NFL Breaking News: Nick Chubb Injury Update & Fantasy Football Impact
Injuries are an unfortunate reality of this game. But not all injuries are created equally. Some you hope the guy comes back in a week or two, some you hope they come back next year, and some you simply hope they can play again at all. For those that saw the video of the injury to Nick Chubb, you know that this one falls into that third category. Initial reactions are that it is likely ACL/MCL and could involve the PCL/LCL as well but we are all waiting on information to confirm. First and foremost, we are sending positive thoughts to the Nick Chubb, his family, and Browns nation. But it’s also our job to navigate this landscape for our fantasy football waiver wire adds and our weekly rankings. So we have to discuss the impact of this injury and the potential aftermath from that context.
Nick Chubb Injury Fantasy Football Replacements
Jerome Ford
The obvious answer right away is Jerome Ford. He was already involved before the injury and he scored the touchdown almost immediately after it happened. Given what Kevin Stefanski wants to do and the quality of this offensive line with folks like Joel Bitonio, Jerome Ford needs to a be a priority waiver add in any league where he’s available. This is that “handcuff plus” situation that our own Britt Flinn was harping on all offseason and we have now entered plus territory.
Pierre Strong
The Browns were already incredibly thin on the depth chart with basically just Chubb and Ford so they traded for Pierre Strong The Patriots had Rhamondre Stevenson and signed Ezekiel Elliott which made the fourth round pick expendable. This is a player who ran a 4.37 forty yard dash at the combine which is literally 99th percentile speed per Player Profiler which makes him an ingtriging option.
Kareem Hunt
This is simple. He’s been in Cleveland before. He knows the system. He’s a free agent. It would make all the sense in the world for them to bring him back and give him the role that he had wanted all along. Given his ability in the passing game, we would likely see a split with Jerome Ford in the early down role and Kareem Hunt in his typical pass down role. I highly doubt that Hunt would sign with the Browns if he was not going to be involved.
Leonard Fournette
Kareem Hunt didn’t exactly leave on the best terms after demanding a trade and being phased out of the offense in 2022. Sometimes there’s bad blood when things end that way so Kareem Hunt might not be an option at all. Fournette is the next best option out there in free agency.
Cam Akers
Cam Akers was a healthy scratch this week - there was talk of him having a bad week of practice and being on the trade block. Well, the Browns very likely will be perusing the trade block this week. It almost makes too much sense so maybe don’t drop Cam Akers just yet if that was your plan.
Player News
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters that Christian McCaffrey is as “healthy as can be” and that the team must “protect him from himself.”
McCaffrey is evidently ready to hit the ground running, but Shanahan and the 49ers know they must manage the soon-to-be 29-year-old’s repetitions responsibly. McCaffrey’s 2024 season was derailed by bilateral Achilles tendinitis and a season-ending PCL sprain. Slightly increasing second-year RB Isaac Guerendo’s workload could be helpful in this regard.
The Athletic’s Matt Barrows reports that Brandon Aiyuk is not participating in voluntary organized team activities as he recovers from a torn ACL.
This was expected. Back in March, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Aiyuk could be “ready to play by midseason.” The 49ers’ No. 1 wide receiver still has a long way to go as he rehabs his knee injury. Nos. 2 and 3 wide receivers Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall will be tasked with handling two-wide receiver sets early on.
The Athletic’s Matt Barrows reports that 49ers WR Ricky Pearsall “tweaked his hamstring” and is unlikely to “practice in full until training camp starts in July.”
Pearsall’s 2024 rookie season began similarly. He strained his hamstring during a mid-July practice and spent nearly two weeks on the reserve/non-football injury list. Perhaps, Pearsall needs to work on his ramp-up methods. Much will be asked of the No. 3 wide receiver, entering his second NFL season with Deebo Samuel now a Commander and Brandon Aiyuk recovering from a torn ACL. We will follow Pearsall’s health closely. He has a chance to return flex value this season.
ESPN’s Todd Archer reports that Cowboys EDGE Williams (knee) “looks close on his return” after tearing his ACL and MCL in July 2024.
Archer observed Williams going “through a series of change of direction drills while attached to the cords and looked no worse for the wear.” The 26-year-old Cowboy missed the 2024 season after tearing two knee ligaments in late July. He should be in great shape for Week 1, having had more than a year to recover.
FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz reports that “the Steelers have had preliminary conversations with multiple teams about potentially adding another playmaker on offense.”
According to Schultz, “Pittsburgh is believed to be motivated to get a deal done at some point, though there’s still plenty of time before the season.” He also helpfully informs pick-needy teams that “the Steelers could have up to 12 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft.” Perhaps, one or more are available in exchange for a capable pass catcher. The report curiously comes roughly three weeks after the Steelers traded George Pickens to the Cowboys, which seemingly created the issue at hand. Perhaps, the relationship was spoiled beyond repair. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported earlier today that the Steelers have spoken to the Dolphins about acquiring TE Jonnu Smith, who played under OC Arthur Smith with the Falcons in 2023. The Steelers desperately need a No. 2 wide receiver, but they are simply seeking a receiving weapon, regardless of position, they should be able to find a suitor.
ESPN’s Todd Archer reports that Cowboys LB DeMarvion Overshown (knee) said his recovery “pace” is “ahead” of where it was when he injured his knee two years ago.
Overshown is comparing his current recovery from a torn ACL, MCL and PCL to his torn ACL injury from the 2023 preseason. His timetable remains uncertain, though. Overshown adds that there is “no need to rush the process” and that he is “going to come back when [he is] 100%" ready to do so.