Who Should I Start? Chuba Hubbard or Jaylen Warren

Thursday, September 4, 10:09 AM

The Carolina Panthers don't plan to "run Chuba Hubbard dry" early in the season, per ESPN's David Newton. This shouldn't come as a surprise, as Hubbard set career highs in carries and receptions last year, averaging nearly 20 attempts per game before missing the final two contests with a calf injury. Carolina added depth to the backfield this offseason, signing 2024 1,000-yard rusher Rico Dowdle and drafting Trevor Etienne in the fourth round, signaling more of a committee approach in 2025. Still, Hubbard enters the season as the clear lead back on what could be a breakout offense under Bryce Young. While his volume may dip slightly, his role as the top option keeps him firmly in the fantasy RB2 mix.

Tuesday, September 2, 1:04 PM

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said that running back Jaylen Warren will "be our featured runner," according to Christopher Carter of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "His progress has been very evident and he's to be congratulated ... Certainly he'll be our featured runner. Certainly you'll see [Kaleb Johnson/Kenneth Gainwell], but at what time and at what degree [will depend week-to-week]," Tomlin said. The Steelers signed Warren to a two-year extension worth $12 million guaranteed this week, so this news shouldn't really come as a surprise. It's obviously good news for those that have the 26-year-old in fantasy and bad news for rookie Kalen Johnson, who is the RB3 on the unofficial Week 1 depth chart. The Steelers are expected to be more of a ground-and-pound team on offense this year, making Warren a viable RB3/flex play in fantasy lineups in Week 1 against the Jets.