CAR · RB
Projected Points (PPR)
This week
▼ -7.2 ptsAI-assisted · Researched and drafted by our automated pipeline, then checked for accuracy before publishing. How we make these
Jonathon Brooks sits third on Carolina's running back depth chart, behind Chuba Hubbard, who holds the top job in that backfield. Through two games Brooks has played 24.6% of the offense's snaps, which puts him firmly in a complementary role rather than anything close to a featured one. His touch count reflects that: nine carries for 30 yards, a mark of 3.3 yards per carry, and two of those attempts coming in the red zone. The passing game has given him a bit more to work with proportionally, with three targets turned into two receptions for 43 yards, a number that stands out relative to his rushing output. Overall he has produced 9.3 PPR points across two games, or 4.7 per game, which ranks him fifty-first among running backs in PPR scoring. That is the profile of a depth piece who touches the ball when the primary back needs a breather or when the game script calls for a change of pace, not a player currently trusted with a real share of the offense.
The case for Jonathon Brooks starts with the receiving numbers. Two catches for 43 yards on three targets is a per-target average that, if it held up over a larger sample, would suggest real ability as a pass-catcher out of the backfield. If Carolina ever leans into using him on passing downs, that receiving work could become the avenue by which he carves out weekly relevance even without a bigger rushing role. There is also the fact that he has already seen two carries inside the red zone in a small sample, which shows the coaching staff is at least willing to use him in scoring situations rather than pulling him entirely once the field shortens. The case against him is the snap share. At 24.6% of the offense's snaps, Brooks is nowhere close to featured usage, and Chuba Hubbard's hold on the top job means the carries that matter most in Carolina's offense are going elsewhere first. Nine carries for 30 yards is a light workload, and the 3.3 yards per carry mark does not suggest he is forcing the issue when he does get the ball. A finish of fifty-first among running backs in PPR points through two games is not a launching pad, it is a signal that his current role does not generate consistent fantasy value. For Brooks to matter on a weekly basis, either Hubbard's workload would need to shrink meaningfully or Carolina would need to expand Brooks's role specifically in the passing game, and neither has happened yet. The receiving flash is real but it is one game's worth of targets, not a trend.
Leave Jonathon Brooks on the wire in most formats right now. A snap share of 24.6% and 4.7 PPR points per game do not support using a roster spot on him unless your league is unusually deep or you have bench space to spare. He is not a viable start in any format given the current split with Chuba Hubbard, who holds the top job in this backfield. If you are in a deeper league and want to track him, a speculative stash makes some sense purely because of the receiving numbers — two catches for 43 yards on three targets is worth watching for a pattern. What would change the calculus is a sustained increase in his snap share or a stretch of weeks where he sees more consistent passing-game work independent of Hubbard's role. Until that shows up in the numbers, treat him as a depth add at best, not a piece to build a lineup around.
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Brooks is set to undergo core muscle surgery and has been placed on injured reserve, making him unavailable for the next several weeks. Chuba Hubbard remains the primary backfield option while Brooks recovers.
Brooks is set to undergo surgery for a core-muscle injury and is expected to miss at least six weeks. He is expected to land on injured reserve, opening more work for Chuba Hubbard.
Brooks is considered week-to-week with a groin injury and is getting a second opinion. Fantasy managers should treat him as unlikely to be usable right now.