Who Should I Start? Nick Chubb or Rico Dowdle

Monday, January 12, 6:44 PM

Houston Texans running back Nick Chubb will have an elevated role as the team's RB2 on Monday night against the hosting Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild-Card playoff game, with Jawhar Jordan (ankle) ruled out. Chubb was a healthy scratch in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Indianapolis Colts, with Jordan taking over RB2 duties behind rookie starter Woody Marks. The 30-year-old should be more involved against Pittsburgh, but he by no means should be considered a standalone starter in fantasy lineups on Monday night. Chubb saw one carry in two of his final three regular-season games. He averaged 4.1 yards per carry on his 122 rushing attempts for 506 yards in 15 regular-season contests. Dare Ogunbowale may see the field more than Chubb on Monday night. Chubb hasn't seen double-digit carries in a game since Nov. 2 against the Broncos.

Sunday, January 11, 12:48 PM

Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle, who will be a free agent in March, said his decreased number of carries at the end of the season will impact his thinking in free agency, according to Joe Person of The Athletic. Dowdle said he wants to go somewhere "where he can get the bulk of the carries." The 27-year-old was an unquestioned RB1 during the 2025 season when Chuba Hubbard missed time with an injury. However, Dowdle was involved in more of a timeshare late in the year following Hubbard's return, and he watched Hubbard score twice in the Wild-Card loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday. He had only five rushing attempts for nine yards while adding one catch on two targets for six yards. In the final four regular-season games, Dowdle averaged only 3.3 yards per carry as his role shrank. It sounds as though Dowdle doesn't plan on signing in Carolina, but it remains to be seen if he'll be able to land a lead-back role elsewhere in free agency.