A calf injury suffered in Week 4 basically derailed Hubbard's 2025 season, in part because he rushed to get back into the lineup and predictably was not fully recovered. In this reduced form, Hubbard's production declined, and the alternative of a healthy Rico Dowdle remained more appealing until Hubbard was actually healthy. Dowdle was fortunate to get a surge in playing time right when the Carolina schedule went from difficult (New England in Week 4) to extremely easy (Dallas and Miami in Weeks 5 and 6). Had Hubbard been healthy, he might have posted the same massive numbers that Dowdle did in those two games. Instead, Dowdle's production instigated a panic that probably contributed to Hubbard returning too soon and compounding the calf problem by some additional number of weeks. Hubbard did not look like himself until around Week 13, by which point Dowdle himself predictably had slowed down. Dowdle is now in Pittsburgh following a free-agent departure, but Hubbard still comes with fantasy risk for similar reasons -- namely, the reality that he's good enough to start but not so good as to clearly appear better than another competent RB. Though it's reassuring that Dowdle is out of the equation, 2024 second-round pick Jonathon Brooks could pose a similar threat if his health finally cooperates after two tears of the same ACL. Hubbard's fantasy utility specifically puts a lot of pressure on his rushing production, because he doesn't always get passing-down snaps (and often blocks even when he does). He should be the one leading the way if the Panthers have a solid ground game and otherwise remain competitive, but Hubbard doesn't realistically have the fantasy fallback option of spamming reception points.