The Texans signed Chubb in May after starter Joe Mixon was discovered to be dealing with ankle and foot problems. Mixon's injury isn't considered serious, so there's a possibility Chubb won't have to play for Mixon because of it. But Chubb is absolutely in the mix for at least a little playing time in Houston assuming he looks okay after coming back from another major leg injury. His 3.3 yards per carry last year was a career low and Chubb never topped 60 total yards in a single game, despite seeing at least 16 touches in three games. He is at best a late-rounder who could provide some Fantasy insurance for those who take Mixon much earlier.
Chubb won't play in Saturday's preseason game against the Lions, which could suggest he's on track for a Week 1 start versus the Rams, according to Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle.
Dameon Pierce, Woody Marks and Dare Ogunbowale are suited up for Saturday's exhibition. Assuming there's not an unreported injury at play, this is a good sign for Chubb's Week 1 role projection in the event Joe Mixon (foot) is absent or limited. Chubb made one appearance this preseason, playing with the first-string offense last week and taking five carries for 25 yards (plus one catch for four yards). Pierce, meanwhile, is set for his first appearance of the preseason after missing some time with a quadriceps injury.
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Texans' Nick Chubb: Encouraging effort in preseason win
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Chubb rushed five times for 25 yards and brought in his only target for four yards in the Texans' 20-3 preseason win over the Panthers on Saturday afternoon.
The first-team offense was out there for two drives Saturday, and Chubb utilized the opportunity to showcase encouraging form following consecutive injury-plagued seasons. The 2018 second-round pick of the Browns appeared to have more spring in his step than during his lackluster 2024 swan song in Cleveland, and with each passing day that Joe Mixon (foot/ankle) remains on the active/non-football injury list, Chubb appears likelier to open the regular season as the Texans' lead back while sharing the backfield with Dameon Pierce and rookie Woody Marks, at minimum.
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Texans' Nick Chubb: Expected to play Saturday
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Chubb (concussion), who handled the bulk of first-team reps during joint practices with the Panthers on Thursday, is expected to suit up for Saturday's preseason game against Carolina, Sam Warren of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Chubb, who has now fully cleared the concussion protocol, has handled the bulk of first-team reps throughout training camp with Joe Mixon (lower leg) still on the active/non-football injury list. He's split those reps with Dameon Pierce, who was held out of Thursday's joint practice and appears on track to get a rest day Saturday. Chubb made a handful of explosive plays at practice Thursday, an encouraging development given that he's coming off back-to-back season-ending injuries. A strong showing versus Carolina would boost Chubb's standing in Houston's backfield, wherein he, Pierce, and rookie fourth-round pick Woody Marks are all working to make their case for the Week 1 starting gig in the event that Mixon isn't ready to go.
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Texans' Nick Chubb: Sheds non-contact jersey
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Chubb (concussion) practiced without a non-contact jersey Tuesday, Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle reports.
This means Chubb has either made it through the concussion protocol or is in the final stage. He hit his head during practice last Tuesday and missed the next few days, but he returned Monday as a limited participant and now seems ready for full participation. With Joe Mixon (foot/ankle) uncertain for the start of the season, Chubb is competing with Dameon Pierce, Dare Ogunbowale and Woody Marks for backfield roles.
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Texans' Nick Chubb: Back at practice Monday
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Chubb (concussion) returned to practice Monday, Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle reports.
The report notes that Chubb, who went through the NFL's concussion protocol after taking a hard hit to the head this past Tuesday, sported a red non-contact jersey in his return to practice. Assuming no setbacks, the veteran running could see some snaps in Saturday's preseason game against the Panthers. Chubb's return to the mix is of particular import to the Texans, given that incumbent starting RB Joe Mixon (foot/ankle) remains sidelined.
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Texans' Nick Chubb: Not slated to play Saturday
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Chubb (head) is not in line to play in Saturday's preseason opener against the Vikings, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Chubb missed a couple of practices after taking a hard hit to the head Tuesday, but he may have been rested anyway Saturday, with the Texans holding a number of other key players out. Also not in line to see action against Minnesota are QB C.J. Stroud, RB Dameon Pierce and TE Dalton Schultz.
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Texans' Nick Chubb: Inks one-year deal with Texans
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Chubb and the Texans officially agreed to a one-year contract Monday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Chubb's 2023 campaign was cut short by ACL, MCL and meniscus tears in his left knee, and upon his return Week 7 of last season, he topped out at 59 rushing yards among his eight appearances before suffering a fracture in his left foot Week 15, ending the year on injured reserve. Prior to those injuries, he had put together four straight 1,000-yard seasons on the ground for the Browns, but with Joe Mixon entrenched as Houston's top running back for 2025, Chubb likely will be relegated to a complementary role while potentially competing for reps with Dameon Pierce and rookie fourth-rounder Woody Marks, considering Chubb's deal has a base salary of $2.5 million.
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Texans' Nick Chubb: Expected to join Houston
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The Texans plan to sign Chubb on Monday pending a successful physical, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Chubb suffered a season-ending foot fracture in mid-December, and he became a free agent after his contract with the Browns officially expired in March. The 29-year-old did not undergo surgery this offseason, so Monday's physical will provide some important clarity as the Texans look to bolster their rushing game. Chubb also missed the first six games last season while recovering from a torn left ACL suffered in September 2023. The four-time Pro Bowler's production plummeted last season with the least efficient campaign of his career, logging 102 carries for 332 yards and three touchdowns. He's now set to join a running back room headlined by another notable veteran in Joe Mixon, who tallied 245 carries for 1,016 yards and 11 touchdowns during his first season in Houston in 2024. The Texans have last year's No. 2 running back Dameon Pierce along with rookie fourth-rounder Woody Marks on the roster as well. Given the wear and tear Chubb has sustained over the last couple of year and pending a successful physical, he'll likely vie with Pierce for a role as the primary backup behind Mixon this coming season.
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Nick Chubb: Door closed on Browns reunion?
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Cleveland general manager Andrew Berry said Friday that the possibility of re-signing Chubb (foot) is "increasingly unlikely" after the team added two running backs in the 2025 NFL Draft, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN reports.
Berry said he's "never going to rule out [Chubb]" and that he "would expect him to take another step being a year removed from the knee injury," but he made clear that "a return is less likely, at least in the short term, with us right now." In his statement, Berry specifically noted rookies Quinshon Judkins (a second-round pick) and Dylan Sampson (fourth round), as well as incumbent veteran Jerome Ford, as reasons a reunion with Chubb is currently off the table. Just as notably, Berry said that Chubb is fully recovered from the broken foot that forced him to miss the final three games of 2024. The 29-year-old running back struggled in his return from a left ACL tear last season, averaging a career-low 3.3 yards per carry across eight appearances before landing on IR in Week 15 due to his foot fracture. He'll work to regain some of his prior explosiveness and find a new opportunity to compete this offseason.
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Browns' Nick Chubb: Moves to IR, out for season
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The Browns placed Chubb (foot) on injured reserve Wednesday.
While Chubb isn't expected to require surgery to repair the left foot he fractured in this past Sunday's 21-7 loss to the Chiefs, the injury will keep him sidelined for the final three games of the season. Jerome Ford is expected to step in as the Browns' lead back in place of Chubb, whose future in Cleveland is uncertain. The four-time Pro Bowler is set to become an unrestricted free agent this spring, and while Chubb has said that he would like to finish his career in Cleveland, it's unclear if the organization feels the same. After sustaining a significant left knee injury in Week 2 of the 2023 season, Chubb didn't make his 2024 debut until Week 7 and lacked his usual explosiveness as a runner. He averaged 3.3 yards per carry -- by far a career-low mark -- and scored four touchdowns over his eight appearances before going down with the fractured foot.
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Browns' Nick Chubb: Leaves Sunday's game
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Chubb won't return to Sunday's game against the Chiefs due to a foot injury.
Before being forced out of the contest, Chubb carried nine times for 41 yards. While Chubb is sidelined, Jerome Ford is next in line for the Browns' Week 15 carries.
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Browns' Nick Chubb: Posts 48 yards in loss
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Chubb rushed the ball 11 times for 48 yards in Sunday's 27-14 loss to the Steelers. He did not record a reception on one target.
Chubb was in an even split in the backfield with Jerome Ford for the entire day. While that limited his volume, Chubb did manage a 19-yard run -- his longest of the season. He's now gained between 48 and 59 yards on the ground in four of his seven games this season, though the ongoing split in the backfield will continue to limit his fantasy appeal.
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Browns' Nick Chubb: Bust Alert (Start/Sit)
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The last time Chubb faced the Steelers in Week 12, he had 19 PPR points, which came on the strength of two rushing touchdowns. He had 20 carries for 59 yards, two touchdowns, and one catch for 1 yard on one target. Chubb also scored 12.5 PPR points in Week 13 at Denver with nine carries for 21 yards, two catches for 24 yards, and a touchdown on two targets. Since returning from his knee injury in Week 7, Chubb is averaging just 3.0 yards per carry, and the only games where he's scored more than 5.2 PPR points is when he found the end zone. The good news is the Steelers have allowed a running back to score in nine games in a row, but Chubb's production could be minimal if he doesn't score. I prefer Chubb as just a flex option in most leagues in Week 14.
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Browns' Nick Chubb: RBs to Sit
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Chubb had his best Fantasy game of the season in Week 12 against Pittsburgh with 19 PPR points because he scored two touchdowns. He finished with 20 carries for 59 yards, the two touchdowns, and one catch for 1 yard on one target. We'll see if Chubb can find the end zone again in Week 13 at Denver because he's still averaging just three yards per carry and has only three catches for 7 yards on seven targets. But this is a tough matchup since the Broncos have allowed two rushing touchdowns since Week 6 and just five rushing touchdowns for the season. I would only use Chubb as a flex option in most leagues in Week 13.
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Browns' Nick Chubb: RBs to Sit
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I thought Chubb had the chance to play well in Week 11 at New Orleans, but he finished with 11 carries for 50 yards and no targets. He only played 22 snaps because Kevin Stefanski didn't want to overwork him with Thursday's game, so we'll see what kind of workload Chubb gets against the Steelers. He's now gone three games in a row with 5.2 PPR points or less, and he hasn't scored a touchdown since Week 7. Pittsburgh has allowed a running back to score a touchdown in seven games in a row, so there's a chance for Chubb to do well if he finds the end zone. But I can only trust him as a flex option at best in the majority of leagues.
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Browns' Nick Chubb: Low usage was planned for Week 11
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Cleveland head coach Kevin Stefanski said Tuesday that having Chubb play 22 snaps in this past Sunday's 35-14 loss to the Saints was planned with the Browns facing a quick turnaround for Week 12 with a Thursday night matchup with the Steelers, Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports.
The snap count against the Saints was the lowest since Chubb made his season debut Week 7, and his 11 carries matched a season-low total. The running back had his best showing from an efficiency standpoint this past week, averaging 4.5 yards per carry after posting a 2.7 YPC mark in his first three games back from injury. With a high chance of either rain or snow for Thursday's game, the Browns could rely more heavily on Chubb coming off his light workload in Week 11.
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Browns' Nick Chubb: Modest numbers again in Week 11
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Chubb carried the ball 11 times for 50 yards in Sunday's 35-14 loss to the Saints.
The game didn't get away from the Browns until the fourth quarter, but Chubb still failed to get a big workload, even coming off a bye and facing what has been a vulnerable New Orleans run defense this season. Cleveland may simply no longer view Chubb as a viable bell cow after last year's serious knee injury, so while he should remain at the top of the depth chart ahead of the likes of Jerome Ford, his days of seeing 20-plus touches on a consistent basis may be over. Chubb isn't likely to break out in Week 12 against the Steelers, a team he's only scored two rushing touchdowns against in 10 career meetings.
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Browns' Nick Chubb: RBs to Start
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Chubb scored a touchdown in his 2024 debut in Week 7 against Cincinnati and finished that game with 10.2 PPR points. In two games after that against Baltimore and the Chargers, Chubb combined for 9.7 PPR points, so he's due for a big game. It should happen this week against the Saints, who are No. 4 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs. Seven running backs in the past six games have scored at least 16.8 PPR points against New Orleans, and Chubb should be considered a solid No. 2 running back in all leagues in Week 11.
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Browns' Nick Chubb: Handles 16 carries
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Chubb rushed the ball 16 times for 52 yards in Sunday's 29-24 win over the Ravens. He failed to record a reception on two targets.
Chubb saw a relatively heavy workload once again, accounting for 16 of the 21 rush attempts out of the team's backfield. As could be expected in a tough matchup, he was largely held in check with his longest rush going for 15 yards early in the second quarter. Chubb hasn't been efficient in his first two games since returning from knee surgery, but he is the lead back in the Browns' offense -- a positive for his outlook moving forward.
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Browns' Nick Chubb: Finds end zone in return
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Chubb rushed the ball 11 times for 22 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 21-14 loss to the Bengals. He added one reception (on three targets) for 10 yards.
Chubb dominated touches out of the Browns backfield in his first game in over in a year, as no other running back had more than three carries. While he wasn't particularly efficient, he did manage to plow into the end zone for a one-yard score late in the second quarter. Chubb's usage was promising given the long layoff, though Cleveland's offensive efficiency is in question moving forward with uncertain quarterback play.
