Who Should I Start? Chuba Hubbard or Omarion Hampton

Friday, December 12, 1:21 PM

After starting the season as his team's RB1, Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard lost his job in the middle of the 2025 season to the emergent Rico Dowdle. Across a four-game stretch from Week 9 through Week 12, Hubbard failed to earn more than seven touches in any game. However, in Carolina's final game before its Week 14 bye, Hubbard went off for 124 scrimmage yards and a touchdown on 19 touches against the Los Angeles Rams. While Dowdle still earned more touches against Los Angeles (20), Hubbard out-gained him by nearly 50 yards. Coming out of its bye, Carolina may continue to lessen the workload discrepancy between its two main backs. Even in a reduced role, Hubbard has still been productive this season, recording 627 scrimmage yards and four touchdowns across 11 games. Hubbard has flex appeal in Week 15 against the New Orleans Saints and could continue trending upwards over the final stretch of the season.

Wednesday, December 10, 10:36 AM

Los Angeles Chargers rookie first-round running back Omarion Hampton returned in Week 14 against the Philadelphia Eagles and looked healthy, recording 13 carries for 56 yards to go with two receptions (two targets) for 11 yards and his first career receiving touchdown on Monday night. Hampton played firmly behind Kimani Vidal in his first game back since suffering a fractured ankle in Week 5, with Vidal playing 68.9% of the snaps to Hampton's 31.1%, but the split in touches was pretty much even. The rookie first-rounder's workload should gradually increase in the coming weeks now that he's fully healthy, though Vidal will maintain a role with how well he performed in Hampton's absence. Hampton is now averaging 15.3 PPR points per game in six games this season and will profile as a high-upside RB2 in a Week 15 divisional matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs.