While the 2023-24 NFL season was an abject disaster on the field for the most part in Charlotte, there was a shimmer of a silver lining in the play of third year running back Chuba Hubbard. Hubbard, who was selected by Carolina in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft out of Oklahoma State, ran for 902 yards on 238 carries, with five scores on the ground for the 2-15 Carolina Panthers.
The 24-year-old Canadian did all that on a $1,118,294 salary cap hit, netting him an average dollar-per-yard (rushing and receiving only) total of $985 — which ranked eighth among all running backs in the league. Maybe Hubbard can lift the Panthers more next season across NFL betting.
For this study, BetCarolina.com utilized ProFootballReference.com for the salary cap hit and yards (rushing and receiving only) of every NFL running back in the 2023-24 NFL regular season. We then calculated dollars per yard for each player in the league to determine the 10 most value-driven RBs this season. Salary and yards were included for all teams that the player was on this season.
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Most Undervalued Running Backs 2023-24 NFL Season
Where Hubbard Ranks
Among the NFL’s cavalcade of running backs, Hubbard’s efficiency in terms of dollars spent ranked eighth overall, sandwiched between De'Von Achane of the Miami Dolphins ($908 per yard) and No. 9 Brian Robinson Jr. of the Washington Commanders ($1,041 per yard).
Leaguewide, Kyren Williams of the Los Angeles Rams ($702 per yard) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ running back Rachaad White ($757 per yard) were the leaders in efficiency out of the backfield, while Isiah Pacheco of the Kansas City Chiefs ($758 per yard), Jaylen Warren of the Pittsburgh Steelers ($764 per yard) and Jerome Ford of the Cleveland Browns ($840 per yard) rounded out the top five.
When it came to Average Value rankings (via Pro-Football-Reference.com), Hubbard’s yearlong total of 6 AV ranked in a tie with Ford for the sixth most of the group, behind James Cook’s 13 AV, White’s 10 AV, Pacheco (8 AV), with Warren and Robinson (7 AV each) rounding out the list.
Also of interest for Carolina fans: Panthers Top Among NFL’s Most Disappointing Teams In 2023.
