Nick Chubb

Career StatsB+

Year	Team	GP	Yards	TD	YPC
Career		100	7,349	54	5.0
2025		15	506	3	4.1
2024		8	332	3	3.3
2023		2

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

Salary-cap math on Nick Chubb's contract works out to a B Contract Value Index given the dead-cap exposure and term. At $2.5M AAV on a one-year deal, Chubb represents the rare backfield arrangement where salary and production align favorably—his B+ performance grade on modest counting stats (67 receiving yards across 15 games in the 2025 season) means Houston is getting above-average play at a replacement-level price point, the kind of asymmetry that produces solid contract value. For a 30-year-old established veteran eight years into his NFL career, the $2.5M salary sits well below market rate for any meaningful workload, which ordinarily signals front-office confidence; instead, the Texans' recent roster moves—signings of impact defenders and offensive talent paired with cuts of depth pieces—paint a picture of organizational indifference toward his future, suggesting Houston may view him as fungible depth rather than a locked-in contributor. The one-year term eliminates long-term dead-cap risk and preserves cap flexibility, a prudent hedge given the media narrative of potential exit and the Texans' apparent pivot toward younger talent. Unless Houston commits to Chubb with a contract extension or clear role definition, his Contract Value Index remains anchored to an uncomfortable middle ground: cheap enough to justify roster retention, yet sufficiently devalued by organizational uncertainty that his 2026 viability hinges entirely on whether the team decides to build around him or move on.

Contracts in the Same Value Band

Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the B band — a quick read on where Nick's contract sits relative to comparable money.

Performance Analysis

Nick Chubb, an eight-year veteran and 100-game contributor, remains a reliable complementary back in Houston's rotation. At 30, he enters a diminished role compared to his earlier prime, earning a B+ grade that reflects a solid journeyman status rather than elite production. While his resume includes productive campaigns as Cleveland's primary back, the current snapshot shows clear decline in both workload and efficiency. This season, Chubb averages 4.15 yards per carry—marginally above the NFL average of 4.11—but that masks a concerning trend. His 33.7 rushing yards per game sits comfortably above league average, yet touchdown production lags significantly at 0.20 per game versus 0.29 across the NFL, indicating reduced red-zone impact and scoring opportunity. The steepest concern is the trajectory: he's graded C- in 2025, down from C in 2024 and C+ in 2023, suggesting accelerating physical decline rather than a temporary dip. Chubb still demonstrates reliable vision and decision-making in limited touches, but creeping inefficiency and reduced scoring upside are red flags at his age. Moving forward, expect continued diminishment in role depth; his window as a lead-back candidate has effectively closed. Monitor offseason workload allocation closely—if Houston significantly reduces his touch count or brings in younger competition, Chubb may shift toward a reserve or practice-squad tier by 2026.

How Nick Compares at the Position

Nick Chubb ranks 21st of 176 graded running backs by performance. That slots Nick between Tony Pollard (B+) just ahead and Travis Etienne Jr. (B+) just behind.

Current Sentiment

Nick Chubb enters 2026 as a veteran depth option rather than a featured back, with media perception reflecting his current free-agent limbo and the speculative nature of potential landing spots. The narrative around him centers on finding a team willing to sign him, rather than celebrating on-field production or role security, which underscores his diminished standing in the league's RB hierarchy. Recent headlines emphasizing his longest carry since 2022 suggest modest performance recovery, but this positive note is overshadowed by the dominant storyline of his unsigned status heading into the offseason. Fan and media interest appears transactional—focused on where he might land (Dallas, Houston, or elsewhere) rather than what he will accomplish, typical of aging role players in free agency. Overall perception is cautiously neutral-to-skeptical, reflecting realistic expectations for a journeyman back seeking a new home in a crowded position group.