Only in a fantasy world is Dalvin Cook “better” than Nick Chubb

The Cleveland Browns have a future Hall of Fame running back in Nick Chubb.

Nick Chubb is the best running back in the NFL not named Derrick Henry. Even then, it’s a close matchup between the two men. Chubb is routinely kept out of the rushing title conversation every year for a smattering of reasons, none of which have to do with his play. The man has been the best thing on two legs since entering the NFL in 2018.

He nearly broke 1,000 yards as a rookie and didn’t really play in the first seven games. That’s how good he is. While you can argue that the Brown’s rushing attack is so good that anyone can look good behind it, Chubb looked good before the 2020 assertion of the offensive line.

All he does is run and if it weren’t for a middling amount of minor injuries, he’d have a few rushing titles to his name. So to see the NFL players putting Dalvin Cook of all people over Chubb is not only insulting to Chubb, it’s proof that the NFL players really shouldn’t vote on this stuff.

I mean, heck, some still thought Odell Beckham is a Top 100 player. Not the most reliable group of guys.

There is no debate on who is better between Nick Chubb and Dalvin Cook

You can make up any stat you want when comparing the two, but the facts are the facts. Chubb made the offensive line look good in 2018 and 2019. It wasn’t nearly as talented as it was in 2020, and to ignore that fact when talking about the comparison is lazy.

Cook is fine, not disrespect intended, but Chubb has averaged five yards per carry for his career while doing it every year in the league. He’s automatic. Cook? Not so much.

For their careers, Cook has had more time before contact than Chubb, averaging 2.5 yards before Contact, while Chubb hits 2.4. After contact, Cook only averages 2.17 yards for his career, while Chubb averages nearly 3 yards (2.95). Chubb does more damage in the shorter time given, breaks more tackles after contact, and routinely racks up a majority of his yards historically after contact.

Cook has the stats he has because he’s the sole feature back on the team, Chubb has the stats he has because despite splitting carries with two other good backs, Chubb is just that much better than his contemporaries.

If Christian McCaffery were healthy, he’d be in the conversation for a guy who’s “better” than Chubb, only because he’s a 2,000-yard back with great hands. Henry is also in the conversation as well. Yet, Henry hasn’t always shown his talents and McCaffery can’t stay on the field.

Which to me makes Chubb the best back in the league.