Chuba Hubbard — 2026 Fantasy Outlook

Hubbard's NFL workload began in earnest in 2021, when Carolina handed him 197 touches behind Christian McCaffrey, producing 786 combined yards, six touchdowns, and 25 catches. His efficiency left something to be desired (3.6 yards per rush and 7.0 yards per catch), but he still managed five usable fantasy weeks (18.40, 13.50, 15.10, 15.80, and 13.60 points in PPR). That usage faded down the stretch, as Carolina limited him to just 7.9 touches per game over the final nine weeks.

His 2022 season opened with Hubbard buried on the depth chart, managing just six carries for 34 yards and a single catch through six weeks. A Christian McCaffrey trade appeared to clear his path, but an ankle injury in Week 7, suffered during a 73-yard, one-touchdown performance, sidelined him for two additional games and stalled any momentum. Worse, he found himself sharing time with D'Onta Foreman for much of the second half of the season, limiting him to 80 carries for 368 yards and a touchdown, plus 11 catches for 160 yards, over Carolina's final eight games. His only notable fantasy weeks in that stretch came in Week 14 (18.90) and Week 16 (12.60).

Despite Carolina bringing in Miles Sanders for 2023, Hubbard proved to be the better back, setting career highs across nearly every category (1,135 combined yards, five touchdowns, and 39 catches). His big-play ability remained elusive, as he again posted modest efficiency marks (3.8 yards per rush and 6.0 yards per catch). A heavy 150-touch workload over Carolina's final seven games translated to 609 combined yards, four touchdowns, and 16 catches, good for 14.41 FPPG in PPR leagues, but it was only enough for a 27th-place finish among running backs at 182.50 points.

For the third straight year, an injury elsewhere on the roster (this time to Jonathan Brooks) opened the door for Hubbard, and he made the most of it, leading Carolina in both rushing (250/1,195/10) and receiving (43/171/1). An improved offensive line helped him push his per-carry average up to 4.8 yards, his best mark yet, before a right knee injury that didn't require surgery ended his season two games early. He topped 100 rushing yards four times (21/114, 18/104/1, 28/153/1, and 25/152/2) and was notably more productive at home, where he compiled 858 combined yards, seven touchdowns, and 28 catches. Carolina fed him 20 or more touches in six different games, cementing his role as the clear lead back.

Last season, Hubbard came into the fantasy draft season with a higher buzz due to his 2024 success and was expected to have a cleaner path to touches. He opened the year with two competitive showings (98 combined yards with a touchdown and three catches, and 77 combined yards with a touchdown and five catches), followed by competitive outcomes in yards (76 with three catches and 69 with three catches).

A calf injury cost him two starts, followed by disappointing stats over his final 11 games (81/294/1 – 3.8 yards per rush with 17 catches for 129 yards and a score). His only playable fantasy games over this span came in Week 13 (20.30) and the playoffs (19.90). The Panthers gave Hubbard fewer than 10 touches in eight of his final nine games in the regular season.

Hubbard should get close to 200 touches, leading to 800 combined yards with about five touchdowns and 25 catches.