Panthers RB Jonathon Brooks (ACL) will not play this preseason per HC Dave Canales. Canales also mentioned that “Something around Week 3, Week 4 would be great." The dynamic rookie weapon tore his ACL in November and has been recovering since. The Panthers still invested a second round selection in Brooks in April.
There was some optimism that Brooks would be able to participate in the preseason to show he is ready for the season, but he continues recovering from his November ACL injury.
Brooks is a potential workhorse RB when he does return fully healthy.
With Brooks likely to not play until Week 3 or 4, he won't be able to be counted on in the first few weeks, even when he does return from injury. There is a chance he could split with Chuba Hubbard as Brooks clears off the rust.
He could still be a strong RB in the fantasy playoffs when he is recovered from the injury.
There is little dynasty impact.
At 21-years old, Brooks should fully recover from his ACL injury and be near 100% in his rookie year.
The longer that Brooks remains sidelines, the more likely that his ADP will start falling.
If so, it may be a classic case of double counting his injury. Brooks has been going consistently as an RB3 or RB4 in drafts, already at a discount with it being likely he will miss games at the start of the season.
Brooks continues to be a value in drafts
A loaded supporting cast, improved QB play, and offensive continuity set the stage for Atlanta to deliver serious fantasy value in 2025.
Read More »We’re breaking down the top three tiers of our WR rankings, including studs you can trust, stars you should fade, and breakout picks that Jared and Matt can’t agree on.
Read More »The 2026 NFL Draft is shaping up to make a BIG impact -- especially at QB. But will your future picks lose their shine if the skill positions flop?
Read More »This is an insider feature of Draft Sharks, please upgrade to be an Insider Member
Upgrade to Insider Member
All transactions are secure and encrypted, and we never store your credit card information.