The Panthers were the first team to select a running back during the 2024 NFL Draft, spending the 46th overall pick on Texas' Jonathon Brooks to head up their backfield.
The only question was when Brooks would be ready for the full-time running back role.
Brooks suffered a torn ACL 11 games in into his final college football season. Because he was injured in November, it wasn't clear whether the 21-year-old would be fully healthy by Week 1 or if he would need extra time to heal.
The Panthers have now provided fans with an answer.
Brooks will remain on the PUP/NFI list to start the 2024 season as he continues to recover from a torn ACL. He will miss at least four games because of that, putting him on track for a potential October return.
In the meantime, Carolina will have to rely on a group of veterans to fill in for their potential star. Here's a look at how the pecking order will shake out in that backfield.
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Panthers RB depth chart
1. Chuba Hubbard
Hubbard will likely serve as Carolina's No. 1 running back as long as Brooks is out of action. The 25-year-old Oklahoma State product was a fourth-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and has developed into a solid rotational back for the Panthers.
Last season, Hubbard led the team with 238 carries, 902 yards and five touchdowns. He wasn't the most efficient running back — his 3.8 yards per carry ranked 37th in the NFL among 48 qualified runners — but that may have been the fault of Carolina's lackluster passing offense and struggling offensive line.
If Hubbard can return to the form that saw him average 4.9 yards per carry following the Christian McCaffrey trade in 2022, he will be a more than suitable short-term replacement for Brooks. Either way, expect him to get the most touches among Carolina's running backs over the first month of the season.
2. Miles Sanders
The Panthers signed Sanders to a four-year contract worth $25.4 million during the 2024 offseason. It hasn't panned out so far.
Sanders was coming off a 1,269-yard, 11-touchdown season with the Eagles in 2023 when Carolina signed him to the lucrative deal. He repaid them by racking up 432 yards and just one touchdown on 129 carries, losing the starting job to Hubbard and averaging just 3.3 yards per carry, third-worst in the NFL among 48 qualified runners.
Perhaps Sanders can regain his Philly form behind an upgraded offensive line that will benefit from the presence of new guard Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis. Even if he does, he will still have to overtake Hubbard on the depth chart to become any sort of early-season fantasy factor.
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3. Raheem Blackshear
Blackshear moves up to No. 3 on Carolina's depth chart, but that's largely because of his special teams ability. He is a solid kick returner and has a career average of 26.9 yards on 35 career returns.
Offensively, Blackshear has been better as a receiver during his career, totaling 138 yards on 16 career catches compared to 123 yards on 37 carries (3.3 yards per carry average). The Virginia Tech product had three rushing touchdowns in 2022, but his 5-9, 190-pound size makes him unlikely to be a short-yardage running back over Hubbard or even Sanders.
Blackshear could lose playing time to another veteran back while Brooks is out, but his special teams ability may be enough to keep him on the active game-day roster.
4. Mike Boone
Boone was released as part of the Panthers' initial round of roster cuts, but the team plans to re-sign him after some reshuffling, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports.
Boone represents the biggest challenge to Blackshear's current status as the team's RB3. Boone, 29, is a seven-year NFL veteran who has long occupied space as a backup running back and special teamer.
Boone has 14 career tackles on special teams and has averaged an impressive 5.2 yards per carry. The caveat? He has only averaged 21.5 touches per season during his career to date. Still, his 5-10, 206-pound frame could draw him some goal-line looks if Hubbard or Sanders struggles in that area of the game.
And if the Panthers aren't confident in Blackshear's abilities to provide the necessary offensive depth at the running back position, Boone could get a nod over him for the No. 3 running back job.
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5. Jaden Shirden
The Panthers landed Shirden as an undrafted rookie after he posted 1,478 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground during his final season at Monmouth. The 22-year-old is just 5-8, 195 pounds but could be a practice squad candidate after he enjoyed a quality NFL Combine.
Shirden ran for just 47 yards on 17 carries in the preseason, so it's hard to envision him making the roster over Blackshear or Boone.
Jonathon Brooks fantasy outlook
Brooks staying on the PUP/NFI list will put a slight damper on his fantasy outlook. He will be out for at least the first four games of the season, meaning he will be a stash play for any fantasy owner brave enough to draft him.
If Brooks can return after four games, however, he has some legitimate FLEX appeal. The Panthers' offense should be better in 2024 than it was last season, as the team upgraded their offensive line, receiving corps and brought quarterback guru Dave Canales in to work with Young. That could open up space for Brooks when he returns.
At the same time, the Panthers may be cautious with Brooks, especially considering they don't figure to be a legitimate playoff contender during the 2024 NFL season. That makes him a true, boom-or-bust pick about whom fantasy owners will have to make a decision.
Brooks presently ranks 86th in average draft position (ADP), according to Fantasy Pros. That would make him a seventh-round pick in a 12-team league.
Comparatively, Brooks checks in at No. 92 overall in Sporting News' fantasy rankings. Thus, unless he slips a handful of spots amid his injury concerns, it may be too early to select him, especially considering he isn't guaranteed to start immediately upon his return.
But if you're looking for a potential league-winner down the stretch, Brooks figures to get volume as the season continues. Just make sure he doesn't end up as your RB2 early in the season even if you're bullish about his ceiling.
