The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have everything to play for on Sunday, while the Carolina Panthers have nothing to play for in this regular-season finale. Does that mean it’s a no-brainer to take the Buccaneers’ running back Rachaad White over the Panthers’ RB Chuba Hubbard?
Let’s break down each running back’s fantasy football outlook heading into Week 18.
Should You Start Rachaad White in Fantasy This Week?
After a four-game stretch from Weeks 12-15 in which he averaged 93.8 rush yards per game, 4.6 yards per carry, and 122.6 scrimmage yards per game, White has struggled in his last two games.
Two weeks ago against the Jacksonville Jaguars, White had just 39 rushing yards on 20 carries (1.95 yards per carry) with a touchdown. Last week against the New Orleans Saints, he finished with just 42 rushing yards.
So, which version will the Buccaneers get this week in their most important game of the season?
The version of White that faced the Panthers back in Week 13 wasn’t too bad. He finished with 84 rushing yards, a touchdown, and 22 receiving yards. White is closing on both 1,000 rushing yards (currently has 915) and 1,500 scrimmage yards (currently has 1,446). He is one of the most versatile backs in the NFL, with 60 receptions — on 66 targets, an impressive 91% catch percentage — and multiple receptions in all 16 games this season.
Fantasy managers should count on White getting plenty of work on Sunday. The Buccaneers are 8-2 this season when White has 15 or more rush attempts in a game and 0-6 when he has fewer than 15 carries.
Should You Start Chuba Hubbard in Fantasy This Week?
While it has been a lost season for the Panthers, the development of Hubbard has to be viewed as a bright spot in Carolina.
The third-year back who didn’t get his first start this season until Week 6 has set career highs in rush attempts, rushing yards, receptions, and receiving yards.
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Without question, Hubbard’s best game of the season came in the first meeting against the Bucs in early December. He finished with 104 rushing yards — his only 100-yard game of the season — and his first career multi-touchdown game.
Still, Hubbard has failed to reach 50 rushing yards in either of his last two games — the first time that’s happened since he became a starter 11 games ago.
Using Pro Football Network’s Start/Sit Optimizer, our Consensus Rankings say that White is the player to start. He’s projected for 69 rushing yards and 57 receiving yards. His projected stat line easily outperforms that of Hubbard’s 9.5 points.
Hubbard is projected to finish with 45 rushing yards and two receptions for 21 yards.
My ranking for the two running backs aligns with the consensus. White is one of the league’s most versatile running backs, and with so much on the line for Tampa Bay, he should be able to put up yards and fantasy points for any fantasy football manager.
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