The quickest way to fall behind in a fantasy football league is to become complacent and rely on the team you drafted, neglecting the all-important waiver wire. As managers make numerous waiver claims for Week 10, hoping to strengthen their roster, should Carolina Panthers RB Chuba Hubbard be a priority addition off the waiver wire vs. Atlanta?
Chub Hubbard’s Absence Has Allowed D’Onta Foreman To Flourish in Recent Weeks
D’Onta Foreman quickly became the talk of the town for fantasy with the way he commanded the Panthers’ backfield following the trade that sent Christian McCaffrey to the San Francisco 49ers. However, I can’t help but wonder if that would’ve been the case if Chuba Hubbard had managed to remain healthy.
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A track star growing up, Hubbard’s explosiveness is the name to his game, and we saw that for a brief moment in Week 7 against Tampa Bay. Hubbard rushed nine times for 63 yards and had the team’s only rushing touchdown but exited shortly thereafter due to an ankle injury.
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With Hubbard out of the way, Foreman then went on to rush for 336 yards on 41 carries with three touchdowns total in Weeks 7 and 8. Safe to say, Foreman capitalized when given the opportunity.
That momentum came to a screeching halt last week, as the Panthers were demolished, thanks to Joe Mixon’s five touchdowns, which forced the team to abandon the run. That should not be the case in Week 10 against Atlanta.
With Hubbard likely making his return, are managers overlooking a potential gem off the Week 10 waiver wire?
Should Hubbard Be a Top Waiver Wire Priority in Week 10?
It always feels weird when we get matchups so close together, but the NFL is forcing all of us to watch the Falcons and Panthers play on prime time. But I have a sinking feeling that we’re not going to see the offensive explosion that we saw between these two teams just two short weeks ago.
As far as the matchup goes, Carolina should be able to move the ball on the ground. Atlanta is 26th in rush EPA, 22nd in DVOA, and 30th in success rate. Although Carolina has found success via the air in recent games — thanks to DJ Moore and Terrace Marshall Jr. — it feels likely that PJ Walker is on a short leash after being benched last week. Therefore, I do expect to see the running game play its part in a short week.
Given his recent success, it’s only fair to assume Foreman will be given priority in the Panthers’ backfield. If anyone has earned it, it’s him. With that said, if Hubbard is healthy as expected, I expect him to play a significant role in this offense, as he was the starter on the first day without McCaffrey.
Given the way Thursday nights have played out, and that Hubbard is coming off an injury, I have no issue adding him off the waiver wire. However, I’m not sure I would recommend playing him in Week 10 unless you’re out of other options.