Chuba Hubbard's 2024 breakout wasn't a fluke. It wasn't merely the product of another player's injury or a short-term opportunity. Hubbard earned his role as the top running back on the Carolina Panthers' depth chart and held it with authority.
His ascent from an under-the-radar contributor to a reliable starter was marked by consistency, vision, and improved decision-making. This article explores how Hubbard rose through the ranks and what his emergence means for fantasy football managers heading into the 2025 season.
Hubbard's First Three Years
The Carolina Panthers drafted Hubbard in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. At that time, the Panthers were running the Christian McCaffrey Show, so a fourth-round pick was fine for depth. McCaffrey was sidelined twice that season: first to a hamstring injury, and then to an ankle sprain. In his rookie year, Hubbard capitalized on that opportunity by producing 612 rushing yards, five rushing touchdowns, and averaging 3.6 yards per carry.
Heading into 2022, Hubbard was again behind McCaffrey on the depth chart and also behind D'Onta Foreman, who was brought in that year. On October 20, 2022, McCaffrey was traded to the San Francisco 49ers, but it was Foreman who reaped the benefit in the running back room. Providing depth behind Foreman, Hubbard had 466 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns while boosting his yards per carry to 4.9.
Starting the 2023 season, Hubbard was again relegated to backup status on the depth chart due to Miles Sanders being brought in. But he didn't stay there. Hubbard surpassed Sanders, producing 902 rushing yards, three rushing touchdowns, and 3.8 yards per carry on the year.
2024 Season: The Turning Point
Despite passing Sanders on the depth chart in 2023, the Panthers still weren't fully sold on Hubbard as their lead back. In the 2024 NFL Draft, they selected Jonathon Brooks in the second round with the 46th overall pick, a clear signal they viewed Brooks as the future. After a delayed start due to recovery from a college ACL tear, Brooks suffered a heartbreaking re-tear in December, sidelining him for the rest of the season.
Hubbard made the most of his opportunity in 2024, rushing for over 1,195 yards, scoring 10 touchdowns, and averaging 4.8 yards per carry. His fantasy performance exceeded expectations as he finished as the RB15 in point-per-reception (PPR) formats, averaging 16.4 fantasy points per game and delivering eight top-11 weekly finishes. A key performance occurred in Week 10 with the Panthers' overtime victory against the New York Giants in Germany. Hubbard totaled 24.9 PPR points, rushing for 153 yards and a touchdown while adding four receptions for 16 yards. His rushing dominance locked in his status as a dependable fantasy starter and a difference-maker down the stretch.
Let's Talk Fourth-Round Running Backs
Hubbard's breakout 2024 season defied expectations typically placed on fourth-round running backs. Since 2019, several backs have been selected in the fourth round, but very few have gone on to carry a backfield. Notable exceptions from this list include Tony Pollard, Rhamondre Stevenson, and the 2024-drafted Bucky Irving. Outside of these names, most fourth-rounders have served as depth or rotational pieces. How the 2025 class will fare in this discussion remains to be seen. Still, Hubbard's emergence is a reminder that a gold mine can be found on Day 3 of the NFL Draft.
| Draft Year | Rd Pick | Ovr Pick | Player | NFL Team | College Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 20 | 120 | Jaylen Wright | Dolphins | Tennessee |
| 2024 | 25 | 125 | Bucky Irving | Buccaneers | Oregon |
| 2024 | 27 | 127 | Will Shipley | Eagles | Clemson |
| 2024 | 28 | 128 | Ray Davis | Bills | Kentucky |
| 2024 | 29 | 129 | Isaac Guerendo | 49ers | Louisville |
| 2024 | 34 | 134 | Braelon Allen | Jets | Wisconsin |
| 2023 | 13 | 115 | Roschon Johnson | Bears | Texas |
| 2022 | 2 | 107 | Dameon Pierce | Texans | Florida |
| 2022 | 17 | 122 | Zamir White | Raiders | Georgia |
| 2022 | 18 | 123 | Isaiah Spiller | Chargers | Texas A&M |
| 2022 | 22 | 127 | Pierre Strong Jr | Patriots | South Dakota State |
| 2022 | 26 | 131 | Hassan Haskins | Titans | Michigan |
| 2021 | 2 | 107 | Michael Carter | Jets | North Carolina |
| 2021 | 14 | 119 | Kene Nwangwu | Vikings | Iowa State |
| 2021 | 15 | 120 | Rhamondre Stevenson | Patriots | Oklahoma |
| 2021 | 21 | 126 | Chuba Hubbard | Panthers | Oklahoma State |
| 2020 | 6 | 112 | Joshua Kelley | Chargers | UCLA |
| 2020 | 14 | 120 | La'mical Perine | Jets | Florida |
| 2020 | 18 | 124 | Anthony McFarland Jr | Steelers | Maryland |
| 2020 | 38 | 144 | DeeJay Dallas | Seahawks | Miami (FL) |
| 2019 | 10 | 112 | Bryce Love | Redskins | Stanford |
| 2019 | 11 | 113 | Justice Hill | Ravens | Oklahoma State |
| 2019 | 20 | 122 | Benny Snell Jr. | Steelers | Kentucky |
| 2019 | 26 | 128 | Tony Pollard | Cowboys | Memphis |
Interestingly, Chuba Hubbard and Bucky Irving offer a compelling side-by-side case study of fourth-round success stories. Both backs were Day 3 picks, and both finished the 2024 fantasy season inside the top 15 in PPR formats. Despite differing styles and usage, both proved to be incredibly valuable fantasy assets, and each stands as proof that draft capital isn't always predictive of success.
| RANK | NAME | TEAM | AGE | G | RSH | RUSH YD | YPC | RUSH TD | REC | REC YDS | REC TD | FP/G | PPR Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | Bucky Irving | TB | 22 | 17 | 207 | 1,121 | 5.4 | 8 | 47 | 392 | 0 | 14.5 | 246.3 |
| 15 | Chuba Hubbard | CAR | 25 | 15 | 250 | 1,195 | 4.8 | 10 | 43 | 171 | 1 | 16.4 | 245.6 |
Though Irving edges Hubbard in rushing efficiency (5.4 YPC to 4.8), Hubbard delivered more rushing yards and touchdowns, despite playing two fewer games. Hubbard also excelled in red zone opportunities with 55, surpassing Irving's 51. When it came to overall involvement, Hubbard logged 712 snaps compared to Irving's 549, and both backs had similar team target numbers, with Hubbard receiving 54 targets to Irving's 52.
This isn't an evaluation of Irving, but his presence highlights the power of perception. Irving is widely viewed as elite, as reflected in his current redraft Sleeper ADP of 23.0 (RB6), while Hubbard trails behind at 50.0 (RB17). Why does skepticism still surround Hubbard? Didn't his 2024 performance earn him a seat at the table among top-tier backs?
But that's the thing about underdogs — they're often misvalued. And that's where savvy drafters strike gold, landing a steal others miss.
