Who Should I Start? Hunter Luepke or DJ Giddens

Wednesday, September 3, 9:47 AM

The Dallas Cowboys and fullback Hunter Luepke have agreed to a two-year contract extension worth up to $7.5 million, per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo. The deal makes Luepke the second-highest paid fullback in the NFL, joining San Francisco's Kyle Juszczyk, behind Miami Dolphins' Alec Ingold. The third-year pro out of North Dakota State is coming off the best season of his career in 2024, when he tallied 149 yards and a touchdown on 24 touches. Beyond his production, Luepke proved his value as a versatile contributor, excelling as a runner, receiver, and blocker in the Cowboys' offense. With the extension secured, Luepke is expected to remain Dallas's starting fullback as the team prepares for a critical Week 1 divisional matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Friday, February 20, 7:20 AM

A fifth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Indianapolis Colts running back DJ Giddens failed to make much of an impact in his rookie season. Across nine games played, the 23-year-old recorded 26 carries for 96 yards and failed to reach the end zone. Giddens struggled to crack the Colts' active roster on game days for a sizable portion of the season, with veteran backs Tyler Goodson and Ameer Abdullah serving as the team's primary backups behind star running back Jonathan Taylor. As long as Taylor remains healthy, it will be difficult for any other Colts running back to see the field consistently. Giddens also did not record a single reception and earned just two targets in his rookie season, so he may not be positioned to play a complementary third-down role alongside Taylor. Giddens could be given a larger opportunity to prove himself in his second NFL season, but his dynasty value is trending in the wrong direction after his quiet rookie year.