Panthers Head Coach Dave Canales Wants To Build Offense Around This Player

Dave Canales: Panthers Offense Will Run the Ball With Jonathon Brooks

Canales’ Tendencies

Dave Canales says he wants to run the ball, but actions speak louder than words. The offseason is filled with lies, and you don’t need to go back too far to find evidence. After all, at this point last year, Terrace Marshall was the best receiver on the Panthers.

However, history backs up Canales’ claims. According to rbsdm.com, the 2023 Tampa Bay Buccaneers had a -1% pass rate under expectation, which means they ran the ball more than you’d expect based on their in-game situations.

While this doesn’t sound like a lot, it’s worth noting that last year’s Buccaneers had one of the worst rushing attacks in football. Tampa Bay finished the year ranked 27th in rushing EPA/play while averaging a paltry 3.4 yards per carry. If Canales ran the ball that frequently despite terrible results, he should be willing to build the Panthers offense around Jonathon Brooks.

Of course, Jonathon Brooks needs to get healthy before becoming the focal point of the Panthers offense. Even if he is healthy, will he be able to beat out the competition?

Jonathon Brooks Fantasy Football Outlook With Panthers

As of this posting, Jonathon Brooks is not cleared for football activities but plans to be back in time for Panthers training camp. Again, it’s the offseason, so you should take this with a grain of salt, but the running back says he’s “on pace” with his recovery. Week 1 of the regular season will be roughly nine months after his original injury, which fits the rough timeline for a typical ACL recovery. While he might need some time to knock off the rust, he should be back to full strength by midseason at the latest.

Once Jonathon Brooks is healthy, he should easily win the starting job for the Panthers. Miles Sanders crashed and burned during his first year with the club, Chuba Hubbard is nothing more than a league-average journeyman, and Rashaad Penny did nothing last year with the Eagles. Brooks has star potential, and Rachaad White’s 336 combined touches from 2023 show that Canales has no issue using a workhorse back.

This projected usage combined with the Panthers offensive line improvements means Jonathon Brooks could be a star in the back half of the season. While Carolina’s offense might have trouble finding the endzone, the volume will be there. Brooks is easily the top rookie running back in dynasty formats and is a worthwhile mid-round pick for those already dipping their toes in redraft and bestball leagues.