5 breakout fantasy football stars to pick up for Week 4

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HOUSTON, TEXAS – SEPTEMBER 23: Chuba Hubbard #30 of the Carolina Panthers gets pushed out of bounds by Vernon Hargreaves III #26 of the Houston Texans just short of the goal line at NRG Stadium on September 23, 2021, in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

2. Top fantasy football pickups for Week 4 – Panthers RB Chuba Hubbard

We could use this space to remind you to pick up Sam Darnold for the third week in a row, but it seems like his time in New York has done enough to dissuade fantasy owners from taking the plunge with Carolina’s new starter. There is an opportunity in Carolina almost everyone will pounce on this week, however, thanks to an unfortunate injury to Christian McCaffrey.

The Panthers will be without McCaffrey for several weeks after he suffered a Grade 1 hamstring strain in last Thursday’s win against the Houston Texans. While the good news is that McCaffrey shouldn’t be out too long, it does shoot backup Chuba Hubbard into immediate fantasy relevance.

Hubbard received 14 touches after McCaffrey went down, recording 11 carries for 52 yards while adding three receptions on five targets for 27 more yards. Anyone expecting CMC-level production out of Hubbard will be sorely disappointed but he will become the Panthers’ unquestioned starter for as long as McCaffrey is sidelined, which should make Hubbard a priority pickup for anyone in need of running back help.

Rostered in just 25 percent of Yahoo leagues entering Week 3, Hubbard will undoubtedly be one of the top pickups of the week. A matchup with Dallas’ suspect defense in Week 4 could be tremendous for Hubbard, making him a priority add in all leagues.

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