It was a tough Sunday for the Cleveland Browns, as the team lost 28-3 to the Baltimore Ravens. Starting quarterback Deshaun Watson was out due to an injury, and the team had to rely on rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson.
Thompson-Robinson struggled all day, going 19-of-36 for 121 yards and three interceptions. With no Watson and no Chubb, the Browns are looking for some players to step up and make plays.
One of those players, Pierre Strong Jr., rushed the ball five times for 49 yards, including an impressive 40-yarder. With more carries, should fantasy football managers make him a guy to look at on the waiver wire?
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Should Pierre Strong Jr. Be a Fantasy Waiver Wire Add in Week 5?
The Browns right now are still trying to figure out what running back is going to replace Nick Chubb. After Chubb suffered the injury, Cleveland went back and signed former Browns running back Kareem Hunt.
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Hunt also got the ball five times against the Ravens, but he was able to only muster 12 yards. Jerome Ford actually got the majority of the carries for the Browns, as he had nine carries for 26 yards.
This is a concerning statistic because the Browns are actually one of the better rushing teams in the NFL. Despite Sunday’s 25 carries for 93 yards, the Browns are currently fifth in the league with 143.8 yards. However, that number has shrunk since the loss of Chubb.
In the two full games where Chubb hasn’t played, the Browns are averaging 85.5 yards on 28 carries. That comes out to an average of 3.1 yards per carry. With the injury to Deshaun Watson, running the ball is only going to get harder. The Ravens showed on Sunday they aren’t scared of the passing attack, and there will be more defenders focused on stopping the run.
Right now, one player on the Browns’ offense is a must-play — Amari Cooper. Despite how good Cooper is, without Watson, it makes him tough to play in games as well.
Stay away from Strong Jr. right now on the waiver wire. The Browns’ offense is just not capable right now putting up a lot of points, so his ceiling is low. Also, the Browns have three running backs who figure to get the ball, and Strong Jr. could easily be on the bottom of the depth chart.
The Browns have a bye this week, so don’t even waste your time signing him now. That bye could help Cleveland and allow Watson to get back, but even then, Strong Jr. or any running back on this team isn’t the answer.