Who Should I Start? Chuba Hubbard or James Cook

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.

Tuesday, June 10, 12:31 PM

Buffalo Bills running back James Cook is officially present at mandatory minicamp on Tuesday, although it's unclear how much he'll actually participate this week as he seeks a new long-term deal, a source tells NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Cook skipped voluntary organized team activities in April and May but wasn't ready to be fined by skipping minicamp as he looks for a new deal as he heads into the final year of his current deal. The 25-year-old former second-rounder had a big year for the Bills and fantasy managers in his third season in 2024. After scoring four rushing touchdowns combined in his first two seasons, Cook broke out with a league-high 16 TDs on the ground while finishing with 1,009 rushing yards on 207 carries. He added 32 catches for 258 yards and two more scores. The two-time Pro Bowler will face serious TD regression in 2025 but should still be the unquestioned RB1 in Buffalo.