Who Should I Start? Nick Chubb or Nyheim Hines

Thursday, April 11, 2:02 PM

The Cleveland Browns and star running back Nick Chubb (knee) agreed on a reworked contract for the 2024 season on Thursday to lower his base salary of $11.775 million, according to sources. Chubb will have a chance to earn it back via incentives after working his way back from a gruesome season-ending left-knee injury that he suffered in Week 2 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The 28-year-old isn't going anywhere, but he won't be as much of a sure thing as an RB1 in fantasy leagues after tearing his ACL, MCL and meniscus in 2023. Even if he's ready to go for Week 1 this fall for the Browns, Cleveland could choose to ease Chubb in and give more touches to Jerome Ford, D'Onta Foreman and Nyheim Hines. We'll keep a close eye on Chubb's recovery this offseason.

Tuesday, March 12, 11:45 AM

Free-agent running back Nyheim Hines (leg) is signing a one-year deal worth up to $3.5 million with the Cleveland Browns, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The 27-year-old missed the entire 2023 season with the Buffalo Bills after suffering a major leg injury during the offseason. Hines entered the league as a fourth-round pick in the 2018 NFL draft via the Indianapolis Colts, where he was utilized as a receiving back behind Jonathan Taylor late in his tenure. In 72 games for the Colts, he caught 235 passes for 1,725 yards and seven touchdowns. He was traded to the Buffalo Bills at the 2022 deadline but only logged 11 touches for 50 yards thereafter. Hines will need to get past the leg injury, but he's a dynamic kick returner and could be in the mix as a change-of-pace back in Cleveland's backfield when he's fully healthy.