The Carolina Panthers will face the Denver Broncos in Week 8. Here’s the latest fantasy football news and advice to help you with your lineups this week and moving forward, especially regarding RB Chuba Hubbard.
Is Chuba Hubbard Playing in Week 8?
Hubbard is not listed on the injury report this week, so barring any unexpected setbacks, he is on track to play this weekend.
We’ll continue to monitor the Panthers’ injury report. You can also visit and bookmark our NFL Injury Tracker and Fantasy News Tracker for the latest updates.
Should You Start or Sit Chuba Hubbard in Week 8?
Hubbard has at least 17 touches in five straight games and has finished no worse than an RB2 in six straight. At this point, Hubbard is essentially matchup proof, though there is no denying that his upside looks very different when this team is remotely competitive.
Hubbard hasn’t earned a single target in the two 30-point losses this season, but he has at least four grabs in every other game. I’m not yet worried about the potential impact of Jonathon Brooks, though that does factor into the rest-of-season outlook, as this team could opt to get the rookie up to speed as this lost season comes to an end.
We can cross that bridge when we get to it. The Broncos have allowed the fifth-lowest running back rushing touchdown rate and held Alvin Kamara to just 10 yards on seven carries last week. The matchup puts him on the fringe of RB1 status instead of the middle of it: You’re starting him wherever you have him and continuing to do so until we get a feel for their plan for Brooks.
Are you looking for start/sit advice for other players in your lineup? Read our Week 8 Fantasy Start-Sit Advice Cheat Sheet for every fantasy-relevant player in every game.
Chuba Hubbard’s Fantasy Points Projection in Week 8
Hubbard is projected to score 15.2 fantasy points in PPR formats. This includes 16.5 rushing attempts for 74.1 yards and 0.4 touchdowns. It also includes 3.1 receptions for 18.7 yards and 0.1 touchdowns.
Check out the free PFN Fantasy Start-Sit Optimizer for the latest projections and advice for your lineups this week.
Chuba Hubbard’s Week 8 Fantasy Ranking
Our Weekly Consensus PPR Rankings are below — both positional and overall. They were last updated at 10:30 AM ET on Saturday, December 28. If you're in a Superflex league, make sure you check out our Weekly Consensus Superflex Rankings.
Week 17 RB PPR Rankings
1) Saquon Barkley | PHI (vs. DAL)
2) Jahmyr Gibbs | DET (at SF)
3) Derrick Henry | BAL (at HOU)
4) Bijan Robinson | ATL (at WAS)
5) Josh Jacobs | GB (at MIN)
6) Jonathan Taylor | IND (at NYG)
7) De'Von Achane | MIA (at CLE)
8) Chase Brown | CIN (vs. DEN)
9) Kyren Williams | LAR (vs. ARI)
10) James Conner | ARI (at LAR)
11) Bucky Irving | TB (vs. CAR)
12) James Cook | BUF (vs. NYJ)
13) Breece Hall | NYJ (at BUF)
14) Joe Mixon | HOU (vs. BAL)
15) Zach Charbonnet | SEA (at CHI)
16) Aaron Jones | MIN (vs. GB)
17) Jerome Ford | CLE (vs. MIA)
18) Brian Robinson Jr. | WAS (vs. ATL)
19) Tony Pollard | TEN (at JAX)
20) D'Andre Swift | CHI (vs. SEA)
21) Rico Dowdle | DAL (at PHI)
22) Rhamondre Stevenson | NE (vs. LAC)
23) Isaac Guerendo | SF (vs. DET)
24) Rachaad White | TB (vs. CAR)
25) J.K. Dobbins | LAC (at NE)
26) Alexander Mattison | LV (at NO)
27) Isiah Pacheco | KC (at PIT)
28) Kimani Vidal | LAC (at NE)
29) Jaylen Warren | PIT (vs. KC)
30) Tyjae Spears | TEN (at JAX)
31) Tank Bigsby | JAX (vs. TEN)
32) Javonte Williams | DEN (at CIN)
33) Najee Harris | PIT (vs. KC)
34) Travis Etienne Jr. | JAX (vs. TEN)
35) Ameer Abdullah | LV (at NO)
36) Kareem Hunt | KC (at PIT)
37) Devin Singletary | NYG (vs. IND)
38) Kendre Miller | NO (vs. LV)
39) Raheem Blackshear | CAR (at TB)
40) Tyler Allgeier | ATL (at WAS)
41) Audric Estimé | DEN (at CIN)
42) Raheem Mostert | MIA (at CLE)
43) Ray Davis | BUF (vs. NYJ)
44) Antonio Gibson | NE (vs. LAC)
45) Kenneth Gainwell | PHI (vs. DAL)
46) Craig Reynolds | DET (at SF)
47) Cam Akers | MIN (vs. GB)
48) Ty Johnson | BUF (vs. NYJ)
49) Blake Corum | LAR (vs. ARI)
50) Roschon Johnson | CHI (vs. SEA)
51) Patrick Taylor Jr. | SF (vs. DET)
52) Braelon Allen | NYJ (at BUF)
53) Jeremy McNichols | WAS (vs. ATL)
54) Jaleel McLaughlin | DEN (at CIN)
55) Isaiah Davis | NYJ (at BUF)
56) D'Onta Foreman | CLE (vs. MIA)
57) Jamaal Williams | NO (vs. LV)
58) Cordarrelle Patterson | PIT (vs. KC)
59) Emanuel Wilson | GB (at MIN)
60) DeeJay Dallas | ARI (at LAR)
61) Chris Brooks | GB (at MIN)
62) Pierre Strong Jr. | CLE (vs. MIA)
63) Keaton Mitchell | BAL (at HOU)
64) Ke'Shawn Vaughn | SF (vs. DET)
65) Trey Benson | ARI (at LAR)
66) Sean Tucker | TB (vs. CAR)
67) Tyrone Tracy Jr. | NYG (vs. IND)
68) Israel Abanikanda | SF (vs. DET)
69) Michael Carter | ARI (at LAR)
70) Samaje Perine | KC (at PIT)
71) Ezekiel Elliott | DAL (at PHI)
72) Khalil Herbert | CIN (vs. DEN)
73) Dare Ogunbowale | HOU (vs. BAL)
74) Jaylen Wright | MIA (at CLE)
75) Kyle Juszczyk | SF (vs. DET)
76) Trey Sermon | IND (at NYG)
77) Mike Boone | CAR (at TB)
78) Chris Rodriguez Jr. | WAS (vs. ATL)
79) Sione Vaki | DET (at SF)
80) Dameon Pierce | HOU (vs. BAL)
81) Hunter Luepke | DAL (at PHI)
82) Alec Ingold | MIA (at CLE)
83) Tyler Goodson | IND (at NYG)
84) Kenny McIntosh | SEA (at CHI)
85) Hassan Haskins | LAC (at NE)
Carolina Panthers at Denver Broncos Insights
Carolina Panthers
Team: The Panthers have created pressure on just 21.9% of their blitzes this season (the NFL average nets out around 41%).
QB: Andy Dalton has failed to average even six yards per pass attempt in all four games since that shocking performance, throwing an interception in each of those contests (held without a touchdown toss in two of them).
Offense: The Panthers have scored 37 points in three October games (they are allowing 38 PPG in those games).
Defense: The Panthers allow 34.7 PPG (243 total points allowed). That’s tied with the 2020 Dallas Cowboys for the most points allowed through seven games in the last 50 seasons.
Fantasy: Jonathan Brooks’ debut is coming, but Chuba Hubbard has scored in four of his past five games and has been an RB2 or better in six straight.
Betting: Since the start of last season, the Panthers are 3-8 ATS on the road when the total closes under 45 points.
Denver Broncos
Team: The Broncos are seeking to improve to 5-3. They haven’t been above .500 through eight games since 2016, when they were 6-2.
QB: Bo Nix scrambled on 21.2% of his dropbacks in Week 7 vs. the Saints, tied with Jayden Daniels for the highest scramble rate in a game this season.
Offense: The Broncos averaged 6.1 yards per rush in Week 6 vs. the Chargers and 6.4 yards per rush in Week 7 vs. the Saints. It’s the first time Denver has averaged at least six yards per rush in consecutive games since 2011 (Weeks 8-9), during Tim Tebow’s stint as their starting QB.
Defense: The Broncos had a season-high 21 pressures in Week 7 vs. the Saints. That included six pressures from Zach Allen, who has accounted for 35% of Denver’s pressures this season (third-highest among interior linemen behind Chris Jones and Kobie Turner).
Fantasy: Courtland Sutton was not targeted for the first time in his career in Week 7. Sutton’s 28 routes run without a target were tied for the second-most by a wide receiver this season, trailing Justin Watson of the Chiefs (31 in Week 5, also vs. the Saints).
Betting: Under tickets have cashed in eight of Denver’s past nine played on extended rest (this is their first game of 2024) – they’ve covered eight of their past 11 such games.