Fantasy Football Week 4 Start/Sit: Kenneth Walker & Chuba Hubbard vs. Jerome Ford, J.K. Dobbins & More

Heading into Week 4’s action, two particular running backs present some of the toughest fantasy football start/sit decisions of the week: Kenneth Walker and Chuba Hubbard. Walker looked like a borderline RB1 in Week 1 but has missed each of the last two weeks with an injury; in his absence, Zach Charbonnet thrived. Meanwhile, Hubbard saw his fantasy value resurrected when the Panthers benched Bryce Young for Andy Dalton, but was his Week 3 explosion just a blip? Let’s take a look at this duo’s outlooks, answering whether to start them against each other and other relevant backs. 

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Kenneth Walker Week 4 Fantasy Outlook

Long-term, I’m very bullish on Walker’s fantasy outlook. Many analysts seem concerned that Charbonnet’s performances over the last two weeks will have turned this backfield into more of a 1A/1B situation or even a 50/50 split. In my eyes, Walker will eventually reclaim a workhorse role in this backfield. After all, Seahawks Head Coach Mike Macdonald said, “We’re kind of back to business as usual that we’ve had before the last couple weeks.” That doesn’t sound like someone who thinks Charbonnet has earned a larger role. 

However, things look rough for Walker this week. Coming off a multi-week injury, there is a chance he’s eased in. Plus, the Lions’ run defense has been absolutely dominant to start the season. They’ve allowed the fewest points to the position by a solid margin despite matchups with Kyren Williams and James Conner. Going forward, I think Walker will push for RB1 consideration. In his first week back from injury, in a terrible matchup, as a road underdog, he’s more of a flex play.

Chuba Hubbard Week 4 Fantasy Outlook

As for Hubbard, I think we have to take his 25-point Week 3, and the Panthers’ performance as a whole, with a grain of salt. The Raiders are floundering, and it’s not unheard of for a QB change to provide a one-week spark that doesn’t last much longer. 

On the other hand, it’s undeniable that Andy Dalton is a massive upgrade over Bryce Young. Hubbard has also quietly been very efficient to start the season, ranking first among qualified RBs in success rate and 10th in yards over expected per attempt (per NextGenStats). He has also seen solid receiving usage, with five targets in each of the last two games. In a matchup with the Bengals, who just failed to stop the Commanders even once, he should provide solid numbers.

Should You Start Kenneth Walker Or Chuba Hubbard?

Going forward, I’d pick Walker, but for this week, give me Hubbard. He’s a backend RB2 play, while Walker is more of a high-risk high-reward flex.

Start: Chuba Hubbard

Should You Start Kenneth Walker Or J.K. Dobbins?

It has gone under the radar because his production was actually weaker than in the previous two weeks, but Dobbins actually saw much-improved usage in Week 3. He has taken over as the Chargers’ clear lead back; the tough matchup with the Steelers’ defense just prevented him from making the most of his expanded role. 

However, Dobbins is in for another tough matchup this week. The Chargers, with a partially injured Justin Herbert, are welcoming Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, who are favored by a whole touchdown. However, that’s not as tough a matchup as Walker has with the Lions. In a better matchup and with fewer questions about his role (at least while Walker is returning from injury), Dobbins is the safer play. 

Start: J.K. Dobbins

Should You Start Chuba Hubbard Or J.K. Dobbins?

However, when it comes to Dobbins vs. Hubbard, Hubbard has the edge. They have both been efficient and both project to lead their backfields, but the Panthers are somehow actually smaller underdogs than the Chargers this week. 

Start: Chuba Hubbard

Should You Start Kenneth Walker Or Jerome Ford?

This is where things start to change for Walker. According to our Fantasy Football Start/Sit Tool, over 45% of managers are planning to sit Walker for both Hubbard and Dobbins, with less than 20% making the opposite decision (some managers are starting both, a lucky few are able to start neither). However, the tool reports that things are much closer between Walker and Ford, as managers are seemingly unable to decide. 

Ford has already had a rollercoaster of a season through three weeks. In Week 1, he was the Browns’ clear lead back, seeing excellent usage. In Week 2, he played second fiddle to D’Onta Foreman, who had played just one solitary snap the week before. He rebounded in Week 3, but his usage is clearly unstable. This week, the Browns have a tempting matchup with the Raiders (who were just run all over by Hubbard). The issue is that the Browns’ offense has been just as bad, if not worse, than the Raiders’ defense so far this season. 

On a terrible offense and with questions about his role, Ford is a risky flex play. Given he doesn’t have quite the upside that Walker, also a risky flex play, does, I’ll back the Seahawk here. 

Start: Kenneth Walker

Should You Start Chuba Hubbard Or Jerome Ford?

The transitive property does apply to fantasy football start/sit decisions. I like Hubbard over Walker and Walker over Ford, so give me Hubbard over Ford.

Start: Chuba Hubbard

Should You Start Kenneth Walker Or Najee Harris?

Honestly, this one is pretty straightforward. With Jaylen Warren out, Harris should see a massive workload in the Steelers’ run-first offense. In a good matchup with the inconsistent Colts, he should be able to turn that into a solid outing.

Start: Najee Harris

Should You Start Chuba Hubbard Or Najee Harris?

Again, it’s hard to argue with Harris’ projected volume and solid matchup. He may not be as explosive or efficient as Hubbard, but volume is king.

Start: Najee Harris

Should You Start Kenneth Walker Or Tony Pollard?

Things get tougher again here. I’m worried about Pollard overall, as Tyjae Spears’ minor injuries have skewed the Titans’ backfield usage in Pollard’s favor in a way that won’t continue. Combine that with Tennessee’s offensive woes, and Pollard looks like a risky flex play. 

However, the Titans have a great matchup this week against the Tua Tagovailoa-less Dolphins. That should mean more carries and more scoring opportunities for Pollard, which is enough to give him the edge over Walker.

Start: Tony Pollard

Should You Start Chuba Hubbard Or Tony Pollard?

With that said, I’d rather have Hubbard than Pollard. Pollard’s matchup is better, but I’m much less confident in his role than Hubbard’s. Even worse, the post-Dalton Panthers’ offense is probably better than the Will Levis Titans’ offense. 

Start: Chuba Hubbard

Should You Start Kenneth Walker Or Zack Moss?

While many expected him to be in a 50/50 committee, or worse, coming into the season,
Moss is the clear lead back in the Bengals’ offense. He has played over three-quarters of their offensive snaps, handled 57% of the rushing attempts, and even posted a solid 10.7% target share. 

He has a great matchup this week with the Panthers, who should still be beatable even with the Red Rifle under center. That’s especially important given that Moss has handled 13 of the Bengals’ 15 goal-line snaps this season: In a positive matchup, he has a great chance to score a touchdown. That alone makes him a safer play than Walker this week.

Start: Zack Moss 

Should You Start Chuba Hubbard Or Zack Moss?

In this matchup between two running backs in the same game, I’m going to do the obvious thing and take the back on the team that is favored by 5.5 points. Hubbard has been more efficient than Moss, but volume is king. 

Start: Zack Moss

Should You Start Kenneth Walker Or Carson Steele?

Speaking of volume, Carson Steele saw very solid volume in the Chiefs’ first game without Isiah Pacheco last week. He posted a 64% snap share, 52% rush share, and 43% route share. Even better, he saw both of the Chiefs’ goal-line carries (although he failed to convert). 

In a game where the Chiefs are favored by a full 7.0 points, he has an excellent chance to record his first NFL touchdown. A positive game script will also favor him over Samaje Perine, who played more of a receiving-down role last week. There’s a chance Kareem Hunt, now on the active roster, spoils the fun, especially at the goal line, but I’m not too worried about him. He wasn’t on a team for a reason, as he graded out as arguably the worst RB in the league in 2023.

Start: Carson Steele

Should You Start Chuba Hubbard Or Carson Steele?

This is probably the most controversial pick of this article, but I’m going to back the UDFA rookie (who is listed as a fullback on the Chiefs’ roster) over Hubbard here. Yes, Hubbard’s role is more secure, and he’s more efficient. But I’m going to chase the guy who should easily lead the massively-favored Chiefs in carries. 

Start: Carson Steele