Who Should I Start? Aaron Jones Sr. or Chuba Hubbard

Wednesday, October 22, 5:27 PM

Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones Sr. (hamstring) is considered questionable to be activated from Injured Reserve to make his return in Week 8 against the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday Night Football, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The Vikings opened Jones' 21-day practice window on Tuesday, and he was listed as a limited practice participant the last two days, suggesting that he'll likely be held out for another week. The 30-year-old has been on IR since suffering a hamstring injury back in the Week 2 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. If he ends up being activated and suiting up on Thursday night in Los Angeles, it wouldn't be a surprise if he's the second option out of the backfield behind Jordan Mason, who has been operating as the team's lead back with Jones out. If Jones stays on IR this week, his next chance to return would come in Week 9 versus the division-rival Detroit Lions.

Monday, October 20, 2:33 PM

Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales told reporters on Monday that he anticipates a continued workload split between his two running backs, Chuba Hubbard and Rico Dowdle. In the two games that Hubbard missed with an injured calf, Dowdle saw a total of 61 opportunities, which he converted into an unreal 470 yards and two scores. In Hubbard's first game back, the two saw a nearly 50/50 workload split, with Hubbard on the field for five more snaps than Dowdle, but Dowdle seeing 18 opportunities to Hubbard's 16. Dowdle was also the more efficient back on the day, averaging 5.3 yards per touch to Hubbard's 3.4, and managing a usable fantasy performance with his 96 yards. For fantasy managers who had feasted on his last two games, it was surely a disappointment, but in the right matchup, both backs should provide enough of a floor to help navigate bye weeks and injuries from the flex spot, especially as Hubbard continues to knock off the rust.