Jonathon Brooks — RB · CAR

AI outlook

Backup/change-of-pace RB behind Chuba Hubbard, rebuilding from a second same-knee ACL tear that cost him all of 2025; cleared and looking explosive in camp but role and health durability unproven at NFL speed.

Pros

First padded practice back showed no hesitation; broke a run past All-Pro LB Devin Lloyd for a first down (Panthers.com, 2026-08)
Cleared by surgeon in April 2026; completed full offseason program, OTAs, minicamp and camp contact without setback (CBS Sports, 2026-08)
Was the first RB drafted in 2024 for his all-around skill set including receiving ability

Cons

Chuba Hubbard is the clearly established lead back per Panthers own positional preview; Brooks is competing for a complementary role, not a starting job (Panthers.com/SI.com, 2026-08)
Second ACL tear on the same knee (surgery mid-Jan 2025) wiped out his entire 2025 season; ~19 months removed from last live-game action, still an unproven quantity under contact
O-line uncertain: LT Ikem Ekwonu out most/all of 2026, RT Taylor Moton opened camp on NFI list; offense ranked bottom-third in red-zone efficiency 2024-2025 (Sharp Football Analysis/Panthers.com, 2026-08)

Why our rank differs from ADP

disagree lower

still RB2 behind Hubbard in a crowded room, coming off a major knee injury

Full breakdown +

- Chuba Hubbard opens camp atop the depth chart, with Brooks and Trevor Etienne behind him - Brooks is still working back from a 2024 ACL tear, adding health-durability risk - Carolina letting Rico Dowdle walk is a vote of confidence, but it doesn't hand Brooks the job outright - ADP is pricing the workhorse breakout case before it's actually happened on the depth chart

Our model

Market ADP?	90
Blended rank?	72
Consensus rank?	117
Tier?	Tier 7
VBD score?	38.0

Risk profile

Coming soon — we're rebuilding this rating from scratch to make it more accurate.

Projected PPG

Standard	10.8
Half-PPR	12.1
Full PPR	13.4

Confidence tier

Low