Nick Chubb vs. Kareem Hunt: Which Browns RB is the better fantasy football value?

Jacob Camenker

Nick Chubb vs. Kareem Hunt: Which Browns RB is the better fantasy football value? image

Over the past two seasons, Browns running back Nick Chubb has been one of the best fantasy football contributors in the NFL. Twice a top-15 finisher at the RB position, the former second-round draft pick out of Georgia has worked his way into first-round status in almost all fantasy rankings. He's a consistent producer that many like to target early on draft day because of his volume. However, in 2020, Chubb will be facing his stiffest competition for touches yet. Kareem Hunt will be his counterpart once again, but this time around, there will be no suspension to hold Hunt back. As a result, Hunt will challenge Chubb for carries and touches out of the gate and could slightly diminish his fantasy value as a result.

Plenty of backfields across the NFL can support two relevant fantasy football backs, especially in PPR formats. That said, without a preseason and with a new coaching staff in tow, it's hard to know exactly how the split between Chubb and Hunt might work, and that's leaving some fantasy football owners a little bit antsy when it comes time to decide if either player is worth an early-round pick on draft day.

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So, is Chubb still a good first-round value despite the presence of Hunt? Where should Hunt be going on draft day? And should you try to draft both Chubb and Hunt? We break down the top Cleveland backs with the start of the fantasy football season rapidly approaching.

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Nick Chubb fantasy outlook

During his two years with the Browns, Chubb has been a high-volume producer and the focal point of the team's offense. It took him some time to get involved as a rookie because he was stuck behind Carlos Hyde early in his time with the team. Once Hyde was traded, though, Chubb broke out en route to a season that saw him rack up 1,145 total yards and 10 TDs.

In '19, Chubb's dominance on the ground continued. He finished the year as the sixth-rated RB in fantasy football, totaling 1,494 rushing yards (good for the second-most in the NFL) 334 total touches. On paper, he still looks like a big-time contributor, but there are a couple of potential causes for concern.

When Hunt was in the lineup for Cleveland last year, Chubb averaged 19.4 touches per game. When Hunt wasn't available, Chubb's share of touches went up to 22.4. Over a 16-game season, that's a difference of 48 fewer touches for Chubb with Hunt on the field. A decline of that many touches is enough to make any fantasy owner a bit squeamish.

Additionally, Chubb's lack of success near the goal-line could cause him to lose some of fantasy football's most valuable touches. Last season, Chubb toted the rock 15 times from inside the five-yard line. The results were abysmal. He totaled -14 yards and only scored twice on those carries. Running behind an improved O-Line should help the bruiser reach a better portion of his top-tier TD potential, but if he struggles again in that category, Hunt, who turned his only carry inside the five into a TD, could step in and steal more touchdowns.

Those concerns are warranted, but the fact remains that Chubb is a big back with a history of durability, and Cleveland should be comfortable with him operating in the lead role. For now, Chubb certainly looks the part of a true RB1, and if he starts the season well, he should remain one for the entire season. It's just worth noting that he could lose some touches, especially if he struggles again near the end zone.

Chubb is currently being drafted as the No. 9 player off the board and RB7, according to Fantasy Pros ADP. That's a solid value for his skill set, and the fact that he isn't going in the top five, which is where he falls in our RB rankings for '20, is indicative of fantasy owners being cognizant of the risks that come with selecting Chubb early.

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Kareem Hunt fantasy outlook

Just two short years ago, Hunt was a first-round pick in almost all fantasy football leagues. Coming off a stellar rookie season with the Chiefs, Hunt was viewed as a workhorse back in a terrific offense. The sky was the limit for him.

However, late in the year, a video of Hunt getting into a physical altercation with a woman surfaced. As a result, the Chiefs released Hunt after he was placed on the Commissioner's Exempt list. Hunt would remain available until after the Super Bowl when then-Browns GM John Dorsey scooped him up to make him part of Cleveland's RB room.

After serving an eight-game suspension in '19, Hunt became a key part of the Cleveland offense. Chubb was still the between-the-tackles leader, but Hunt was able to reel in 37 passes for 285 yards and a TD in limited action. Over a full 16-game season, that translates to 74 catches, 570 yards, and two scores. So, needless to say, Hunt looks like a great PPR threat at the very least.

The question with Hunt is whether he'll able to take more carries away from Chubb. Hunt averaged only 5.4 carries per game last year, and if he can't improve upon that figure, he won't have much upside as anything more than a potential flex or an RB2 in PPR formats. But as mentioned earlier, there may be an opportunity for Hunt to take goal-line work away from Chubb should he struggle in that regard. Plus, there is a new coaching staff in Cleveland, so they could opt to use Hunt more than Freddie Kitchens did last year.

Hunt undoubtedly has upside, especially in PPR formats. Currently, he is the 29th RB coming off the board, so that will make him a potential target for fantasy owners in Rounds 5 and 6 of the draft. That will give Chubb owners a chance to grab Hunt as a high-upside flex and potential handcuff to Chubb without overspending to acquire his services. You may have to take him a bit higher in PPR formats, but it could end up being worth it. Hunt has the talent needed to be a valuable asset for fantasy owners.

2020 PPR RANKINGS:
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Verdict

At this point, Chubb is still the back to own in Cleveland. There's nothing going on to indicate that he should see any type of regression even if Hunt takes on a larger role with the team. So long as Chubb can improve on the goal line -- and he should, considering the team's upgraded offensive line and his strong 5-11, 227-pound frame -- he can still be trusted as an RB1 and an early pick in fantasy drafts.

That said, Hunt is still a valuable pickup and has a real shot to outperform his ADP. He is a good value as a fifth- or sixth-round pick given his RB2 upside in PPR formats and his potential flex ability in standard leagues. He may not be a starter in real life, but he can be a solid starter in fantasy.

And no handcuff across the league has more value than Hunt. If Chubb were to go down with an injury, Hunt would be a legitimate RB1 with volume in what may be a run-first offense in Cleveland. From that standpoint, he only becomes more valuable.

In truth, you can't go wrong with either Browns RB in fantasy, at least on paper. Chubb looks like a safe pick and Hunt has enough upside and pass-catching prowess to trust in a flex role. Fantasy owners shouldn't have qualms about targeting either or even both, as they can play roles for a winning fantasy team.

Jacob Camenker

Jacob Camenker Photo

Jacob Camenker first joined The Sporting News as a fantasy football intern in 2018 after his graduation from UMass. He became a full-time employee with TSN in 2021 and now serves as a senior content producer with a particular focus on the NFL. Jacob worked at NBC Sports Boston as a content producer from 2019 to 2021. He is an avid fan of the NFL Draft and ranked 10th in FantasyPros’ Mock Draft Accuracy metric in both 2021 and 2022.