Carolina Panthers DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales said on Monday that the team hopes to open up the 21-day practice window for rookie running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) this week. Brooks, a second-round selection by the Panthers out of Texas back in April, is recovering from a torn ACL that he suffered in college. The 21-year-old appears to be nearing his return to make his NFL debut, but just because his practice window is set to open this week doesn't mean he'll be active in the Week 7 contest against the Washington Commanders. And with Chuba Hubbard being one of the best running backs in the league over the last few weeks, the Panthers have no need to rush Brooks back into the fold before he's ready. Brooks should already be stashed in dynasty/keeper leagues, but now that he's getting close to joining Carolina's backfield, he's not a bad stash in deeper redraft leagues, either, especially if you're hurting at the RB position.

Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle led the team in rushing in the 47-9 loss to Detroit, although that isn't saying much given that the team had just 53 rush yards. Dowdle carried the ball just five times for 25 yards. He also caught five passes for 30 yards. Dowdle's ability to mix in as a pass-catcher will keep him relevant week-to-week but as evidenced by this weekend, he can be sat in tough matchups. Although Dowdle was the more efficient of the two Cowboys' backs, Ezekiel Elliott had three more rush attempts. Dowdle and the Cowboys are on bye this coming week before another tough matchup with the San Francisco 49ers.

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Xavier Legette scored for the second time in his career during the 38-20 loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. He finished with four targets, three receptions, 23 yards, and one touchdown. The rookie's fantasy value has increased since Andy Dalton took over at QB and Adam Thielen (hamstring) went out with a hamstring injury. In that span, Legette has received 18 targets and turned them into 12 receptions for 139 yards and two touchdowns. Legette and the Panthers will have to go to the air often next week as they take on the Washington Commanders in Week 7.

Carolina Panthers tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders caught 5-of-7 targets for 49 yards in Sunday's loss to their division-rival Atlanta Falcons. It was the most productive outing of Sanders' young career thus far, and he's performed well in the stead of teammate Tommy Tremble (concussion). The rookie tight end's five targets in Week 5 were more than Tremble had racked up in any contest this season, and he might have made a case for a more prominent role even when the injured Tremble returns to the lineup. It's a case worth monitoring, though the future of this offense is murky. For now, Andy Dalton is the quarterback, but for how long has yet to be determined. The 21-year-old could be busy again in Week 7 when he lines up against a Washington Commanders squad that came into this Sunday averaging the most points in the NFL. However, he'll be tough to trust as a viable source of fantasy output, especially if Tremble is active.

Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard rushed 18 times for 91 yards in the team's 38-20 loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, adding 11 yards through the air and five receptions on eight targets. It was another effective day for Hubbard, while the only thing missing from his stat line was a trip to the end zone. It's the fourth-straight game for the 25-year-old with at least 92 yards on the ground and the fifth in a row with at least four receptions. Since Week 3, the Oklahoma State product's 82.8 PPR fantasy points are second only to Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry. Hubbard has a favorable Week 7 matchup against the Washington Commanders and can continue to be fired up as a strong RB2 while Carolina's backfield is his.