July 23, 2024

Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Ford enters 2024 with a chance to sit atop the depth chart, but his exact role will depend on the status of Nick Chubb (knee) and Nyheim Hines (knee), according to Zac Jackson of The Athletic. Both injured running backs are recovering from ACL tears, with Chubb working his way back from a gruesome knee injury sustained during a carry near the goal line last season and Hines dealing with the effects of a terrible jet ski accident last summer. Jackson notes that Ford could open the year as the Browns' No. 1 running back if he has a strong training camp and Chubb isn't cleared by Week 1; as of now, a Week 1 return would seem unlikely for Chubb, who also tore his MCL and meniscus on the same play. On the other hand, if Chubb progresses faster than expected, Ford could find himself competing for the backup role with the likes of Hines and D'Onta Foreman. This lack of clarity poses a challenge for fantasy managers trying to finalize their draft strategy. However, given the severity of Chubb's injury, it seems unlikely that he'll play in the season opener, and even if he does, he'll probably have a reduced role. Therefore, Ford should have enough early-season volume to make him a solid RB3/FLEX option for the first few weeks of the campaign (and perhaps even after Chubb returns). His ADP of 115 gives him a 10th-round price tag and slots him in as the 38th running back off the board in redraft leagues.--Andersen Pickard
Source: Zac Jackson