Chuba Hubbard vs Joe Mixon: Who Should You Start?
Joe Mixon and Chuba Hubbard are at different tiers heading into 2026. The Houston Texans running back averaged 16.5 PPG in 2025, a full 9.1 points per game ahead of Chuba Hubbard's 7.4 with the Carolina Panthers. That kind of gap doesn't close on matchup alone.
Joe Mixon carries a 9.1-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.
Both profile as early-down workhorses. Chuba Hubbard ran for 511 yards and 1 touchdowns; Joe Mixon posted 1165 and 11. Goal-line share, red zone touches, and which team is favored are usually the tiebreaker when neither back offers passing-game volume.
One thing to note: both players share a Week 14 bye. That means you need a backup plan at running back for that week, especially if one of these two is your starter.
