One of the harshest realities in fantasy football is having your star player go out with injury. This situation happened last Thursday, as Carolina Panthers star running back Christian McCaffrey went down with a hamstring injury. McCaffrey was the number one overall pick in many fantasy drafts, and his injury vastly affects their season.
The Panthers running back depth chart will change with McCaffrey out. Rookie running back Chuba Hubbard will take over the workload with Royce Freeman backing him up. With that said, here is how Christian McCaffrey's injury impacts the Panthers' running back situation.
Chuba Hubbard gets his shot
Chuba Hubbard now gets his shot to prove he can produce at a high level. Modern NFL offenses thrive with two great running backs. If Hubbard can prove himself while McCaffrey is out, the Panthers could take off stress from McCaffrey moving forward.
When Hubbard took over last week, he had 11 rushing attempts for 52 yards. He also had three catches for 27 yards, showing that he can produce in the run and pass game. Production like this would be very beneficial to McCaffrey and the Panthers' offense going forward.
McCaffrey has suffered multiple injuries over the past few years, which could be due to the high number of snaps he gets. If Hubbard emerges as a reliable running back two, the Panthers will limit McCaffrey's touches to keep him healthy.
Fantasy wise, Hubbard is an excellent pick-up for your team. He will be the Panthers' top running back until McCaffrey is back and could have value beyond that. McCaffrey will likely be eased back into the offense, leading to more opportunities for Hubbard.
What will Royce Freeman bring to for Panthers?
Royce Freeman is the third-string back for the Panthers, and he could see some production over the next few games. Freeman saw his first action on the field last week, following McCaffrey's injury. He had five rushing attempts for 17 yards as well as one reception for eight yards.
Last year as a backup for the Denver Broncos, Freeman had 35 rushing attempts for 170 yards. In the receiving game, Freeman had 12 receptions for 81 yards.
Even though Freeman will operate as the number two back, he is not worth picking up in fantasy. He won't have the same volume as Hubbard, and McCaffrey isn't expected to be out long term. If you're looking to add a running back to your bench, wait for another option.
What McCaffrey fantasy owners should do
While McCaffrey is likely only out a few weeks, that time could be vital for the fantasy playoff picture. He is a great dual-threat player but has been unable to stay healthy. The last time McCaffrey was healthy, he rushed for 287 rushing attempts for 1,387 yards and 15 rushing touchdowns. He was also elite in the receiving game racking up 116 receptions for 1,005 yards and four rushing touchdowns.
McCaffrey fantasy owners now need to come up with a plan for their running back spot in the next few weeks. If Hubbard is still available, he is the player to pick up. However, there are other options if he is unavailable. Making a trade for a running back or adding Peyton Barber could be reliable options. Last week, Barber had 23 rushing attempts for 111 yards and a touchdown with Josh Jacobs out.
With Jacobs questionable, Barber could be a good pick-up for this week. We hope to see McCaffrey back on the field soon, but the Panthers running back situation is changed until then.
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