Who Should I Start? Calvin Ridley or Chuba Hubbard

Saturday, June 21, 1:32 PM

TennesseeTitans.com's Jim Wyatt writes that Tennessee Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley looks really bought in in his second season with the team. Wyatt says that Ridley looks more eager to work and embrace quarterback Cam Ward and the other rookies around him. In addition, he should benefit from having more skilled players around him in 2025. The 30-year-old wideout had his second straight 1,000-yard receiving season in 2024 and the third in his career, but he went from eight touchdowns in 2023 with Jacksonville to only four in Tennessee. There might be a little more competition for targets this year, but Ridley is still the unquestioned WR1, and he could benefit from Ward being under center instead of Will Levis. Ridley has a safe floor as a WR3/flex, but how successful he is in 2025 will ultimately come down to how consistent Ward can be in his rookie season.

Tuesday, July 1, 9:19 PM

The Charlotte Observer's Alex Zietlow writes that Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard "will still get the overwhelming majority of the touches" this year. Hubbard was the team's bell-cow back in 2024 with 712 snaps. He carried the ball 250 times, which ranked 11th in the NFL and second among all RBs who played 15 games or fewer. Zietlow thinks that number will drop a bit this year as the Panthers look to keep Hubbard fresh, with Rico Dowdle and rookie Trevor Etienne splitting change-of-pace carries. The 26-year-old had his first 1,000-yard rushing season with a career-high 10 touchdowns in 15 starts, adding a carer-high 43 catches for 171 yards and a score through the air. There's a good chance 2024 ends up being Hubbard's career year, as Dowdle should be much more effective than Miles Sanders was behind Hubbard last year. Fantasy managers should target Hubbard as an RB2.