Kareem Hunt

The Clevland Browns will be without breakout RB performer Jerome Ford in week 8. After breaking out for a 69yd TD to kick off the scoring this past Sunday Jerome Ford would exit the game later and not return. His injury has been called a “low grade, high ankle” sprain and is expected to sideline him for at least 1 week, but possibly 2.

The injury left the Browns thin at the RB position as veteran RB Kareem Hunt came into the game with a questionable tag but managed to play. Second year RB Pierre Strong Jr who was acquired in a trade with the New England Patriots was the main beneficiary of the Ford injury. Pierre Strong out-touched Kareem Hunt 8-5 and had a higher snap share 63%-34% after Ford exited the game.

Although Pierre Strong led the Browns backfield in usage rate statics after Ford left the game, it was Kareem Hunt who got home with 2TDs in the game.  Hunt also received the only other target out the backfield outside of Jerome Ford. Hunt was a game time decision with a thigh injury, which could explain his limited usage but it is clear that the Browns wanted to give him the high leverage touches in Fords absence. Hunt scored the game winning TD for the Browns and is expected to be the clear top RB with Ford out. Pierre Strong’s usage can not be ignored though. While RB needy fantasy managers are scrambling to aquire Hunt, the cheaper low-risk high-reward play is to acquire Pierre Strong. The Browns have always had enough touches in this offense to make 2 RBs fantasy relevant. With Hunt being older and already banged up Pierre Strong will be a week winning RB if anything were to limit Hunt the next two weeks.

The Cleveland Browns have re-signed veteran running back Kareem Hunt to a 1-year deal in the wake of Nick Chubb’s injury.

Kareem Hunt waited all offseason for the perfect opportunity, and that opportunity came with the injury to Chubb. The 1 year deal Chubb is signing is valued at up to 4 million dollars which would make him the highest-paid RB on the Browns roster, and the one with the most experience in the offense.

With only 3 RBs on the Browns roster Chubb should make an immediate impact playing over Pierre Strong Jr. The Browns could slot Kareem Hunt back into his role from the previous 4 years which has proven to carry both stand-alone value and contingent value if injury were to happen. Jerome Ford has already gained the confidence of the Browns coaching staff, and we should still treat him like he’s the Nick Chubb replacement, while Chubb should be viewed as the Ford replacement, or more accurately his own replacement from the last 4 years.