Chuba Hubbard injury: What status means for Week 4 vs. Patriots

The 1-2 Carolina Panthers head to Foxboro to take on the 1-2 Patriots as 5.5-point underdogs this Sunday. Dave Canales’ team has multiple key injuries coming into this matchup on offense. One of those injuries is to their starting running back, Chuba Hubbard. The sixth-year back is dealing with a calf injury that limited him on Thursday and Friday of practice. He ended up being listed as questionable.

Saturday update — Panthers beat reporter David Newton believes McMillan will play this week.

Hubbard is officially questionable to play against the Patriots with a calf injury after getting limited practices in on Thursday and Friday.

Hubbard hasn’t take the fantasy world by storm so far this year, but he continues to see a good workload, both on the ground and through the air and ranks as RB12 in PPR leagues. His two receiving touchdowns have helped of course, but 57 looks in three games is exactly what we need for a back on an offense projected to be low scoring this year.

At this point it would seem that he’ll play through the injury, but if he can’t, backup Rico Dowdle would get the start. Dowdle hasn’t been great in his career, but has shown enough competence to accumulate fantasy points with good workloads.

The Patriots defense has been good against running backs, especially on the ground, allowing just 2.8 yards per carry and ranking Top 5 in EPA per carry allowed and DVOA. They’ve been a bit less stout against the pass to running backs, as Jaylen Warren had a few big gains, but overall, this is not a defense you’re happy to see as a running back.

In the end though, both Hubbard and Dowdle are active enough in the passing game to get away with poor showings on the ground while also getting high leverage touches near the goalie for whoever gets the start.