Who Should I Start? Chuba Hubbard or C.J. Stroud

Monday, September 8, 3:35 AM

Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard caught the team's lone touchdown in a 23-10 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. With just under five minutes left in the game, quarterback Bryce Young hit Hubbard in the flat, and after evading a shoestring tackle, he was able to race up the sideline unchallenged for the 27-yard score. Hubbard had an otherwise unremarkable game, logging 16 carries for 57 rushing yards and turning five targets into three receptions for 32 yards and the trip to the end zone. The one positive is Hubbard's dominance of the Panthers' backfield duties. Rico Dowdle saw only three carries, and Hubbard outsnapped his new understudy at a 2-to-1 clip. Hubbard and the Panthers will take to the road to face the Cardinals in Week 2.

Sunday, September 14, 6:08 AM

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud is hoping for a bounce-back season after a down year in 2024, but the new season didn't start well in the Texans' 14-9 loss to the Rams in Week 1. Stroud was limited to just 188 passing yards while completing 19-of-27 passes. He was under pressure from the Rams' strong pass rush most of the day and wasn't able to create enough big plays down the field. His interception came on a pass that was snatched out of the hands of his receiver, so it wasn't really on him. However, he didn't make enough big plays or lead any touchdown drives. Even with new offensive coordinator Nick Caley in command, the issues from last season were evident once again in Week 1. Stroud and the Texans will look to get on track against the Buccaneers in the first game of Monday Night Football's doubleheader, but with how rough the Texans' offense looked, it's hard to support Stroud as a QB1. In the RotoBaller rankings, he's QB17, making him a decent QB2 but a long shot to start in standard, single-QB leagues.