We’re towards the end of the 2023 fantasy football season. Hopefully, fantasy managers are in the playoff mix and aren’t looking ahead to next year just yet.
In Week 15, fantasy managers will have some difficult decisions, especially in the running back position. One of those decisions could be from the Cleveland Browns backfield between starting Jerome Ford or Kareem Hunt. Who should you trust in your starting lineup in a must-win week?
Should You Start Jerome Ford in Fantasy This Week?
Ford earned the No. 2 running back role in the offseason. The Browns didn’t re-sign Kareem Hunt because they had high confidence in the second-year running back as the backup option behind Nick Chubb. Therefore, it’s no surprise that the former Cincinnati Bearcat has been the lead running back with Chubb out for the year.
The second-year running back is the RB20 for the season, averaging 11.2 half-PPR fantasy points per game. Ford has 166 rushing attempts for 698 yards and three touchdowns. He also has 35 receptions for 227 receiving yards and three touchdowns in 2023.
Last week, Ford scored 10.7 fantasy points in the win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. It was the ninth time this year that the running back had double-digit fantasy points, including five of the past six contests.
Furthermore, he has consistently scored double-digit fantasy points despite having only three touchdowns over the past 10 games. He’s consistently putting himself into the RB2 conversation every week.
Should You Start Kareem Hunt in Fantasy This Week?
Hunt re-signed with the Browns after the team lost Nick Chubb to a season-ending injury. The veteran has been solid as the No. 2 guy behind Ford as he is the RB37 for the year, averaging 8.2 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. He has 111 rushing attempts for 361 yards and seven touchdowns this season, leading the team in rushing scores.
However, Hunt has been inconsistent for fantasy players. He scored 13 or more fantasy points in three of his first five games this season. Yet, the veteran has averaged only 6.9 fantasy points per game over the past six weeks, scoring 9.8 or fewer in every contest.
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More importantly, Hunt’s touchdown production has disappeared. He had six rushing touchdowns from Week 6 through Week 10, scoring at least once in every game. However, the veteran running back has only one rushing touchdown over the past month, coming last week in the win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
According to the Pro Football Network Start/Sit Optimizer, PFN’s Consensus Rankings say Ford is the player to start. He is projected to score 9.4 half-point PPR fantasy points. Meanwhile, Hunt’s projection is for 5.3 fantasy points with 19.5 rushing yards, two receptions, and 12.2 receiving yards this week.
I agree with the Start/Sit Optimizer. Ford has been the better fantasy football running back this season. Since Hunt joined the team in Week 3, the second-year player scored double-digit fantasy points in 72.7% of the contests, including seven of the past nine matchups. By comparison, the veteran running back has scored double-digit fantasy points in only 27.3% of the games, including none since Week 8.
Meanwhile, fantasy players should temper their expectations with both Cleveland running backs this week. The Chicago Bears have held running backs to only 16.7 half-point PPR fantasy points over the past 10 weeks, giving up more than 15 only three times.
Neither Browns running back is a must-start because of the matchup this week. However, Ford is the more appealing option.
Looking to make a trade in your fantasy league? Having trouble deciding who to start and who to sit? Setting DFS lineups? Check out PFN’s Free Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer, Start/Sit Optimizer, and DFS Lineup Optimizer to help you make the right decision!