Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon will start the season on the reserve/NFI list, meaning that veteran Nick Chubb will have the opportunity to reclaim a starting job early in the year. Chubb’s best days are far behind him, but does he have enough left in his tank for one last season of greatness?
Nick Chubb Fantasy Football Outlook After Joe Mixon Injury
At his best, one could make the case that Nick Chubb was the best pure runner in football. However, the NFL unofficially stands for “Not For Long,” and an unfortunate combination of age and injuries has done a number on the four-time Pro Bowler.
Chubb suffered a gruesome knee injury early in the 2023 season, and while he returned to the field in 2024, he looked like a shell of himself. Starting and appearing in eight games, the veteran finished the season with just 332 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 102 carries (3.3 yards per attempt) while recording an abysmal 57.5 PFF grade, which would have ranked 57th out of 59 running backs if he had enough snaps to qualify.
Perhaps Nick Chubb can return to form now that he’s another year removed from his injury, but that isn’t particularly likely. The veteran is entering his age-30 season, which is well past the point where running backs tend to slow down. The human body can only handle so much, and his age, injury history, and 1,468 career touches suggest he probably doesn’t have much left in his tank. Even if Joe Mixon stays sidelined indefinitely, Nick Chubb probably isn’t good enough to justify a large workload at this stage in his career.
The Other Running Backs
Of course, Nick Chubb isn’t the only running back who could replace Joe Mixon in the backfield. Dameon Pierce never recaptured his rookie magic under current head coach DeMeco Ryans, but he’s considerably younger than Chubb and has more tread on his tires. Additionally, veteran Dare Ogunbowale will retain his role as the third-down back and steal targets, which are easily the most valuable touches in fantasy football.
Chances are, Houston will use all three running backs to compensate for the loss of Joe Mixon, and that’s assuming they don’t add someone in the coming days. All 32 teams must get down to the 53-man roster limit before 4PM EST on Tuesday, and some intriguing running backs could become available. The Denver Broncos, for instance, already released Audric Estime, and the second-year back could easily compete for a job in this empty backfield.
If you have Nick Chubb on your dynasty team, you should use the Joe Mixon injury as an excuse to sell him for whatever you can get. If not, then you’re better off letting someone else reach for the four-time Pro Bowler. Nick Chubb is a big name, but his production won’t come close to matching his reputation.
Main Photo: Thomas Shea – Imagn Images
