Nick Chubb, when fully healthy, ranked as one of the top six running backs in fantasy football scoring and was a top-eight performer in fantasy points per game across all formats in 2022. That year, he finished with over 1,500 rushing yards, averaging more than five yards per carry. Unfortunately, after his dominant 2022 season, Chubb suffered a season-ending left knee injury in Week 2 of 2023 and then broke his leg in Week 15 of the 2024 season. Now, Chubb has signed with the Houston Texans for the 2025 season.
During his career, Chubb has recorded four separate 1,000-yard rushing seasons in addition to his standout 1,500-yard year. He will be joining a Texans backfield that was led by Joe Mixon in 2024. Mixon is currently dealing with an ankle injury which kept him out of spring OTA but is expected to be ready by training camp. The Texans also have Damian Pierce, a former third-day draft pick, who dealt with injuries but should be fit for camp, as well as Woody Mark, a mid-round draft pick from the 2025 NFL Draft, who could see action as a passing down back.
Chubb’s signing suggests that the Texans do not see him merely as a fill-in until others return but as an integral part of their offense. The challenge now is to understand what role Chubb will play in the Texans’ attack and how that will affect his fantasy football value, a topic recently discussed by fantasy football experts Adam Eiser, Jamie Eisenberg, and Heath Cummings.
In 2024, Chubb was visibly not at his peak following his broken leg. While his style never relied on top-end speed, which is now diminished, he previously excelled at breaking long runs with strong acceleration. However, advanced stats from that year were concerning: he ranked last in yards after contact per attempt (1.96), an area that was once a significant strength. He also had one of the worst rates of missed tackles forced and a low explosive run rate, with only 2% of his runs gaining over 15 yards.
Chubb will be joining a Texans backfield led by Mixon in 2024, who himself posted the fourth-highest rushing efficiency among NFL running backs. The Texans have heavily relied on Mixon when healthy, as he was a key volume back in 2024, especially in red-zone situations. This could explain why they added Chubb—to provide depth and insurance given Mixon’s usage. Mixon’s fantasy value took a hit due to less guaranteed workload in the red zone, where he created most of his value last year.
Heath Cummings mentioned he’s reconsidering Mixon’s ranking, expressing concern over Mixon’s durability and longevity. Mixon currently ranks 16th among running backs in his mock drafts, where his risk is viewed as high due to his age and injury concerns, despite averaging over 21 touches per game in 2024 while healthy.
If Chubb can return to his previous form, he could challenge for the lead role in the Texans backfield and would offer excellent late-round value in fantasy drafts. Meanwhile, Mixon may be someone fantasy managers want to avoid due to uncertainties about his performance and health after last season.
Fan Take:
This signing is significant for NFL fans and fantasy players because it signals a potential reshuffling in Houston’s backfield, where durability and production will be closely watched. Chubb’s return to form could make the Texans a more dynamic rushing team and reshape fantasy football strategies heading into the 2025 season.
