Nick Chubb DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

The Houston Texans officially signed free-agent running back Nick Chubb to a one-year, $2.5 million deal on Monday that could be worth up to $5 million, sources tell NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Chubb passed a physical after a gruesome left-knee injury in 2023 that required multiple surgeries. The former Cleveland Browns Pro Bowler was one of the most powerful backs in the league before his injury, as he went for a career-high 1,525 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns on 302 carries in 2022. He managed to play in just eight games last year, though, and wasn't the same, averaging a career-low 3.3 yards per carry with 332 rushing yards and three scores on 102 rushing attempts. Chubb also fractured his left foot in Week 15 last year, so he may never be the same explosive back he once was. Now in Houston, he'll be competing with Dameon Pierce for RB2 duties behind starter Joe Mixon.

According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, free agent running back Nick Chubb is anticipated to sign with the Houston Texans on Monday, assuming all goes well with his physical. The 2018 No. 35 overall pick was once one of the best running backs in the National Football League, amassing 1,210 carries for 6,341 yards while combining 52 trips to the end zone in his first five seasons. Unfortunately, Chubb suffered a serious knee injury in 2023 and hasn't been the same since. Joe Mixon currently sits atop the Texans' depth chart, with Dameon Pierce, Woody Marks, and Dare Ogunbowale occupying the other spots. As such, Chubb will have to battle for snaps in Houston, assuming he officially signs a deal. While that likely means Chubb's Pro Bowl days are over, especially since there are durability concerns, he could easily surpass everyone behind Mixon on the depth chart, giving him plenty of upside as an insurance policy.

The Houston Texans are eyeing free-agent running back Nick Chubb to bolster their RB room behind Joe Mixon this year, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. "I was told that he's hoping to sign here soon, and maybe he gets something done before a minicamp gets into a team. Four-time Pro Bowler," Fowler said. It's unlikely that Chubb re-signs with the Cleveland Browns after they drafted multiple running backs in April. Dameon Pierce, the backup to Mixon in Houston, had just 293 rushing yards and two touchdowns in 2024. A gruesome knee injury has kept Chubb to 10 games the last two years, but he did rush for 1,525 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2022. The 29-year-old averaged a career-low 3.3 yards per carry in eight games in 2024, though, and there are valid concerns about whether he can ever be explosive as he once was before his knee injury.