Should I Drop Jonathon Brooks? Fantasy Football Outlook for Week 13

Sometimes, the bigger hype trains don't crash and burn but grind to a slow halt over the course of the season. Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks rushed just two times for seven yards in his first NFL action. It's clear to most by now that his preseason expectations won't come close to being met. 

The rookie back didn't get a single opportunity until Week 12 while he recovered from his ACL tear from November of 2023. It's clear that this season is a punt now. But he could still have some value in fantasy football.

So should he be dropped?

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Should I Drop Jonathon Brooks in Fantasy Football?

Probably not. Fantasy football is all about upside, and his contingent ceiling is massive. The Panthers have shown great, and at times elite, run blocking this season. Carolina invested heavily in the interior offensive line this season, and it's paid off massively. We've seen the results with RB Chuba Hubbard being a surprise elite fantasy option this year.

This run blocking by the panthers o line can’t get better than this pic.twitter.com/uiFzY5r6nS

— finesse (@finesseboard) October 6, 2024

A big reason for Hubbard's success has been the chasmic valleys the OL has opened up in opposing defensive lines. They even allowed him to have a respectable day against the best run defense in the NFL, the Kansas City Chiefs, in Week 12. While this doesn't help Brooks much, it could in the future.

Brooks should be at least held as a handcuff by all fantasy managers who have Hubbard rostered. Should No. 30 go down, Brooks immediately becomes a potential league-winner due to the quality of the OL, the excellent run schemes of head coach Dave Canales, and the role he would have.

Panthers RB Miles Sanders (ankle) was placed on injured reserve after Week 12, meaning he'll miss at least Weeks 13-16. There's a scenario where Brooks would share the backfield with Raheem Blackshear, who hasn't logged a carry this season. That would be massive.

Who Should I Pickup in Week 13 Fantasy Football?

It looks like Los Angeles Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins (knee) could miss some time due to a knee injury he picked up on Monday. If that's the case, RB Gus Edwards is a logical waiver wire pickup if you need help at RB. Though that's scarce this late in the season. There are scant options at the position in general.

You could also take a shot on New York Giants running back Devin Singletary, but he doesn't have much upside either. The current lead back, Tyrone Tracy Jr., has had a fumbling issue lately, but that's correctible. A lack of explosiveness and talent isn't.

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