Who Should I Start? Chuba Hubbard or J.K. Dobbins

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.

Saturday, January 11, 11:29 PM

Los Angeles Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins struggled in the Wild Card Round loss to the Houston Texans, along with almost everyone else in a Chargers uniform. Dobbins ran the ball nine times, gaining 26 yards. He was targeted once in the passing game but was unable to come up with the catch. Dobbins was excellent when healthy in his first year as a Charger, but this was a rough game to end the season on. The Texans were in the backfield on almost every play, pressuring quarterback Justin Herbert or stopping the Los Angeles run game. Dobbins was playing on a one-year contract with the Bolts, but he showed more than enough to earn himself another starting job next season if he doesn't stick with the Chargers.