Who Should I Start? Chuba Hubbard or Kyren 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.

Sunday, May 4, 1:58 PM

Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams doesn't think he has reached his ceiling despite back-to-back 1,100-yard rushing seasons. Williams has also added an impressive 26 total touchdowns the last two years. "I don't feel like I've touched my peak yet. I've gotten to where I wanted to be, but I'm determined to make this my best season," Williams said. The 24-year-old former fifth-rounder in 2022 remains hungry for more production as he enters the final year of his rookie deal in 2025 with the Rams. L.A. could involve backup Blake Corum behind Williams more in his second year in the league, but Williams remains the team's unquestioned RB1 as long as he's healthy, and he should be considered a solid midrange RB1 option in fantasy drafts this fall. In 16 regular-season games in 2024, Williams was the RB6 in half-PPR scoring with 1,299 rushing yards and 14 rushing TDs on 316 carries.