One of the biggest breakout stars of last season was Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard. Viewed initially as a placeholder for the inevitable Jonathon Brooks takeover, Hubbard kept the starting job all season and posted RB1 numbers. Should fantasy football managers go back to the well in 2025?
Should You Draft Chuba Hubbard in Fantasy?
When implementing a draft strategy that involves running back fragility, there’s value in early-season certainty. The entire premise of “Zero or Hero” RB is that by churning the waiver wire, you will plug the holes in your running back position(s) by midseason.
Every year, there are usually a couple of running backs who project for heavy early-season workloads but are unlikely to sustain full-season value. Last year, that was Hubbard.
He filled in admirably when Christian McCaffrey was injured, proving he can be a viable fantasy RB2 in a pinch. With Brooks recovering from a torn ACL and set to miss at least the first month of the season, Hubbard had a very secure and stable role as the Panthers’ RB1.
Chuba Hubbard was an absolute dawg in 2024.
Here’s every run charted as “10+ yards after contact” pic.twitter.com/obHKFaO927
— Jacob Gibbs (@jagibbs_23) June 24, 2025
Anyone drafting Hubbard knew they could get about 4 to 6 weeks of solid RB2 production, but that he was likely on borrowed time. As a result, Hubbard’s price in fantasy drafts was relatively low for a starting running back. After all, the second half of the season is more important than the first, and Hubbard presumably wasn’t going to be around to help fantasy managers when it mattered most.
Of course, as everyone now knows, Brooks never was able to get going. He remained sidelined for longer than expected. After he returned, Hubbard had firmly established himself, placing Brooks in a more minor role. Then, Brooks re-tore his ACL.
Hubbard wound up starting the entire season, playing 15 games in total. He averaged 16.1 fantasy points per game and was one of the best values in all of fantasy. Although he missed Week 17, Hubbard still qualifies as a league winner because he posted a career-best 32.5 fantasy points in the all-important fantasy semi-final in Week 16.
Hubbard averaged 4.8 yards per carry last season, which was mighty impressive on an otherwise bad Panthers offense. However, there are some lingering concerns regarding his ability.
I’m ngl, Chuba Hubbard has had an All Pro / Pro Bowl type season this year, but bc he plays on the #Panthers he won’t get the recognition he deserves.
Here’s a thread 🪡 of his best plays from 2024 pic.twitter.com/6ffS4ziwC6
— IAmWestsideFetti 💙🖤🤟🏾 (@4MR_Fetti) December 24, 2024
No one entered last year having pegged Hubbard as one of the league leaders in opportunity share. He played 77.3% of the snaps and saw a 77.9% opportunity share. His 11.7% target share was 14th in the league. A lot of Hubbard’s production stemmed from elite volume.
Hubbard averaged just 0.71 yards per route run, 34th in the league. He was 33rd in yards per touch and 36th in yards created per touch. While his performance earned him an extension and a commitment from the Panthers, he did not play at a level that makes him undeniable.
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With that said, I do believe Hubbard is entrenched as the lead back for the Panthers, and his job is not going to be threatened by Rico Dowdle or Trevor Etienne. At the same time, both of them are vastly superior players to Miles Sanders, Raheem Blackshear, or anyone else who played behind Hubbard last season. No NFL team wants to give a single back 25+ touches a game.
We should be projecting a decrease in volume for Hubbard. However, that does not necessarily make him a fade. I am still quite bullish on Hubbard.
For starters, his average draft position (ADP) does not reflect his 2024 performance. He’s going as the RB16, three spots lower than his last season finish.
The Panthers had a top-10 run-blocking offensive line last season and did not lose any of their big men.
Additionally, the Panthers project to be a better offense. Tetairoa McMillan gives them a true WR1. Bryce Young played much better over the final month of last season. A better offense as a whole gives Hubbard more scoring potential and should help his efficiency.
I have Hubbard ranked as my RB17, right in line with consensus. He also goes into an area of the draft where I don’t necessarily feel great about the wide receivers, making Hubbard an appealing option.
Dan Fornek’s Chuba Hubbard Fantasy Projection
Chuba Hubbard continued to dominate the touches in Carolina’s backfield in 2024. The veteran running back handled 250 carries for 1,195 yards and 10 touchdowns while adding 43 receptions (on 54 targets) for 171 yards and a touchdown. Hubbard finished as the RB13 in PPR points per game (16.1), his second consecutive season with double-digit fantasy points per game.
The running back made the most of an upgraded offensive line and the improved play of Bryce Young in 2024. Hubbard ranked seventh among running backs in expected points added (7.81). He was ninth in rushing success rate (44.4%) and seventh in yards after contact (3.0). Hubbard’s lack of explosive rushes (10.4%, 27th) suggests that he’s a product of volume instead of talent, but that shouldn’t be an issue in 2025.
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Carolina has already announced that 2024 second-round pick Jonathon Brooks will miss the entire 2025 season after tearing his ACL again last season. The Panthers used both free agency (Rico Dowdle) and the draft (fourth-round pick Trevor Etienne) to add depth to the backfield. Both players are capable of earning a role in 2025, but this backfield will be Hubbard’s to lose once again. He doesn’t have a strong enough receiving role to finish as a top 10 running back in 2025, but should once again be a solid RB2 who can have RB1 weeks throughout the season.
