Chuba Hubbard, Rico Dowdle, Trevor Etienne - Fantasy Football Outlook For Carolina Panthers RBs In 2025

Nathan Harvey looks into Chuba Hubbard, Rico Dowdle, and Trevor Etienne's fantasy football outlooks in 2025. Which Carolina Panthers' RB Has the Best Value in 2025?

The Carolina Panthers enter the 2025 season optimistic for a breakout year in their second season with head coach Dave Canales.

After an incredibly slow start to the 2024 season, quarterback Bryce Young and the offense found their groove after the week 11 bye, averaging nearly 25 points per game, which was on pace to finish 10th in the NFL.

While the Panthers had a 5-12 record and weaknesses across the roster, the running back position was not one of them. Yet, the Panthers still made several acquisitions to take the run game to the next level.

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Chuba Hubbard – Rank: RB18

The Panthers' starting running back, Hubbard, is coming off a career year where he carried the ball 250 times for nearly 1,200 yards and 10 touchdowns in 15 games. Hubbard entered last season in a split backfield with Miles Sanders, while 2024 second-round draft pick Jonathon Brooks was expected to take over the backfield later in the year.  However, Hubbard beat out Sanders as the clear starter, while Brooks reinjured his knee and never got involved in the offense.

During the first eight games of last season, when a committee was in effect, Hubbard played 68% of the snaps and averaged under 15 carries a game. When both Sanders and Brooks missed time in the latter half of the season, Hubbard was a workhorse, garnering 87% of the snaps and averaging 19 carries a game. Hubbard ended up missing the last two games of the season due to a calf injury.

#Panthers GM Dan Morgan on Chuba Hubbard and Rico Dowdle:

“We’re excited about both those guys, kind of a 1-2 punch. They both can catch the ball out of the backfield, they can both pass protect, and they’re both obviously really good runners that we’re excited about.” pic.twitter.com/w1he1dNN1I

— The Coachspeak Index (@CoachspeakIndex) March 26, 2025

It’s clear that the Panthers want to lessen Hubbard’s workload, with the addition of another 1,000-yard running back in Dowdle, and the selection of Trevor Etienne in the fourth round. Hubbard will be the starting running back, but the increased competition in the Panthers’ backfield will make it difficult for him to sustain his 2024 numbers. Hubbard’s value as the RB18 in half-PPR formats is too steep without his previous workhorse role.

Rico Dowdle – Rank: RB54

Dowdle had his best season with the Dallas Cowboys in 2024, totaling over 270 touches for 1,328 yards and 5 touchdowns in 16 games. Down the stretch of last season, Dowdle put it into high gear, ranking as the RB13 in half-PPR formats from week 12 on.

Best-to-Worst 2024 RBs by % of Carries Failing to Gain Positive Yardage
+min. 115 carries, @FantasyPtsData

1. Rico Dowdle (12.3%) 👀
t2. Bijan Robinson (13.8%)
t2. Derrick Henry (13.8%)
4. Bucky Irving (14.0%)
...
37. Zach Charbonnet (23.7%)
Worst / 38. De'Von Achane (24.1%) 👀 pic.twitter.com/RVerSNKLx6

— Fantasy Points Data (@FantasyPtsData) July 21, 2025

Dowdle is expected to be the RB2 behind Hubbard, but has been the superior receiving back in his career. Dowdle had more receiving yards and receiving touchdowns last season than Hubbard has had in any of his four years in the NFL. In the Panthers’ first two preseason games, Dowdle was prolific in the receiving game, catching passes of 20 yards and 15 yards, while Hubbard went without a catch.

Dowdle’s path to standalone value will be through the receiving game, but otherwise, he’ll be a handcuff and a fantasy pest for Hubbard. Dowdle is coming off the board as the RB55 in half-PPR formats, which is a fair price considering his receiving skills and clear path to the starting role if Hubbard were to be injured.

Trevor Etienne - Rank: RB79

The Panthers didn’t stop adding to the running back room after signing Dowdle, selecting the former Florida Gator and Georgia Bulldog running back. Etienne never cleared 800 yards rushing in college, with his yards per carry declining every season from 2022 to 2024. In the last 25 years, no running back has rushed for over 500 yards in their rookie year who didn’t gain over 800 yards in a college season.

Etienne performed well at the combine, running a 4.42 40-yard dash and showing incredible burst, with a 1.51-second 10-yard split (second-fastest in the 2025 RB class). While those metrics are solid, it’s hard to imagine Etienne contributing on the offensive side of the ball.

Every play of 10+ yards for Trevor Etienne in the 2025 preseason #KeepPounding pic.twitter.com/biynEpY1zX

— The Real Ball Watcher (@thaprotest4) August 23, 2025

Etienne’s role will likely be on special teams as the potential starting kick returner for the Panthers this season, while Hubbard and Dowdle handle the rushing duties. If either starter were to get injured or miss time, the door would open for Etienne to get some touches and potentially earn a complementary role.

The rookie’s current ranking is the RB80 in half-PPR formats and should go undrafted in most fantasy leagues this season.

Conclusion

Hubbard will be the starting running back for the Panthers this season, but with a reduced workload to keep him fresh and healthy. Dowdle is expected to be the backup and will garner more work in the receiving game. Etienne will play more special teams and be the Panthers’ third-string running back.

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