Jonathon Brooks: The Only Exciting Late-Round Fantasy Football RB

I just watched all of Jonathon Brooks’ career rushing attempts and receptions. Look at me grinding the tape! Don’t be too impressed because he has nine *career* carries and three receptions. So, we’re starting with his prospect profile despite 2026 marking Brooks’ third year in the NFL.

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Prospect Profile

The Panthers took Brooks in the middle of the 2nd round in the 2024 draft, with the 46th overall pick. He was the first RB selected in that class, 20 picks ahead of the next back in Trey Benson. That draft capital is all the more impressive given the Panthers knew Brooks was still recovering from a torn ACL he suffered in November 2023.

Going back through Brooks’ college data, he had a really solid final season in terms of receiving numbers. He also had elite tackle avoidance and elusiveness, as well as solid yards after contact. One knock was his poor explosive run rate in that final season. But overall, he was an incredibly impressive prospect coming into the league, particularly on receiving metrics that I think are vital.

NFL Sample So Far

As mentioned in the intro, we have only a tiny sample of NFL action for Brooks. He saw only two carries in his first NFL game against the Chiefs in November 2024, a full year after his first ACL tear. The majority of his NFL snaps came in the following game against the Buccaneers. That included six of his nine carries and all three of his receptions. And then on his first carry against the Eagles in the next Panthers’ game, he went down with a non-contact injury. That was ultimately another ACL tear in the same knee, which resulted in Brooks missing the entire 2025 season.

Brooks had a fun reception against the Buccaneers that I rewatched, where he forced two missed tackles for an 18-yard gain. But a sample of 12 NFL touches is just not even close to enough for real judgment. So, we have to lean back into his prospect profile. The issue I’m having is, can Brooks be that player again after tearing the same ACL twice and missing game action for nearly two calendar years?

Reason for ADP Rise

The Panthers seem to be optimistic that he can return to that form. They let Rico Dowdle walk this offseason, with no real RB depth behind Chuba Hubbard. It seems like they’re itching to get their former 2nd round pick onto the field. And Brooks has been participating in offseason mini-camp and OTAs thus far, a sign he’ll be fully ready for the start of the season.

Drafters have taken notice. Brooks’ cost on Underdog has increased by over two rounds since the NFL Draft. To me, the real reason for the cost increase is that he’s perhaps the only exciting late-round RB this year. The 2026 rookie RB class, beyond Jeremiyah Love, is terrible. And I’m struggling to find a ceiling among the RBs drafted near Brooks. One of these Washington RBs might be important, and my bet would be on Rachaad White, but his path to a workhorse role seems narrow. Aaron Jones is a personal favorite, but he’s ancient. His backfield-mate, Jordan Mason, has hands of stone. As does Chris Rodriguez.

Where are my exciting late-round RB options? I don’t think there are any, beyond Brooks. And that’s the real reason Brooks’ ADP has risen so much. He’s an exciting RB with a history of pass catching behind an RB in Chuba Hubbard that already lost the starting gig for a stretch last year. That’s hard to find in 2026.

Brooks is going in the middle of the 9th round in redraft leagues, according to 4for4’s Multi-Site ADP. I think he’s a much stronger bet in redraft than in best ball. That’s because the cost of a zero in best ball is so much higher. You don’t have the ability to drop Brooks and add someone off waivers if it doesn’t work out. But Brooks will be a priority at this price in redraft leagues as the only late-round RB that you can dream about a full-time, workhorse role without an injury to another RB. And if Brooks isn’t the same RB we saw in college after two ACL tears, then you can cut him and move on.

Bottom Line

• Brooks has 12 career touches in his NFL career; that sample is way too small to draw conclusions from.
• Going back to his prospect profile, he had very strong receiving numbers, tackle avoidance, and elusiveness during his time at UT.
• His 2nd round draft capital was particularly impressive given the Panthers knew Brooks was recovering from a torn ACL the previous November.
• But only three games back from that injury, he re-tore the ACL in the same knee and missed the entirety of the 2025 season.
• The big risk for Brooks is that it’s been nearly two calendar years since he’s played a real game, and it’s fair to question whether he can be the same player following the ACL tears.
• But there are virtually no late-round RBs with a path to a workhorse role without an injury ahead of them.
• Brooks is a crucial exception, explaining why his draft cost has increased nearly two rounds since May and why he’s a priority target for me in redraft leagues.