Houston’s backfield is in an uncertain state with Woody Marks likely not playing. Nick Chubb and Jawhar Jordan both head into a home matchup with the potential for significant work. Which Texans running back, if any, warrants fantasy football consideration for Week 17?
Nick Chubb’s Fantasy Outlook
Chubb brings veteran experience and presumably holds the coaching staff’s trust after years of established NFL production. However, his 2025 season has been disastrous, with the former Pro Bowler looking completely washed.
Chubb missed last week’s contest with a rib injury but has been cleared to play Sunday. His return creates immediate questions about workload hierarchy. Does the veteran automatically reclaim lead-back duties based on reputation, or has Jordan’s breakout performance shifted the depth chart? The coaching staff hasn’t provided clarity on how they’ll distribute touches with both backs healthy.​
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Chubb’s ineffectiveness throughout the season suggests he shouldn’t simply waltz back into a featured role. The rib injury may have healed, but the underlying performance issues that plagued him all year haven’t disappeared. His inability to generate explosive plays or consistent yardage makes him a risky fantasy option regardless of projected volume.​
Jawhar Jordan’s Fantasy Outlook
Jordan emerged from nowhere last week to serve as the lead back after Marks went down. He rushed for over 100 yards and looked impressive doing it, demonstrating vision and explosiveness that Chubb hasn’t shown all season. The breakout performance suggests Jordan deserves expanded opportunities moving forward.​
There’s no doubt that Jordan is the better running back at this stage of both players’ careers. His efficiency and big-play ability far exceed what Chubb brings to the table. The question is whether that performance advantage will translate to touch distribution or if organizational inertia keeps Chubb atop the depth chart.​
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Jordan’s late-season emergence creates fascinating implications, but for Week 16 fantasy purposes, the uncertainty around his workload makes him difficult to trust. Even if he’s clearly superior, coaching staffs sometimes lean on veterans regardless of recent evidence.
Should You Start Chubb or Jordan This Week?
Houston enters as huge home favorites, suggesting they’ll control this game from start to finish. Positive game script should allow the Texans to lean heavily on their ground game, creating ample opportunities for whichever back receives the workload.
The Raiders function as a massive run funnel on defense. They allow the seventh-most schedule-adjusted fantasy points per game to running backs. This defensive structure creates optimal conditions for Houston’s rushing attack, as opponents consistently attack Las Vegas on the ground.​
The matchup quality makes the touch distribution uncertainty even more frustrating. Against a favorable run defense with positive game script expected, meaningful opportunity exists for volume-based production. Whichever back claims the larger share of touches should deliver fantasy-relevant numbers.​
Ultimately, projecting how the work will be distributed amounts to pure guesswork. Jordan clearly played better last week and profiles as the superior talent. But will that matter when Chubb returns healthy and carries veteran cachet with the coaching staff?​
If you came here looking for a definitive answer on which one to start, I am sorry to disappoint. Both Chubb and Jordan profile as desperation Flex options this week. One of them will almost certainly be worth starting based on whoever claims the larger share of touches and the goal line work. The problem is we have no reliable indicators for predicting which back that will be. Good luck guessing correctly.​ I promise I am in the same boat.
