Chuba Hubbard's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales said on Monday that running back Chuba Hubbard (calf) will not require surgery for his strained calf. Hubbard was placed on season-ending Injured Reserve last week and will miss the final two games of the 2024 regular season. It's a downer to end what was a brilliant campaign for the 25-year-old in his fourth year in the NFL. He set career-highs in rushing attempts (250), rushing yards (1,195), rushing touchdowns (10) and receptions (43) while recording 171 receiving yards and an additional touchdown in his 15 starts. In terms of half-PPR points per game (14.9), Hubbard was the RB12 in fantasy. Although the Panthers have another promising back they drafted in 2024 in Jonathon Brooks, he has yet to be healthy, and Carolina also signed Hubbard to a four-year extension last month. Hubbard should enter 2025 as the team's unquestioned RB1.

Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard (calf, knee) has been placed on injured reserve, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The move will effectively end Hubbard's season with two weeks remaining on the schedule. Hubbard enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2024, running with the opportunity to lead Carolina's backfield. He finishes the year with 1,195 rushing yards, 171 receiving yards, and 11 touchdowns. Not only did he take over the backfield from Miles Sanders, but he also allowed the Panthers to be patient with the debut of Jonathon Brooks, who recovered from a torn ACL only to re-injure himself in his third NFL game. Hubbard, who ranks 12th among running backs in fantasy points (PPR), played well enough to earn a four-year contract extension during the middle of the season, signifying that the Panthers want him to be a centerpiece of their offense long-term. He should remain the Panthers' primary running back when he returns healthy in 2025, ranking as a high-end RB2 option in fantasy football. Meanwhile, for the final two games of the 2024 season, the Panthers will likely rely on some combination of Raheem Blackshear, Velus Jones Jr., and Mike Boone out of the backfield. There's also a slight chance that Sanders could return from IR for next week's season finale. Without a clear backfield alignment, it's risky to start any Panthers running back in fantasy football for Weeks 17 and 18.

Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard (knee) is questionable for Sunday's game versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Hubbard has managed limited practices on Thursday and Friday, which is an encouraging sign of his availability for Week 17. Hubbard has had a stellar 2024 campaign, ranking as the RB11 on the season. He has 1,195 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground. Combined with 171 yards and one touchdown through the air. Fantasy managers can confidently start Hubbard this week, as the Buccaneers defense is nothing to write home about. In addition to the matchup, Hubbard has earned a 77.3% snap share on the season and is earning most of the opportunities out of the backfield of late. Hubbard is a borderline RB1 and comes in as RotoBaller's RB12 in the latest rankings for fantasy championship week.