Who Should I Start? Nick Chubb or Brashard Smith

Tuesday, September 16, 1:02 AM

Houston Texans running back Nick Chubb rushes for 43 yards on 12 carries and a touchdown while adding two receptions for 29 yards. Chubb started the game looking good with an explosive gain for 27 yards on a screen pass. He was mostly inefficient on the ground against a stingy Tampa Bay front with Vita Vea and company. Outside of his 25-yard touchdown run, Chubb rushed for only 18 yards on 11 of his other carries. The 29-year-old looks to be the main back in Houston with Joe Mixon out of the picture for the foreseeable future. He handled 12 of the 15 running back carries while playing 52% of the snaps. There may not be a ton of upside with Chubb moving forward with a poor offensive line and offensive environment, but Chubb is a freak athlete and a time great running back who could still have something left. He looks like he will continue to get volume, and if C.J. Stroud and the Texans offense can find a groove, then he could be valuable. For now, he'll project as a touchdown-dependent RB3.

Sunday, August 31, 8:53 AM

Kansas City Chiefs running back Brashard Smith made the 53-man roster in Kansas City, and could have a pathway to the field during his first season with the team. The rookie cleared the first hurdle by sticking around through training camp, which is no guarantee as a seventh-round pick. But with Isiah Pacheco less than a year removed from a broken leg, Smith's competition for time is veterans Kareem Hunt and Elijah Mitchell. As a former wide receiver, the rookie has a skill set the Chiefs like, having featured similarly skilled Jerk McKinnon in prior years. Smith has some lottery ticket appeal playing in Andy Reid's offense.