will eat into Chuba Hubbard's workload going forward, but it's hard to know how much of a dent he'll make early on. Hubbard is fresh off signing a four-year contract extension with the Panthers, an indication that they still plan to utilize him at a high rate in the coming years. Fantasy managers who have stashed Brooks all season will soon be rewarded for their patience, but he's best left on fantasy benches until we get a better sense on how the team plans to use him.

Sanders was carted off in Week 10 against the Giants, but his ankle injury doesn't appear to be of the season-ending variety. Rapoport said the team believes Sanders, the team's No. 2 back behind Chuba Hubbard, could "miss a little time." Look for Jonathon Brooks to take on RB2 duties in Week 11 with Sanders out, while Hubbard remains the lead back in the run-first Carolina offense.

Amid his breakout season, Chuba Hubbard recently signed a four-year, $33.2 million extension with $16.4 million guaranteed.