Who Should I Start? Chuba Hubbard or Rachaad White

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.

Wednesday, May 28, 3:59 PM

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White saw his RB1 title stripped by rookie running back Bucky Irving last season. The Arizona State product was excellent in 2023, tallying over 1,400 yards of offense and nine touchdowns. However, he saw his production and touch share dip in 2024 as he became a committee back due to the emergence of Irving. Entering his fourth NFL campaign, Buccaneers offensive coordinator Josh Gizzard sounds like he wants to keep him involved in the team's offensive game plan. "Really good route-runner. We all know he's really good with the ball in his hands on screens, drop back pass game," Gizzard said of White. "I don't want to compare him to a lot of other guys, but he is close to, if not as good as, anybody we see in terms of pass protection in the NFL." White's days as a workhorse back appear to be over, but he continues to stay on the fantasy football radar as a handcuff with standalone value, especially in PPR leagues. White has hauled in 185 receptions in 50 career games and would have RB1 upside due to touch volume if Irving has to miss any time in 2025.