With Jonathon Brooks still recovering from his torn ACL, Hubbard should carry the mail for Carolina until he's ready. Last year, as the Panthers starting tailback, he was the RB24 in fantasy points per game, he averaged 19.2 touches and 77.7 total yards. Hubbard wasn't an efficiency maven, though, ranking 30th in explosive run rate, 32nd in missed tackles forced per attempt, and 31st in yards after contact per attempt. Last year, with Dave Cannales, the Bucs utilized zone on 46.7% of their snaps. The Panthers should be a zone-heavy team this year after utilizing it on 53% of their rushing plays last year (Hubbard 57.1% zone). The Saints allowed the 10th-highest yards per carry to zone runs last year. Overall, they allowed the 13th-highest missed tackles per attempt and the 10th-highest yards after contact per attempt. Hubbard is flex-worthy in Week 1 and could easily be a strong RB2 when it's all said and done against the Saints.

Thielen has to prove in 2024 that he still has something left in the tank before I'm willing to slide him into a fantasy lineup. Last year, after Week 8, he faded badly. In Weeks 9-18, Thielen surpassed 80 receiving yards only once, as he averaged 8.9 fantasy points per game with 1.29 YPRR. Thielen is a sit and not worthy of a roster spot right now in most conventional fantasy leagues.

Dowdle is a McCarthy favorite who will compete with Ezekiel Elliott and Dalvin Cook to be the lead back for this offense. It's easily possible he is the best back on this roster, considering his current competition. Last year, among 53 qualifying backs, he ranked 16th in yards after contact per attempt while also having the 23rd lowest stuff rate. Dowdle is nothing more than a middle-of-the-road flex for Week 1 because we have no clue what the division of labor will be. The matchup is nice, though, so if you need a flex with some upside, I don't hate wedging Dowdle into lineups in a pinch. Last year, Cleveland allowed the highest explosive run rate and missed tackles allowed per attempt while also giving up the second-highest yards after contact per attempt.