The AFC North claims the best Running Back and best Linebacker. How appropriate.

Running Back 1 – Nick Chubb – CLE
A popular choice for Running Back (RB) 1 is still going as the RB consensus 5 off the board. Nick Chubb is second in rushing yards amongst active players with 6,341, and of the top eight he is the only rusher drafted from 2018 or later. He averages 5.2 per carry and racked up 48 touchdowns along the way. N. Chubb has never been allowed to be the feature back and split reps with another RB his entire time in Cleveland. It would be foolish to expect him to have all the rushes, but he should receive his career high in touches in 2023. The four time Pro Bowl member has had touches of 334 (2019) and 329 last year, but should exceed those numbers this year. He is coming off of his first All-Pro and with an in rhythm Deshaun Watson and a trio of better than average receivers, Chubb should see fewer eight-man fronts.
Chubb received the blessing of Jim Brown, peace be upon him, before his passing. Chubb is just 122 yards short of Jim Brown’s five year pace, and has the potential to break his record. A career season is needed from Chubb and he will deliver. At a press conference after Brown’s death in May, Chubb stated this, “Joe Sheehan (Browns Senior VP of Player Health & Development) has been telling me that story since I got here,” Chubb said. “I never believed him until I got a text from Dorsey (the GM that drafted N. Chubb) telling me that it was true after he passed away. Just hearing that, it was a blessing. He saw something in me, and it’s special.” If the greatest RB to ever play said Chubb could surpass his records, and be just as good a RB as he was… you should feel safe having Chubb with your first pick.

Linebacker 1 – Roquan Smith – BAL
Roquan Smith has had the quietest summer of his career. Maybe it is because he is happy, maybe it is because he is on a winning team, maybe it is because we are passed the helmet issues. Whatever it is, it has not stopped him from being one of the first linebackers (LB) drafted in Individual Defensive Player (IDP leagues. R. Smith, like Chubb, is entering his 6th season, and has been every bit as productive as Chubb has. He has earned over 100 tackles in every season, including his sophomore year when played only 12 games. His numbers have increased over the past three years, and he was traded last year to a much better franchise, with better playmakers around him. Smith is a consecutive three-time All-Pro team member, but last year was his first year on the first (starting) All-Pro team.
With the Ravens moving to a quicker tempo, passing offense Smith should see an increase in snaps. If they play with a lead, then Smith could make big plays that give big points. He is known as a tackling machine, and rightfully so with 89 or more solo tackles in every season he has played 16 or more games. However Smith is a true three-down LB, and can do it all. He has recorded an interception in every season and has 8 in his five year career. He also has 23 passes defended and 18.5 sacks, numbers you don’t luck yourself into. Smith is going as the first LB off the board in several IDP leagues, and above average cost in auction leagues. If you want him you will have to go early or spend up to get him… It’s well worth it.

Thank you so much for reading Mano y Mano. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
You can find my season long and weekly rankings over at FantasyPros.

September 16th – October 15th I will be honoring Latin Heritage Month with a look at thirty Latin people/accounts in the Fantasy Football industry.

Bet Smart, Be Lucky – Iggy

*Stats come from FantasyPros, Pro Football Reference, Sleeper, Statmuse, and NFL/Next Gen.
*Rankings are based on .5 PPR format and FF7s