Chuba Hubbard 2021 Outlook: Useless Until He's Not
4 years agoAll things considered, Chuba Hubbard landing in Carolina is fantastic for his value. Fantasy managers are typically overconfident in their ability to predict the beneficiaries of injuries to running backs, but there are a handful of exceptions every season. Hubbard certainly looks like one of them. With Christian McCaffrey not going anywhere, there is no chance Hubbard has any standalone value, nor is there any hope he can play his way into a starting role. Hubbard is going to be a backup for the duration of his rookie deal. That seems like a grim outlook for Hubbard, but his path to fantasy value is crystal clear: a CMC injury. It happened last season and we saw Mike Davis post multiple RB1 weeks. Hubbard should easily work his way into the clear backup role. If he can't pass Trenton Cannon and Reggie Bonnafon on the depth chart, then his career is over before it even begins. Hubbard is the type of back you stash on your bench when you have the roster space to do so because he's a guaranteed RB2, at worst, if something were to happen to McCaffrey. Hubbard is worth the final RB spot on your roster with the knowledge you will likely drop him early in the season when you need the spot. He will remain a name to keep an eye on all season and someone you always want to stash if you can afford to do so because of the upside.