Who Should I Start? Christian McCaffrey or Chuba Hubbard

Saturday, December 13, 5:26 AM

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (illness) gave fantasy football managers a scare when he popped up on the team's injury report earlier this week, raising concern over his availability in Week 15. Fortunately, McCaffrey got in a full session on Friday and has been cleared for Sunday. CMC will be able to take advantage of an inviting matchup against the Titans, who have given up 4.49 yards per carry and 17 total touchdowns to running backs in 2025. San Francisco's offense has run through McCaffrey this season, who not only has the third-most rushing attempts in the NFL (237) but also ranks fifth in receptions (85). McCaffrey has finished as a top-12 running back in 12 of the 49ers' 13 games, and he will be in the mix again in the first round of the fantasy football playoffs.

Friday, December 12, 1:21 PM

After starting the season as his team's RB1, Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard lost his job in the middle of the 2025 season to the emergent Rico Dowdle. Across a four-game stretch from Week 9 through Week 12, Hubbard failed to earn more than seven touches in any game. However, in Carolina's final game before its Week 14 bye, Hubbard went off for 124 scrimmage yards and a touchdown on 19 touches against the Los Angeles Rams. While Dowdle still earned more touches against Los Angeles (20), Hubbard out-gained him by nearly 50 yards. Coming out of its bye, Carolina may continue to lessen the workload discrepancy between its two main backs. Even in a reduced role, Hubbard has still been productive this season, recording 627 scrimmage yards and four touchdowns across 11 games. Hubbard has flex appeal in Week 15 against the New Orleans Saints and could continue trending upwards over the final stretch of the season.