Who Should I Start? Austin Ekeler or Chuba Hubbard

Saturday, January 18, 11:46 PM

Washington Commanders running back Austin Ekeler tallied 47 yards on six attempts during their victory over the Detroit Lions on Saturday evening. Ekeler added 41 yards on four receptions in the receiving game. Ekeler flashed his breakaway speed all evening as his longest run went for 35 yards, and his reception went for 24 yards. Even though Ekeler was not as involved in the rushing attack, given the high-scoring affair, Ekeler was able to make a significant impact in the receiving game. Ekeler also saw four targets during their wild-card victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers suggesting he has a prominent role in the team's passing attack. Ekeler carries RB2 upside heading into the NFC Championship match.

Monday, December 30, 6:15 PM

Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales said on Monday that running back Chuba Hubbard (calf) will not require surgery for his strained calf. Hubbard was placed on season-ending Injured Reserve last week and will miss the final two games of the 2024 regular season. It's a downer to end what was a brilliant campaign for the 25-year-old in his fourth year in the NFL. He set career-highs in rushing attempts (250), rushing yards (1,195), rushing touchdowns (10) and receptions (43) while recording 171 receiving yards and an additional touchdown in his 15 starts. In terms of half-PPR points per game (14.9), Hubbard was the RB12 in fantasy. Although the Panthers have another promising back they drafted in 2024 in Jonathon Brooks, he has yet to be healthy, and Carolina also signed Hubbard to a four-year extension last month. Hubbard should enter 2025 as the team's unquestioned RB1.