The Cleveland Browns not only face the decision of which quarterback to play in the upcoming season, but the departure of Nick Chubb also leaves a significant gap in the running back group, which, as of today, is completely revamped. Under this scenario, two rookie players are likely to take on the responsibility of moving the ball on the ground.
Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson, who arrived in the latest NFL Draft, are stepping up, while Jerome Ford‘s role within the organization remains uncertain, as he could be displaced in his fourth year under contract with the team.
Jerome Ford and the rookies are not strong options for running back
At least that’s what Jonathan Macri, an analyst for Pro Football Focus, believes. He argues that in the world of Fantasy Football, Jerome Ford is definitely not a good option, and the two rookies are far from being considered among the best.
Macri published a ranking list of running backs for the 2025 season, which included 80 running backs, and Ford wasn’t even mentioned.
Those who did make the list were Judkins, who ranked No. 21, and Sampson at No. 63, noting that Ford doesn’t even qualify for Tier 7, which includes players considered “active on gameday but with limited opportunities.”
This could suggest that, according to Macri, Ford might not see any playing time with Cleveland, and it’s highly likely that Judkins, a former Ohio State player, could establish himself as the starting running back early in the season.
It’s also possible that Cleveland might look to showcase Ford as a trade piece before the mid-season trade deadline, though they won’t be able to do so if he doesn’t get playing time.
The Browns might even try to trade Ford before the season starts, though the 25-year-old running back remains on the roster for Week 1.
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