Who Should I Start? Nick Chubb or Dylan Sampson

Friday, August 15, 3:13 PM

Houston Texans running back Nick Chubb (head) is expected to play in the team's second preseason game on Saturday against the Carolina Panthers after taking the majority of first-team reps during a joint practice with the Panthers on Thursday, according to Sam Warren of the Houston Chronicle. Meanwhile, Dameon Pierce is expected to be held out after resting on Thursday. The 29-year-old Chubb recently was in the league's concussion protocol but has since been cleared and will at least handle a few series in Saturday's game. Chubb returned from a gruesome knee injury in 2023 but did not look explosive at all last year in his final season with the Cleveland Browns. He looked more explosive on Thursday, though, and he could have a sizeable role to open his first year in Houston with Pierce if Joe Mixon (ankle, foot) isn't ready to play in Week 1.

Thursday, August 14, 11:48 AM

Cleveland Browns running back Dylan Sampson was the first running back up in the rotation during Wednesday and Thursday's joint practices with the Philadelphia Eagles, according to The Athletic's Zac Jackson. The fourth-round rookie's stock has grown throughout training camp. Second-round pick Quinshon Judkins is involved in legal trouble and hasn't signed a contract with the Browns. That makes Jerome Ford and Pierre Strong Jr. the biggest competitors for touches. Ford took a pay cut to remain with Cleveland, and the coaching staff may be favoring the rookie over the fourth-year veteran. The Browns are projected to have one of the league's worst offenses, and running back touchdowns may be hard to come by. Both Ford and Sampson are double-digit fantasy football selections. The rookie is a sleeper for what could be a heavy workload this season.