Who Should I Start? Chuba Hubbard or Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Monday, August 24, 11:11 AM

Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard (hamstring) is expected to be ready for the Week 1 regular-season opener on Sept. 13 against the Chicago Bears, head coach Dave Canales told Steve Reed of The Associated Press. Hubbard has not played in a preseason game after straining his hamstring earlier this month, but he was able to return to training camp practice on Monday, signaling that he should be ready for the season opener. Canales also said on Monday that the Panthers are expected to use an RB committee with Hubbard and Jonathon Brooks to open the 2026 season. Hubbard ran for 1,195 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2024, but a calf injury limited him to 511 yards and just one rushing TD last year, while Rico Dowdle took over as the team's lead back. Dowdle is now in Pittsburgh, but Brooks could be a thorn in Hubbard's side this year if he manages to stay healthy after already tearing his ACL multiple times. Hubbard said he is feeling "pretty good" with the regular season quickly approaching, but fantasy managers will have their doubts that Hubbard can become anything more than an RB3/flex in a timeshare.