Who Should I Start? Chuba Hubbard or Omarion Hampton

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.

Thursday, September 4, 6:53 PM

Rich Eisen said that Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh told him in a pre-broadcast meeting that rookie first-round running back Omarion Hampton will be the team's starter over Najee Harris in the Week 1 regular-season opener in Brazil on Friday night against the division-rival Kansas City Chiefs. Eisen points out that it will be the first time in Harris' career in his debut with the Bolts that he will not start. Harris missed most of training camp and all of the preseason due to a superficial eye injury suffered in a fireworks accident on the Fourth of July, but he's been fully cleared and will back up Hampton. The 22-year-old rookie impressed this summer, but it's unclear what the workload split will be against KC. With lots of big-play ability, though, in a run-first Chargers offense, Hampton will be in play as an RB2 in fantasy against a tough Chiefs defense.