The first day of Panthers training camp saw running back Jonathon Brooks on the practice field. That’s a significant development for the 2024 second-round pick. Brooks made a late debut as a rookie because he was recovering from a torn ACL and his run ended when he tore the same ACL again in his third game. Brooks missed all of last season while recovering and said in April that he was feeling close to 100 percent after an extended rehab period. On Thursday, head coach Dave Canales said Brooks resembled the player that the team was so high on when he came out of Texas. “Really looking forward to, just the hard work that JB has had to do over the last couple of years to get him to this point ,” Canales said, via the team’s website. “He feels great. He feels strong. He looks fast; he looks like the guy that I remember, and I’m really excited for that. But more so just, for a guy to go through things and to be able to have the emotional and mental resiliency to go through that training twice, to get himself back, this is a celebration, and you can feel the gratitude in him; you can feel the focus and how important this opportunity is for him.” The Panthers have Chuba Hubbard and Trevor Etienne back from last year’s team, but Rico Dowdle moved on to Pittsburgh after leading the team in rushing and that should leave the door open for Brooks to grab a share of the backfield work if he continues to impress the coaching staff
Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks, recovering from consecutive season-ending injuries, made a strong impression in his first training camp practice. Coach Dave Canales noted his resemblance to his pre-injury form, setting him up to compete with Chuba Hubbard for immediate backfield snaps
Carolina Panthers rookie RB Jonathon Brooks is practicing with the first-team offense as he returns from consecutive season-ending knee injuries. He has a chance to earn a significant role in 2026, with veteran Chuba Hubbard currently atop the depth chart and Rico Dowdle no longer with the team
Training camp battles loom for several teams, particularly at tight end for the Chargers with additions of Charlie Kolar and David Njoku alongside returning Oronde Gadsden. In Carolina, Chuba Hubbard faces competition from a healthy Jonathon Brooks for the starting running back job. Meanwhile, the Browns will see Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders competing for the starting quarterback position
Carolina Panthers running back Trevor Etienne is still only 22, but there is not much reason to buy the dip after a quiet rookie season. The 5-foot-8, 198-pound fourth-round pick played all 17 games in 2025 and saw just 23 offensive touches, rushing 20 times for 94 yards and catching three passes for 13 yards. Most of his work came on special teams, where he returned 31 kickoffs and 20 punts. The backfield has only gotten tighter. Chuba Hubbard remains the lead back, Jonathon Brooks (knee) was back on the field during offseason work, and Carolina added AJ Dillon in March. Brooks is still being managed after missing all of last season, so Etienne is not completely buried, but he has yet to show that he can earn a regular offensive role. RotoBaller now has him outside its top 75 dynasty running backs and at RB84 for redraft. That makes him a reasonable hold in deeper dynasty leagues, especially for managers with room to wait on a young back. He is not a player contenders or rebuilders should be actively targeting, though, and can be left undrafted in ordinary redraft formats
The Carolina Panthers drafted both of their top two running backs with the future in mind. Chuba Hubbard was selected 126th overall in the 2021 NFL draft and has become one of the most consistent and popular faces on the team. He currently ranks fifth all-time in rushing yards for the Panthers with 3,686 yards. That’s about 300 yards more than sixth place Deshaun Foster and 300 yards fewer than fourth place Christian McCaffrey . Carolina controversially traded up for a then-injured Jonathon Brooks , taking him with the 46th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. He is curreny tied 91st all-time for rushing yards in franchise history with 22 yards. He is tied with Panthers greats Derek Anderson , Vinny Testaverde, Tony Fiametta, and Will Grier . All jokes aside, it is neither Brooks’ or Dan Morgan’s fault that he tore his ACL again during his rookie season. All reports currently have him as healthy and ready to ease back into a full season of work. While the question was “who will lead the team in yards” I think the survey results also represent an ideal breakdown of how carries could be split across the Panthers backfield. The Panthers haven’t had a truly split backfield since the days of Deangelo Williams (2nd all-time rushing leader) and Jonathon Stewart (1st all-time rushing leader). Perhaps this is the year they get back to that. Checkout FanDuel , the official sportsbook partner of SB Nation
A survey predicts potential running back rotations for the Panthers, with questions about Hubbard, Brooks, and the possibility of Etienne joining the mix
The Carolina Panthers enter a pivotal season in what has been the Bryce Young era of the franchise. The QB is entering his fourth NFL season and this will likely make-or-break his future with the Panthers. But while Young has shown flashes of upside in the passing game, Carolina has shown it wants to run the ball to take pressure off the young QB. The team didn't find much success on the ground last season, outside of a short stretch of play from Rico Dowdle in mid-October to early-November. With Dowdle gone, Chuba Hubbard will resume his role as the top running back. But might another forgotten early-round pick — Jonathon Brooks — emerge as a fantasy asset in the backfield? Yahoo analyst Justin Boone was joined by Sharp Football's Rich Hribar to talk Brooks' outlook for 2026 on the latest episode of the Yahoo Fantasy Forecast. Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2026 NFL season Hribar mentions how unsuccessful the Panthers were running the ball toward the back half of the 2025 season, ranking near the bottom in success rate, yards per carry and explosive runs. Hubbard was playing through a calf injury last season that held him back and he should enter 2026 healthy. But if Hubbard falters early on, Hribar believes the door is open for Brooks to take over. Brooks, a second-rounder back in 2024, hasn't played since his rookie season, in which he tore his ACL a second time (after tearing it in college at Texas). Hribar makes it clear that he's "no doctor" but some have said Brooks should come back from the second tear stronger. So, the back coming off two ACL tears may not be as big a glaring red flag as one would think. Brooks' fantasy football value really comes down to how Hubbard looks early on, but Hribar is taking shots on both players going into 2026. Boone chimes in at the end that Brooks is turning 23 years old in July, still very young without a lot of miles on his legs after sitting out all of 2025. That should give him a shot to get his career back on track
Fantasy managers are smarter than ever, so finding a player who's actually being slept on can be difficult. With that in mind, we're shifting our focus to late-round targets who could drastically outproduce their ADP in 2026. Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2026 NFL season Over the next week, I'll shine the spotlight on my favorite sleeper candidates at every key fantasy position. Today, we're taking a look at running backs. More Sleeper Picks from Boone : QB | RB | WR | TE Brooks was viewed as the future of Carolina's backfield when the team selected him as a 21-year-old in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Had it not been for an ACL tear in his final collegiate season, Brooks may have gone in Round 1. Even though Brooks was recovering from the serious knee injury, the expectation was that he could eventually emerge as a three-down back as early as the stretch run of his rookie season. However, his return only lasted three games before suffering another ACL tear, which has sidelined him ever since. That brief glimpse of him in NFL action included a nine-touch, 41-yard outing in Week 13 while playing just 21% of the snaps. He also flashed his versatile skill set, with 23 of those yards coming on three receptions. Now, after missing the entire 2025 campaign, Brooks is back at practice and expected to be a significant part of the Panthers' ground game in 2026, alongside Chuba Hubbard. The 27-year-old Hubbard is just one season removed from a 1,366-yard, 11-touchdown season that made him the RB12 in fantasy points per game. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to repeat those numbers in 2025. Hubbard battled injuries and tougher competition for touches with Rico Dowdle stealing the starting job halfway through the year. While Hubbard remains the favorite to open the year as the lead back, it's easy to envision Brooks eating into his workload and usurping him on the depth chart during the season. Even baking in the uncertainty around whether Brooks can regain his pre-injury form, there's almost zero risk involved for fantasy managers who want to draft him this year — with Brooks going off the board outside the top 100 picks as the RB37 in ADP. I'm valuing Brooks as a high-upside sleeper and potential RB3/flex option, with a chance for him to emerge as a fantasy RB2 by the end of the season. Expectations for seventh-round picks are normally very low, with their main goal being just to make the team. By that measure, Croskey-Merritt had a strong rookie season last year, though it felt like he didn't capitalize enough on his opportunities. Brian Robinson Jr. being traded before Week 1 and Austin Ekeler suffering a season-ending injury left a three-man committee with JCM, Chris Rodriguez Jr. and Jeremy McNichols — which limited everyone's fantasy ceiling. However, Rodriguez only topped 70 scrimmage yards twice and never went over 85 yards in a single game. McNichols was a distant third in terms of touches and production. Meanwhile, Croskey-Merritt went over 70 scrimmage yards four times, including twice during the final month. Fantasy managers will remember his contributions well, since he was the RB10 in fppg during the fantasy playoffs, topping 95 yards on two occasions and scoring four touchdowns over that stretch. He'll carry that momentum over to this season as he tries to win the lead back job over pass-catching specialist Rachaad White and sixth-round power back Kaytron Allen. The coaching staff has made it clear that JCM needs to improve his contributions in the passing game if he's going to consistently earn a larger role in the offense. While this could be a frustrating fantasy backfield to decipher week-to-week, there's value to be had with all three Commanders' RBs being chosen in the 10th round or later. Croskey-Merritt is the one I'm drafting most frequently, since he has the greatest potential to emerge as a difference-maker from this group after flashing that high-end production i
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Carolina Panthers wide receiver Xavier Legette said he lost seven to nine pounds in the offseason and is now down to 221 pounds, according to Joe Person of The Athletic. Legette also said he's tried to "bulletproof" his hamstrings after previously having issues with them. The 25-year-old, who was the 32nd overall pick in 2024 out of South Carolina, has failed to live up to his lofty draft capital in his first two years in the NFL in Carolina. Legette has totaled 84 receptions on 148 targets for 860 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in 31 regular-season games (25 starts). His production took a dip last year, too, as he finished with a 35-363-3 line on 64 targets across 15 regular-season contests. Last year's first-rounder, Tetairoa McMillan, looks like the real deal, and Jalen Coker appears primed to be a breakout candidate in his third year as the team's WR2. That leaves Legette battling with John Metchie III and rookie Chris Brazzell II for targets as the Panthers' WR3. In standard 12-team fantasy leagues in 2026, Legette should go undrafted
by Ari Koslow | Panthers Correspondent | Tue, Jun 9th 3:55pm EDT Panthers RB Jonathon Brooks took part in 11-on-11 drills on Tuesday. ( Mike Kaye on Twitter ) Fantasy Impact: Per Kaye, Brooks made a "nice one-cut run in traffic." He is continuing to compete for a role behind Chuba Hubbard in the Panthers backfield. Jonathon Brooks taking part in 11s with a nice one-cut run in traffic. #Panthers Category: Injury Updates | More Jonathon Brooks : News , Rankings , Projections , Stats
Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) missed the entire 2025 season due to a re-torn ACL. While his injury history presents risk, he is on track to return for 2026 and could potentially step into an RB2 role behind Chuba Hubbard, especially with Rico Dowdle no longer on the team. Brooks is considered a buy-low candidate in dynasty formats
Bengals’ Joe Burrow spotted with Dexter Lawrence Far from the first time fans have seen Burrow and Hubbard hanging out. But it’s a first with Lawrence, the subject of the generational trade by a Bengals franchise known for avoiding those types of moves. Tee Higgins Channels His Idol As He Mentors Bengals Rookie WR Colbie Young But for a man who was able to play with his idol for a year, Bengals Ring of Honor nominee A.J. Green , it means something. He remembers how open and accessible “Dream,” was and six short years later he’s doing the same. Bengals 2026 Ring of Honor Ballot Overview At 6-1, 300 pounds, he re-defined the defensive tackle position with an unblockable brew of speed and strength. His 75.5 career sacks led all NFL defensive tackles in the decade of the 2010s, as did his eight Pro Bowls, the most ever by a Bengals defender. Atkins was also named to two All-Pro teams while racking up the third-most sacks in club history. NFL insider’s front office sources are fully aboard the Bengals bandwagon “The last time they had a defense, he almost went to the Super Bowl…and the year before, they probably should have won the Super Bowl. There’s no reason for him not to have a huge year.” Bengals Defender Named Among Top Five Contract-Year Breakout Candidates “ Myles Murphy started to come on at the end of last season, recording three of his career-high 5.5 sacks in the final four weeks of the year,” Arthur wrote. “The additions of nose tackle Dexter Lawrence II, defensive tackle Jonathan Allen , and edge rusher Boye Mafe should create favorable matchups for Murphy, a 2023 first-round pick, in 2026.” My favorite offseason move by every NFL team: Bengals swing big, Chiefs add juice The Bengals needed to do something big for a defense that ranked 29th in EPA per play last season and has struggled for years. Lawrence, 28, certainly qualifies. The 6-foot-4, 340-pound tackle could become the latest Giants castoff to revive his career elsewhere, as Leonard Williams did with Seattle . Landing Lawrence for the 10th pick in the draft beat trusting the Bengals to find an impact player in an underwhelming draft class
Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks is persevering through two torn ACLs in his knee and could have a path to being the Panthers' No. 2 back in 2026 behind Chuba Hubbard, making him an intriguing player to consider targeting in dynasty formats this offseason. The 22-year-old former second-round pick (46th overall) in 2024 out of the University of Texas -- he was the first RB taken that year -- has been fully cleared for the offseason program after missing the entire 2025 campaign in Carolina. Brooks only played in three games in his rookie campaign before re-tearing his right ACL, which at the time was considered potentially career-threatening. Before his knee issues, there was a lot to like about Brooks because of his elite burst, elusiveness, and strong pass-catching skills out of the backfield. It's unlikely that Brooks will ever be a featured back in the NFL, especially after his knee injuries, but if he can stay healthy going forward, there's plenty of reason to believe that he can win the No. 2 job in Carolina over the likes of AJ Dillon and Trevor Etienne now that Rico Dowdle is gone. Brooks should be considered a riser in dynasty/keeper formats, and he's currently ranked as RotoBaller's No. 36 back in those formats
Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard opened the 2025 season as his team's RB1. However, an early-season calf injury forced Hubbard to the sidelines and opened the door for Rico Dowdle to emerge as Carolina's new feature back. While Hubbard worked his way back into a more even playing time split down the stretch of the season, he finished the year with just 734 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns on 164 touches. Luckily for Hubbard, Dowdle signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers in free agency, reopening the door for Hubbard to get his starting role back. The 26-year-old Hubbard is just one year removed from his breakout 2024 campaign with Carolina, when he racked up 1,366 scrimmage yards and 11 touchdowns on 293 touches. Hubbard's dynasty value is firmly trending upwards heading into 2026
Data comes from cached Sleeper and KTC snapshots. Values update when the sync jobs run.
