# Jonathan Brooks NFL player. Position: **RB**. Team: **Carolina Panthers**. ## Quick Facts - **Position:** RB - **Team:** CAR (Carolina Panthers) - **Bye week (2026):** 10 - **Background:** 2024 first-round pick; missed most of first two seasons to ACL injuries ## 2026 Outlook **League-winning upside in Round 9-11 ADP (Aug 25):** Roto Street Journal ranks Brooks as the top league-winning RB in the mid-round range under head coach Dave Canales. Canales has a strong track record riding workhorse backs: Rachaad White (RB10, 78.7% snap rate), Chuba Hubbard (RB11, 78% snap rate), and Rico Dowdle (RB4 in Weeks 5-11, 60% advance rate). In 2025, Canales featured either White or Dowdle with touches of 20-32, demonstrating his willingness to ride an explosive back with 70%+ usage when deserving. Brooks is finally healthy after back-to-back ACL tears and has looked "incredibly explosive" in spring workouts. The Panthers drafted him first overall among RBs in 2024 expecting him to lead the offense, and Canales has explicitly said Brooks will "have a chance to compete to start for this team." Per FantasyPoints' Scott Barrett, Brooks' 142.1 yards from scrimmage per game would rank best-single-season mark among any Power 5 RB in the 2024 class. If healthy, Brooks has rare explosivity and power that stands "head-and-shoulders above" the rest of an otherwise weak 2024 class (per 2026 Fantasy Football Breakouts and Values: Top-10 Mid Round Picks Who Could Explode - Roto Street Journal). **Competition context:** Chuba Hubbard has missed most of training camp with a hamstring injury, clearing the path for Brooks. Even if Hubbard returns for Week 1, Hubbard's 2.3 yards after contact per attempt ranked tied for dead last among RBs with 100+ attempts, forcing a tackle rate of only 6%. In early training camp, Brooks converted a TD from 2-yards out and has routinely ripped off huge plays including a 62-yard TD in the Bears intersquad scrimmage. Per ESPN and NFL Network, Brooks was the "runaway No. 1 RB Prospect of 2024 Class" with explosive profile comparable to Bijan Robinson. **Canales coaching history:** Canales' track record of riding workhorse backs in short yardage is proven: Rachaad White saw 8 games with 20+ touches during Bucs OC tenure, averaging 17 PPR FPPG in those games. In 2024, Canales rode Hubbard for 85% snap share in the final stretch, with touches of 22, 23, 26, 29, 30, and 32. This directly aligns with Brooks' elite talent level, creating the perfect blend of Talent + Opportunity + Environment—rarely available this late in drafts. ## Role / Depth Chart Poised to compete for lead RB role with Chuba Hubbard in Dave Canales' scheme. Early training camp reports suggest Brooks may take the starting role if he continues to flash explosiveness. ## Injury Status **Groin injury (Week 2, Sept 21):** Brooks suffered a groin injury in the Panthers' Week 2 win over the Falcons. Panthers initially downplayed the injury as "a day-to-day thing," but further evaluation revealed he's expected to miss approximately six weeks. Brooks has played just six NFL games across his first two-plus seasons due to recurring injuries, putting fresh emphasis on his durability concerns. This absence will thrust Chuba Hubbard into an even larger role, with AJ Dillon becoming the primary backup. (per Latest NFL injury updates as Jaxson Dart, Alec Pierce get news on ailments) **Pre-Week 2 status:** Finally recovered from back-to-back ACL injuries suffered in 2024-2025; full participation in spring workouts and training camp. Had 11 total touches (9 carries, 2 receptions) for 73 yards through the first two weeks before the groin injury. ## Recent News - 2026-09-11 — NFL DFS DraftKings GPP Picks (NFL DFS DraftKings GPP Picks) - 2026-09-07 — Jonathon Brooks' latest absence at practice raises concern for his Week 1 status, but... (Jonathon Brooks' latest absence at practice raises concern for his Week 1 status, but...) - 2026-09-16 — Price among four fantasy football running backs to avoid in Week 2 (Price among four fantasy football running backs to avoid in Week 2) - 2026-09-02 — Jonathan Brooks Over Chuba Hubbard Is Fantasy Football Mistake for Panthers, Says ESPN (Jonathan Brooks Over Chuba Hubbard Is Fantasy Football Mistake for Panthers, Says ESPN) - 2026-09-16 — Fantasy Football Week 2 Rankings and Projections Foresee a Javonte Williams Spike,... (Fantasy Football Week 2 Rankings and Projections Foresee a Javonte Williams Spike,...) - 2026-09-16 — Fantasy Football Players to Buy Low & Sell High in Week 2 (Fantasy Football Players to Buy Low & Sell High in Week 2) - 2026-08-24 — Panthers news: Dave Canales gives RB room update that fantasy managers will hate (Panthers news: Dave Canales gives RB room update that fantasy managers will hate) - 2026-08-25 — Jonathan Stewart on Panthers' RB duo: 'Both are built to be RB1' (Jonathan Stewart on Panthers' RB duo: 'Both are built to be RB1') - 2026-08-24 — Panthers reveal RB plan for Jonathan Brooks, Chuba Hubbard for Week 1 (Panthers reveal RB plan for Jonathan Brooks, Chuba Hubbard for Week 1) - 2026-08-24 — Panthers will use committee backfield (Panthers will use committee backfield) ## Open Questions - Will Chuba Hubbard's hamstring linger, allowing Brooks to take the lead role outright? - Can Dave Canales' "ride the hot hand" approach lead Brooks to bell-cow usage early in the season? ## Sources --- Source: https://chatffb.com/players/jonathan-brooks · ChatFFB — fantasy football answers updated from a live news wiki.