Who Should I Start? Chuba Hubbard or TreVeyon Henderson

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, June 18, 12:16 PM

The Athletic's Chad Graff offers skepticism as to whether New England Patriots rookie second-round running back TreVeyon Henderson can be a true bell-cow back in the future, mainly given his injury history. Henderson suffered a broken foot as a sophomore at Ohio State, which required surgery, and then missed more time as a junior with an undisclosed injury. He's also a bit undersized for a RB at 5-foot-10, 202 pounds. But the 22-year-old was a second-rounder because he has blazing speed and big-play ability, which the Patriots have been lacking at the position. Henderson is a true home run threat who can make plays as a receiver and as a runner. His development between the tackles will be something to watch, although most of that work will go to Rhamondre Stevenson in 2025. Henderson will have more value as a high-end RB3 in PPR leagues in his first year in the NFL.