Who Should I Start? Kareem Hunt or Austin Ekeler

Thursday, February 12, 8:56 AM

Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt has enjoyed a career resurgence over his last two years with the team. In 2025, he appeared in all 17 games, rushing for 611 yards and eight touchdowns while sharing the backfield with Isiah Pacheco. The veteran running back also added 143 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown, and he finished the year as the overall RB31 in full-PPR leagues. Hunt now has 1,658 scrimmage yards over his last two seasons, as well as a whopping 25 touchdowns over his last three seasons. Hunt, an impending free agent, will be 31 years old when the 2026 season gets underway. His efficiency has tailed off, and he's no longer a workhorse back. However, he has shown that he can continue to be a scoring threat while contributing as both a ball-carrier and a pass-catcher. We wouldn't be surprised to see Hunt re-sign with the Chiefs, but no matter where he ends up, he could sneak into the top 36 running backs for fantasy football drafts. His dynasty outlook isn't quite as favorable, though, as he's definitely in the final stages of his career.

Tuesday, February 10, 9:31 AM

Pending free agent running back Austin Ekeler signed a two-year deal with the Washington Commanders before the 2024 season, but has struggled with injuries since. The 30-year-old back managed fewer than 70 offensive snaps in 2025 before a devastating Achilles injury ended his season in Week 2. While his touchdown numbers have dropped precipitously from his fantasy glory days with the Chargers, he continued to prove himself a valuable part of the Commanders' passing game. With almost a full year of recovery before the start of the 2026 season and a work ethic second to none, it should come as no surprise if he signs a minimal short-term deal when free agency opens in March, potentially carving out a dedicated third-down role. While his RB1 days are clearly behind him, he could represent a next-to-nothing dynasty buy with the occasional spike week still in his future.