Is Chuba Hubbard Playing in Week 8? Should I Pick Up Raheem Blackshear In Fantasy Football?

The Carolina Panthers shocked the league, and probably even themselves, with their dominant performance over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 7. Days after trading their stud running back Christian McCaffrey, the Panthers turned to backups D’Onta Foreman and Chuba Hubbard to steamroll the Bucs' defense on the ground.

Fantasy managers scavenging the waivers collectively celebrated their clairvoyance as each back emerged as a viable fantasy asset for the week.

Unfortunately, Hubbard was officially ruled out of Carolina’s Week 8 game with an ankle injury he sustained in last week’s win. Now the hubbub surrounding Hubbard shifts to fellow backup Raheem Blackshear as a member of the running back committee.

After Carolina demonstrated their ability to support two fantasy-relevant running backs, will Week 8 produce the same result? Let’s break down what we know to determine if D’onta Foreman and Raheem Blackshear should be in your fantasy lineup.

How Have D'Onta Foreman And Raheem Blackshear Contributed To The Panthers Offense?

Panthers interim coach Steve Wilks addressed the team’s intention to continue with a running back by committee in Hubbard’s absence. While D’Onta Foreman is the anticipated favorite to absorb the most work, rookie Raheem Blackshear is also expected to see more opportunities.

Week 7 saw the Panthers utilize an unusually run-heavy game script against a Buccaneers defense ranking first in fantasy points allowed to running backs through Week 6. Carolina ran the ball 27 times, accounting for 54% of the team’s total plays. Foreman received a team-high 15 carries, followed by Hubbard’s nine and Blackshear’s two.

D’onta Foreman was on the field for 54% of offensive snaps. He made his presence known on his way to accumulating 118 rushing yards and 27 receiving yards on two catches.

We have a small sample size for Raheem Blackshear on the offense, but he has been effective on Carolina’s special teams so far. Blackshear received his first two NFL carries in Week 7 after the Panthers signed him off the Bills’ practice squad last month. We’ll give him the benefit of the doubt and say he was just warming up, but those carries netted -5 yards.

Should I Start D'Onta Foreman Or Raheem Blackshear In Fantasy Football For Week 8?

With their victory over the Buccaneers, the Panthers are surprisingly still in contention among the NFC South. Expect the Panthers to lean on experience with Foreman in Week 8 against the Atlanta Falcons. Blackshear presents a minimal threat to cannibalize Foreman’s touches and will likely be used in a change-of-pace and special teams role.

Foreman is the man for me among this Panthers backfield in Week 8 and beyond. View him as an RB2 for this week’s game against a Falcons defense allowing a respectable 18.7 half-PPR fantasy points per game to running backs.

For fantasy managers in deep leagues grasping for a long-shot speculative add, Blackshear could have bench-stash handcuff appeal if both Foreman and Hubbard were to miss any time in the future. For now, he can comfortably rest on the waivers until he demonstrates his value as a fantasy contributor.

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