Chuba

Hubbard

Sanders made his return to the Carolina lineup after an extended absence due to an ankle injury and made the most of the opportunity as the team’s lead back with Chuba Hubbard sidelined. Sanders, who scored the game-winning touchdown in overtime, had a 33-yard reception in the first half and later caught a short touchdown from Bryce Young — one of Young’s three throwing scores on the day. Sanders started 2024 in a competition for touches with Hubbard but was quickly relegated to breather back status before suffering the ankle injury. He had 200 rushing yards over 11 games while catching 24 passes. Sanders, 27, is signed with the Panthers through the 2026 season. Hubbard should retake his spot atop the Carolina backfield depth chart next year.

Hubbard was listed as questionable with a knee injury for the Week 17 matchup with the Buccaneers and Panthers head coach Dave Canales said he expected the 25-year-old running back to play after Friday’s practice. He was having a great season that included earning a rare midseason extension at the position seemingly no teams want to reward with long-term contracts. Hubbard was a borderline RB1 heading into fantasy championship week, but now his managers will be scrambling for other options. Mike Boone will likely start in Hubbard’s absence with Miles Sanders also on injured reserve. Boone is in flex consideration as more of a desperation play as he doesn’t offer nearly the same upside as Hubbard.

Head coach Dave Canales said after Friday’s practice that the team expects Hubbard to play in Week 17 despite the questionable designation. The Panthers’ RB1 will be in line for another solid workload for this week’s fantasy championship matchups and should be fired up in all formats as a fringe RB1/RB2.

Hubbard being listed as limited is an upgrade from Wednesday’s DNP. The Panthers’ do-it-all back should be good to go for Week 17’s game against the Buccaneers, but we’ll see how things look when the final injury report is released on Friday. If he can’t play, the Panthers could be looking at Mike Boone as their starter, with Miles Sanders still on injured reserve.

Attempting to bounce back from one of his worst starts of the season, Hubbard had one of his best. That included waltzing in for a 21-yard walk-off touchdown in the extra frame. Today was the first time in five weeks Hubbard averaged more than 3.6 yards per carry. Maybe he’s wearing down a bit under what has officially become the biggest workload of his career, but Hubbard has a potential high-scoring environment for Week 17 in the Bucs. Tampa’s defense is stingier on the ground than through the air, however.

The Panthers couldn’t get much going on offense and bled points to Dallas on the other side of the ball, making it impossible to establish much of a ground game. Hubbard still saw the bulk of the backfield opportunities, out-touching practice squad call-up Mike Boone 14-2. With Miles Sanders and Jonathon Brooks both on injured reserve, the only thing stopping Hubbard from lighting up the scoreboard is his dreadful offensive environment. That had been better over the past month, but things came crashing down this week with four Bryce Young turnovers. Hubbard and the offense should look better in Week 16 against the Cardinals, keeping Hubbard near the top of the RB2 ranks for the fantasy semifinals.

Blackshear’s health normally wouldn’t change the fantasy landscape in the slightest, but with Jonathon Brooks and Miles Sanders both out, Blackshear is the next man up for RB2 duties in Charlotte. Blackshear’s absence would lock Chubba Hubbard in for nearly every available snap at running back in Week 15.

He added four catches for 15 yards on five targets. Already staked to a big role, Jonathon Brooks’ injury made the backfield 100 percent Hubbard. He was more of an efficient runner than an explosive one, with only three negative runs all day — one of which was because Bryce Young tripped on third-and-goal — and a long of just 15. Hubbard will be on the RB1/RB2 borderline in Week 15 against the Cowboys given the volume and Dallas’ up-and-down run defense.

Hubbard took 100.0 percent of the two-minute drills snaps, plus 14-of-17 third- and fourth-down snaps but failed to earn a single target. Jonathon Brooks, meanwhile, earned three. Hubbard’s overtime fumble was likely his most consequential play. Buccaneers LB Anthony Nelson cleanly stripped the ball out of Hubbard’s hands on a run up the middle from the Buccaneers’ 34-yard line. Hubbard could see a reduced role against the Eagles in Week 14. He is an RB2/3 for the occasion.

Hubbard had full control over the Carolina backfield with rookie Jonathon Brooks making his pro debut. Hubbard saw almost all the early down work and, importantly, the red zone opportunities, including a short touchdown in the fourth quarter. Like almost every running back to face Kansas City this season, Hubbard was held in check, averaging a meager 3.7 yards per carry and rarely seeing open running lanes until late in the second half. He should have better prospects in Week 13 against a gettable Tampa defense. Brooks is a bench stash for now.