Nick Chubb is not the running back to target in the Browns backfield… there’s another running back who’s a glaring value for fantasy.
It felt like nothing could stop Nick Chubb until now. But ACL, MCL, and meniscus surgeries on the same knee he previously tore up in college aren’t good. Two other things aren’t working in his favor: he’s nearing the 1500-carry threshold, and he’s 28 years old - two markers at which when RBs tend to slow down. Before the injury, I would’ve bet the house on Chubb being an outlier, and I’m hoping Chubb can come back from this injury and prove all the doubters wrong, because if anyone can, it’s him… but he’s not a good bet, in my opinion.
Outside of Chubb, that leaves Jerome Ford and D’onta Foreman as the other primary RBs on the roster. Foreman was very productive when given opportunity, but the answer is clear to me that Jerome Ford is one of the best values of any RB in drafts right now. As the RB40, and he’s the Browns RB to go after.
Among 23 RBs with 200+ carries last year, Jerome Ford ranked 7th in yards after contact/attempt and 7th in missed tackles forced/attempt.For reference, Foreman didn’t come close to Ford’s efficiency, even with almost 100 less carries.
Then there’s what HC Kevin Stefanski had to say about the RB room:
It sounds to me like Ford is the guy. Chubb will return at some point during the season, but there’s a good chance Ford is the RB you want for fantasy for the entire year.
Are you betting on Nick Chubb to come back and be himself this year? Will he prove all the doubters wrong? Or should we be targeting other RBs in this backfield?