Panthers RB Chuba Hubbard on Track for Week 1 Return

Chuba Hubbard trending toward the opener

Carolina's lead back is expected to be ready when the games count. Chuba Hubbard has been out for the last couple of weeks with a hamstring injury, but the Panthers aren't worried about the issue lingering into the regular season and anticipate having him back for Week 1.

What it means for your survivor pick

Hubbard's return removes a potential distraction, but it doesn't change the bigger picture: Carolina isn't the kind of team you build a survivor entry around. A backfield question mark resolving in the Panthers' favor is a minor plus, not a green light. Hamstring injuries also have a habit of nagging, so treat any "expected back" tag with a grain of caution until he's actually on the field taking a full workload. If you're weighing the Panthers, do it based on their matchup and the number, not one healthy running back — and lean on safer favorites elsewhere on the slate. For more weekly reads, check our survivor analysis, and if you're still setting up your league, you can start a free survivor pool in minutes.

Bottom line: good news for Carolina, negligible impact on who to pick this week.