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Will Chuba Hubbard start for the Carolina Panthers when he returns? Andy Smith breaks down the Chuba Hubbard return timeline and fantasy football outlook.
Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard stands out as the Panthers' clear RB1 despite the team also bringing in veteran Rico Dowdle from the Dallas Cowboys.
In the first four games of the young season, Hubbard dominated the backfield, receiving 13.3 attempts per game with 4.3 targets per game. However, before Week 5, Hubbard would suffer an ACL injury, which paved the way for Dowdle to take over RB1 duties.
So will Hubbard return to being the RB1 for the Panthers when he's back on the field?
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Will Chuba Hubbard Start For The Panthers When He Returns?
Dowdle has rushed over 180 yards in every game in which Hubbard has been sidelined, which could put Hubbard's starting job in danger. During these two games, Dowdle has averaged an impressive 33.1 PPR points per game with two touchdowns, 26.5 attempts per game, and 4.5 targets per game.
However, on Wednesday, ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler reported that Hubbard should maintain a prominent role in the backfield.
Fowler noted that Hubbard will remain a "focal point." However, given Dowdle's near-dominant play as the RB1, Hubbard's days of seeing 20+ combined touches are likely coming to an end.
While Hubbard will not be a true three-down back much longer, fantasy managers should expect him to remain involved in the offense, even if the Panthers opt to take a committee approach with their top running backs. Given Dowdle's impressive stretch as the starter, this backfield could take a similar approach as the Seahawks are doing with Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet.
Rico Dowdle Set to Take Over Panthers Backfield? https://t.co/RNYFWIeG3W
— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) October 14, 2025
Chuba Hubbard Fantasy Football Outlook
While Hubbard will still hold solid RB2 value, his usage will be capped due to Dowdle's emergence. However, managers should still expect Hubbard to be a viable FLEX option on a weekly basis. During the opening month of the campaign, Hubbard was averaging a solid 14.0 PPR points per game and carried high-end RB2 upside.
However, with the Panthers likely to split the backfield opportunities, Hubbard may be touchdown-dependent to reach RB2 status.
Managers should still hold Hubbard on their bench in all leagues until he returns from action. While he will not be a must-start player as he once was, he should still provide higher-end FLEX value, with the potential for spike weeks, given his usage in the red zone.
Panthers Won't Name Chuba Hubbard the Starter https://t.co/I91ugV0kN8
— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) October 13, 2025
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Popular Week 7 Searches - Start/Sit Player Comparisons
Below are some popular Week 7 searches and comparisons from our 'Who To Start' tool for Quinshon Judkins, Tony Pollard, Isiah Pacheco, Woorky Marks, Zach Charbonnet, Kenneth Gainwell, Jordan Masoncompared to others:
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