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Final stats: Chubb rushed 22 times for 124 yards and two touchdowns, and caught one pass for nine yards. Hunt rushed 10 times for 86 yards and a touchdown, and added two receptions for 15 yards and a touchdown.
Late second quarter update: Hunt only has one rush for six yards, but he has two receptions for 15 yards and a touchdown.
Early second quarter update: Nick Chubb is getting all the work early. With 11:54 left in the second quarter, Chubb has rushed seven times for 41 yards and a touchdown and has added a nine-yard reception. Kareem Hunt has no touches so far.
Based on Week 1 usage, Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt appear to be locked into more of a timeshare than many expected. Fortunately, there may be room for each of these running backs to provide value this season. We break down the fantasy implications below.
Fantasy Football Analysis: Browns RBs Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt
Week 1 was a tough one for nearly every member of the Cleveland Browns’ offense as they were steamrolled by Baltimore Ravens in a 38-6 route. As a result, many Nick Chubb owners may have been dismayed to see their first round draft pick carry the ball just ten times for 60 yards. He also had one catch for six yards, and topped off a disappointing outing with a fumble. He totaled only 5.6 fantasy points in ESPN PPR leagues.
Kareem Hunt, whom many expected would play second fiddle to Chubb, ended up seeing the majority of the work out of the backfield. He finished the day with 72 rushing yards on 13 carries, while adding four catches for nine yards. He tallied 12.1 points in ESPN PPR leagues.
The breakdown of carries may have been due to game script, as the Browns were playing from behind nearly the entire game, though it seems that Kareem Hunt will be an integral part of the offense from week to week. The Browns may be more evenly matched with their Week 2 opponent, the Cincinnati Bengals. Expect to see more rushing opportunity for Chubb, while Hunt will continue to provide flex value as the pass catching, change of pace threat in the backfield.
Start/Sit Recommendation
Start Chubb in both standard and PPR formats as an RB2.
Start Hunt as a solid flex play in standard leagues, and expect RB2 upside in PPR formats.