Jonathan Brooks Fantasy Outlook: What to Expect After His Injury

Jonathan Brooks entered the NFL as one of the most exciting running back prospects from the University of Texas. His college career showed flashes of complete back power, speed, and soft hands in the passing game. However, his transition to the NFL hasn’t gone as smoothly as many fantasy football fans hoped. Between injuries and a crowded backfield, his future in fantasy leagues has become a hot topic.

From College Stardom to the NFL

Brooks built a strong reputation at Texas, rushing for over 1,100 yards and scoring 10 touchdowns in 2023. His ability to create plays both on the ground and through the air made him a standout in a program known for producing elite running backs. The Carolina Panthers saw enough potential to take him early in the 2024 NFL Draft. For a moment, it seemed like he could become the team’s future star.

Unfortunately, injuries quickly changed that storyline. Brooks tore his ACL during his college career and then reinjured the same knee in his rookie season. It was a tough blow for both him and fantasy managers who had hoped for a breakout year.

Current Status

The Panthers placed him on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list for the 2025 season, which effectively rules him out for the entire year. That means his fantasy value for this season is close to zero in redraft formats. Still, his long-term outlook depends heavily on how well he recovers from another ACL surgery.

Medical experts and sports analysts have noted that two ACL tears in the same knee can make recovery more complicated. However, there have been success stories of players who returned to form with patience and solid rehab. Brooks is young and motivated, which gives him an edge if he follows the right recovery process.

What It Means for Fantasy Managers

In most standard redraft leagues, Brooks shouldn’t be on your radar this season. He’s unlikely to see the field, and there’s too much uncertainty around his timeline. However, for dynasty or keeper league players, the conversation is different.

Because of his age and college production, Brooks could be a smart “buy low” candidate. Many fantasy managers tend to give up on injured players quickly, which opens a window of opportunity for long-term investors. If you have an open injured reserve (IR) slot, he might be worth stashing.

Fantasy managers who specialize in long-term roster building often look for players who can outperform their draft or trade value once they return. Brooks fits that mold perfectly, risky, but with clear potential upside.

Assessing His Long-Term Upside

When healthy, Brooks has all the tools to become a three-down running back. He’s shown good vision, balance, and acceleration in traffic. His pass-catching ability is another plus something the Panthers’ offense desperately needs. If Carolina’s coaching staff builds around him properly and he recovers fully, he could be a future RB1 or RB2 option.

The challenge lies in Carolina’s crowded backfield. With players like Chuba Hubbard and Rico Dowdle in the mix, Brooks will need to prove he’s fully ready before he earns consistent touches. His draft pedigree should give him another chance, but nothing is guaranteed after two major knee injuries.

Fantasy Advice by League Type

Redraft Leagues: Avoid drafting Brooks this year. It’s hard to justify using a roster spot on a player who won’t contribute in 2025.
Dynasty Leagues: This is where he becomes interesting. If your team is in a rebuilding phase, acquiring Brooks could pay off in a season or two. Try to trade for him if the cost is low; a future third-round rookie pick or a depth wide receiver could do the trick.
Keeper Leagues: Only consider him if you can keep multiple players for several seasons. He’s not worth burning a single keeper slot unless you already have strong starters.

Comparisons to Other Players

Fantasy analysts often compare Brooks’ situation to players like Dalvin Cook or Todd Gurley, who returned from ACL injuries and managed to perform at a high level. The difference, of course, is that those players only suffered one major injury, not two. Still, Brooks’ youth and work ethic make him an intriguing long-term project.

Some dynasty experts also point out that the Panthers invested heavily in him; a second-round draft pick usually means the team plans to use him once he’s healthy. If his rehab goes well, Brooks could see the field again in 2026, possibly in a shared role at first.

What to Watch Moving Forward

Over the next year, fantasy managers should monitor several key developments:

• Updates on his recovery timeline and participation in team workouts
  
• The Panthers’ draft and free agency moves at running back
  
• Any training camp buzz suggesting he’s nearing full strength
  

These small updates will tell you when it’s time to buy or sell. If reports suggest that Brooks is cutting well and regaining his explosiveness, his value could rise quickly.

The Bottom Line

Jonathan Brooks’ fantasy value depends almost entirely on his recovery. The talent is there, the opportunity might come later, but patience is required. If you’re in a long-term fantasy format, stashing him on your IR spot could turn out to be a smart play. For short-term formats, it’s better to wait until he proves he’s ready to take on a meaningful workload.

Fantasy football always rewards those who can spot future potential before everyone else does. Brooks may never return to his full college dominance, but if he even gets close, he’ll be worth the wait.

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