Who Should I Start? Chuba Hubbard or Caleb Williams

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.

Monday, June 23, 6:04 PM

The Athletic's Adam Jahns writes that Chicago Bears new head coach Ben Johnson is challenging second-year quarterback Caleb Williams every day about everything and is coaching him hard, which should be a good thing for his development going into his second NFL season. Johnson's fiery, demanding persona stood out on the practice field during the offseason program, and it's expected to continue into training camp this summer. The 23-year-old was sacked a league-high 68 times while throwing for 3,541 yards, 20 touchdowns and six interceptions in 17 starts after being the first overall pick in last year's draft. He also rushed for 489 yards. Fantasy managers should give the USC product a pass after the Bears fired their head coach and offensive coordinator midway through Williams' rookie season. With Johnson now running the offense and plenty of weapons at his disposal, Williams should take a step forward in 2025.