RADIO
Former Texas running back Jonathon Brooks entered the 2024 NFL Draft as one of the best all-around backs in the class. His agility, speed, and quick feet made him an interesting target for any running back-needy team early in the draft. He was also coming off his best college season in 2023.
However, the two biggest things working against Brooks heading into the draft were a torn ACL that he suffered late in 2023 and limited opportunities in college. Still, that didn't seem to matter to the Carolina Panthers, as they selected him 46th overall. The Texas product was the first running back off the board in the class.
So, will Brooks see some production in Year 1? What is his rookie situation like in 2024? Let's dive in and find out if the 20-year-old has any fantasy football value this season.
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College Production
Brooks has gotten to learn behind some solid running backs in his college career, including Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson. Both Robinson and Johnson were ahead of him on the depth chart at Texas in 2021 and 2022, which resulted in limited playing time for Brooks. He had just 51 combined carries for 340 yards and six touchdowns during those seasons.
However, once both Robinson and Johnson left for the NFL Draft, Brooks finally got the opportunity to shine in Texas' backfield. He led the way for the Longhorns in 2023 and totaled a career-high 1,139 yards and 10 touchdowns behind an impressive 6.1 yards per carry. He also caught 25 passes for 286 yards and one touchdown through the air. That strong campaign raised his draft stock and made him one of the top running backs in this past draft.
The best back in the NFL Draft.
Here's every Jonathon Brooks TD 🍿@2brookss x @Panthers pic.twitter.com/mBLnrDRzQf
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) April 29, 2024
It was a nice sign to see Brooks finally get his chance in Texas' offense after not getting many opportunities in his first two years. During that 2023 college season, he showed that he is more than capable of being an NFL starter one day and has the tools to be a solid one, too. Despite tearing his ACL against TCU on November 11 and not playing in the College Football Playoff, the 20-year-old back showed enough good things in his one college season as a starter.
Rookie Year Situation
The right landing spot is extremely important for running backs in fantasy, especially those who get drafted early. Many analysts thought Brooks was going to get selected by the Dallas Cowboys late in the second round -- which would have been the perfect spot for the rookie. Nonetheless, Dallas never had a chance because the Panthers drafted him midway through the second round at pick 46.
The Panthers selecting Brooks this early in the draft was a bit of a surprise. There were clearly other needs on the board, and running back certainly wasn't one of them. Carolina just signed Miles Sanders to a four-year contract last offseason, and Chuba Hubbard showed some promising things in the starting role last year. Hubbard ran for 902 yards and five touchdowns in 17 games last season. With those two backs still with the team, the rookie might have a tough time seeing opportunities in Year 1.
Panthers HC Dave Canales after drafting Jonathon Brooks
"Versatility... Get him out in space. Perimeter screens. Checkdowns. We have a really cool empty package"
Chuba, Miles and Penny do not have this skillset
It's only a matter of time for Jonathon Brooks pic.twitter.com/rVOO3aFrM4
— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) May 6, 2024
Now, of the three backs, Brooks is definitely the most talented. So, there's a strong chance he will eventually take over as the Panthers' RB1 as the season progresses. But, at the start of the year, expect him to have more of a reserve role, especially coming off a torn ACL.
Brooks is not necessarily in a great situation in his rookie year. He will likely have to compete for touches with two other backs and will lose out on plenty of opportunities because of it. There were better landing spots for the 20-year-old in Year 1, and Carolina was not one of them.
Fantasy Football Outlook
Despite a questionable landing spot in his first year, there are a couple of things trending in the right direction for Brooks as a rookie. For starters, it appears that new head coach Dave Canales wants to run the ball a ton in Carolina. That is certainly good news for the former Texas product. Canales also mentioned that the team plans to utilize the young back in the passing game and said his versatility is "probably the biggest thing that stood out."
With the way Canales is talking about Brooks, there's a chance the rookie has some fantasy potential in Year 1. However, be careful about spending a premium to select him in redraft formats. He might be stuck behind Hubbard and/or Sanders to begin the year, which would severely limit his value in all formats. That should change, though, as the season goes on.
JONATHON BROOKS is THE RB1 in 24
💥Impressive contact balance
💥Quick/Lite feet for size
💥Vision & awareness to hit holes
💥Capable Receiver🏥 Some worries w ACL injury but recovery ahead of schedule, minimal wear, late breakout w ascending talent
Comfortably taking 1.10-12 https://t.co/V9Ix3WWcTA pic.twitter.com/s7VLDZc2cF
— Dynasty Dad (@DynastyDadFF) May 11, 2024
There is certainly a learning curve for rookies in the NFL. But, as we have seen in the past, once we hit the second half of the season, those rookies get more involved on offense. That could be the case with Brooks in 2024. Just be patient with him to start the year because there could be very few chances for him in the first couple of weeks.
In dynasty, Brooks deserves to be a first-round pick in all formats. He is the best running back in this draft class, and Carolina is a great long-term landing spot for him. Hubbard is a free agent after the 2024 campaign, while Sanders could be released before the 2025 season. The Panthers would save $5.225 million by releasing the veteran after this year. This backfield will eventually exclusively belong to the former Texas star, making him an easy target at the back end of the first round.
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