Is Chuba Hubbard the Panthers short-yardage back? Fantasy Football Outlook

The Panthers made some changes to their running back room this offseason by adding Miles Sanders and letting D'Onta Foreman walk in free agency. Chuba Hubbard, though, remains in the mix as the RB2 in Carolina. 

Hubbard, a former fourth-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, is entering his third year in the NFL. He was a backup to Christian McCaffrey for one and a half seasons in Carolina in his first two years, and he will likely back up Sanders in 2023. 

But will he have a bigger role in the offense this season? Is he going to be the Panthers' short-yardage back? Let's take a look. 

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Chuba Hubbard 2022 Season

Following the McCaffrey trade that sent the All-Pro running back to the San Francisco 49ers, Hubbard saw an uptick in playing time alongside Foreman. The two running backs co-existed as the RB1 in Carolina and split playing time. 

Hubbard ran for 432 yards on 89 carries (4.85 yards per carry) with two touchdowns and added 13 catches for 170 yards in nine games after McCaffrey's departure, while Foreman had 191 carries for 877 yards (4.59 yards per carry) and five touchdowns in 11 games during that same stretch. 

Hubbard only had 29 total yards in the first six weeks of the season as the backup to McCaffrey, but the 23-year-old back was a vital part of Carolina's rushing attack after he left, delivering 12-plus touches in four of the final six games of the season. In Week 16, he also ran for a career-high 125 yards against the Lions. 

Is Chuba Hubbard the Panthers' short-yardage back? 

It would be hard to imagine Hubbard as the lead short-yardage back in the Panthers' offense with Sanders there. The former Philadelphia Eagles running back figures to carry a large workload in Carolina and have an impact in the backfield in all aspects. 

Last season, Sanders had 13 carries inside the five-yard line, seven of which turned into touchdowns. Hubbard, on the other hand, had just one rush inside the five all year. His teammates Foreman (10) and Raheem Blackshear (2) had more carries in such situations. 

How the backfield completely shakes out depends on the team's willingness to get Sanders more work in the passing game. If he sees an uptick in receiving and opportunities on third down, Hubbard could function more as the short-yardage back this season.

But with Sanders' efficiency last year in those close-yard situations, it might be difficult to bank on Hubbard as that type of back in 2023. As the RB2 in Carolina, he likely won't be fantasy relevant this season and should go undrafted in most leagues. 

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