Ezekiel Elliott or Kareem Hunt: Who is the better fantasy pick?

Ezekiel Elliott has been one of the NFL's premier running backs since he was selected in the 2016 NFL Draft. Since then, he has earned a slew of awards for his stellar play with the Dallas Cowboys. Sometimes Elliott, fondly known as Zeke, gets some flak for not being as dominant as people feel he could be. However, true NFL fantasy league owners know how important it is to have a running back of his caliber.

Kareem Hunt is Zeke's antithesis, as the Cleveland Browns running back had it all but lost it before his career could even peak. Hunt was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He was invited to play in the Pro Bowl in his rookie season after leading the league in rushing yards. But that seems to be when he peaked, as he has not since emulated those numbers. He now plays for the Browns and is a part of a run-first offense behind Nick Chubb.

So who is our choice to start the Week 6 fixtures of the 2022 NFL Fantasy Season?

We believe that Ezekiel Elliott is the better pick for your fantasy team. Here's why:

Why Ezekiel Elliot is a better pick than Kareem Hunt

Dallas Cowboys v New York Giants

Ezekiel Elliott is a known commodity, and players pick Elliott as they know what they are getting night in and night out. They know they are picking a player that is part of a run-heavy offense that will recklessly charge his way into the end zone. Fantasy league players know and love him for his intangibles, and over the past seven years he has been a dependable earner.

Kareem Hunt isn't a bad pick either, as the former Pro Bowler brings a different skill set. He is fast, calculated, and electric, and he is pretty adept at handling pressure. Hunt is the number two running back of a Cleveland Browns team on the rise, and his stats this season show a player with something to prove.

Aside from the fact that Elliott is a top running back, he is facing off against the Philadelphia Eagles, which could be a favorable matchup. The undefeated Eagles are a huge game for the Cowboys and Elliott will get all the important carries and touches, especially in the red zone.

Kareem Hunt faces a New England Patriots side that has beaten the Browns in four out of their last five encounters. These defeats haven't been that close either, and defensive guru Bill Belichick is known to be an expert at negating world-beating RBs.

The crux of the matter is this: Ezekiel Elliot is the RB1 in Dallas, whereas Hunt is the RB2 in Cleveland. Elliot gets the touches and red zone opportunities to put up more points than Hunt. Hunt does get some red zone chances, particularly on third downs, due to his receiving talents. However, expect to see Elliot benefit from more touches as he is not behind anyone on the depth chart.

How did Ezekiel Elliott and Kareem Hunt perform last season?

Ezekiel Elliott had a solid year last season, with the former Pro Bowler stacking up yards, appearances, and touchdowns. Zeke rushed for 1,002 yards and had 10 rushing touchdowns (plus two receiving ones) in 17 games last season.

Kareem Hunt didn't have as good a season as was the backup to Nick Chubb and missed half the season with a calf injury. Hunt played eight games, scoring five touchdowns on the ground and none in the air.

How have Ezekiel Elliott and Kareem Hunt performed this season?

Ezekiel Elliott is having a so-so 2022 season, with him sharing rushing duties with his 2021 understudy Tony Pollard. That means fewer carries, fewer touches at this stage, and significantly fewer touchdowns compared to last season. Zeke has only one rushing touchdown in five appearances to start the season.

Kareem Hunt has come out all guns blazing, as the Cleveland Browns RB has racked up a total of three touchdowns (two rushing and one receiving) in just five games this season. Next up, he faces the daunting task of coming up against Bill Belichick's New England Patriots. The issue is that Hunt is a feast-or-famine running back. He could win or lose you your matchup based on the game script and Nick Chubb.