Should Chuba Hubbard Take Over as RB1 in Carolina?

Hubbard is off to a strong start in 2023.

Carolina hasn't received the production they had hoped for when they signed Miles Sanders to a four-year, $25.4 million deal this offseason. 

In five games this season, Sanders has totaled 190 yards on the ground on 61 attempts for an average of 3.1 yards per carry. His backup, Chuba Hubbard, took full advantage of his chance to be in the starting lineup last Sunday in Miami where Sanders was sidelined with a shoulder injury and boy did he have a day.

Hubbard rushed for 88 yards and a score on 19 carries and if it weren't for the game getting a little out of hand in the second half, he would have more than likely gone over the century mark.

In three of the six games this season, Hubbard failed to record 10 carries. In those games (vs. New Orleans, at Seattle, and at Detroit) Sanders averaged 33 yards on the ground. For whatever reason, he doesn't have that same burst and confidence that he put on display last year with the Eagles when he pieced together a career year. 

At some point, Frank Reich and Thomas Brown may not have a choice but to swap the two backs' workloads. Yes, Sanders is getting paid the big money but at the end of the day, it doesn't matter unless he's producing. If he happens to not live up to that contract, so be it. You can't sacrifice the productivity of the offense just because you overpaid a running back.

Plus, there's a potential out following the 2024 season, so if the Panthers wanted to move on, they could. They would just be stuck with approximately $2.9M in dead cap.

It's still early in the season and Sanders is still having to adjust to running behind this offensive line, so there's still plenty of time for him to figure it out. Although Austin Corbett and Brady Christensen are out, Hubbard does have experience running behind Ikem Ekownu, Bradley Bozeman, and Taylor Moton.

If Sanders is healthy out of the bye week, he'll be the starter. However, if those struggles continue to linger a couple more weeks, we could see a change of some sort.

You can follow us for future coverage by liking us on Facebook & following us on X:

Facebook - @PanthersOnSI

X - @AllPanthers_ and Schuyler Callihan at @Callihan_.