Free agent running back Kareem Hunt had been a subject of interest for multiple teams throughout the offseason but failed to sign a new deal. After Nick Chubb suffered a season-ending injury in Week 2 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Cleveland Browns invited Hunt for a visit and subsequently signed him.
Hunt played four seasons for the Browns after getting waived by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2018. The loss of Chubb is devastating for the Browns, and they were actively looking to pair another running back with incumbent starter Jerome Ford.
Now that Hunt and the Browns have reunited, let's take a look at this reunion.
Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2024:- Quarterback fantasy football rankings
- Running back fantasy football rankings
- Wide receiver fantasy football rankings
- Tight end fantasy football rankings
- Kicker fantasy football rankings
- FLEX fantasy football rankings
- Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
- Superflex fantasy football rankings
- IDP fantasy football rankings
- Dynasty fantasy football rankings
Will Kareem Hunt Be A Good Fit With The Browns?
With how things currently look in the running back market, Kareem Hunt was the best option available for the Browns. It was unlikely that the AFC North team would have traded away more assets to get a player like Jonathan Taylor or Cam Akers, who was acquired by the Minnesota Vikings hours after Hunt signed with the Browns.
Hunt has familiarity with the system that Kevin Stefanski runs, and his veteran presence will be helpful for Deshaun Watson. Nick Chubb was a leader for the Browns, and his loss will be felt throughout the season.
However, they could minimize the impact of his absence with Hunt, who will be motivated to play well. He is currently 28 years old and can still have a productive year in Cleveland with the vast majority of the season ahead of him.
Kareem Hunt Fantasy Outlook
Last season, Kareem Hunt played all 17 games for the Browns, in which he had 123 carries for 468 yards and scored three rushing touchdowns. He averaged 3.8 yards per carry and was involved in the passing game as well.
While Jerome Ford will be the RB1 for the Browns going forward, Hunt can certainly play the required complementary role for the Browns. He spent all offseason looking for the right offer and while Chubb's injury is both unfortunate and devastating for the Browns, it created the perfect landing spot for the veteran Hunt.
Hunt has only had one 1,000-yard rushing season, which came in his rookie season with the Chiefs. However, if he stays healthy and gets a good amount of touches, he can arguably be one of the better RB2s in the league. Deshaun Watson struggled without the presence of Chubb against the Steelers, so the Browns needed to add another running back to support Ford.
Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App
Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy football app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, rankings, starts/sits & more. All free!
More Fantasy Football Analysis