Could Nick Chubb be the top fantasy running back in 2023? | Yahoo Fantasy Football Forecast

Yahoo Fantasy analysts Matt Harmon and Andy Behrens discuss the potential for Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb who is likely to take over most of the backfield work in 2023. Hear the full conversation on the “Yahoo Fantasy Football Forecast” - subscribe on Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you get your podcasts.

Video Transcript

[BLUEGRASS MUSIC]

MATT HARMON: I think people forget-- look, Nick Chubb is one of the best running backs in the NFL. I think when you talk about, like, best pure runners in football, Nick Chubb's name is going to get brought up. He doesn't have the same passing down equity as like an Austin Ekeler or a Christian McCaffrey that we covet so much in fantasy, but I think people forget that this is basically-- I don't even think it's basically. I think this is the first year we're going to get Nick Chubb, like, completely unchallenged in his own backfield.

I think we could be sitting on the precipice of Nick Chubb's best season in the NFL, and he's already been a great player. Like, Andy, I think he's a good candidate to lead the NFL in rushing. I think he's a candidate to lead the NFL in yards per carry, and, potentially, like, what's the most touchdowns Nick Chubb has scored in his career? I think there's a chance we could see him score the most touchdowns he ever has in his career. And I feel like he's probably a guy that is probably not going to go in the first round of fantasy drafts, but I wouldn't be surprised if he is a candidate to be a top three finisher at the position this year. So I think it's kind of a new beginning for Nick Chubb.

ANDY BEHRENS: Yeah, given how much we have to assume he's going to be-- he's going to be on the field. Like, can we just get to-- can we just get to 40 catches for Nick Chubb? Because if we can get to 40 catches for Nick Chubb, that's-- now we're challenging 2,000 scrimmage yards, right? Now we're talking about somebody who has a profile that can ultimately finish as the overall RB1. I would take Nick Chubb over Saquon Barkley. I know I don't see it very often, but I would take Nick Chubb over Saquon Barkley. I don't-- like, I think both of the offenses have reasonable questions. I think Nick Chubb is every bit as good. He's, obviously, not the receiving threat that Saquon is.

I just think Nick Chubb is one of the best, if not the best, like, pure rusher in the game. I love him. So, yeah, as the RB5, as the RB6, I think that's totally fine.

MATT HARMON: Over how about Jonathan Taylor, Derrick Henry, your boy, Josh Jacobs, Tony Pollard, over all those guys?

ANDY BEHRENS: I have him over Derrick Henry. I don't have him over-- I don't have him over Bijan, which is just my current infatuation with Bijan I guess.

MATT HARMON: Fair enough.

ANDY BEHRENS: I don't have him over Ekeler, McCaffrey, or Taylor, and that's it.

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