The Cleveland Browns will face the Baltimore Ravens in Week 18. Here’s the latest fantasy football news and advice to help you with your lineups this week and moving forward, especially regarding RB Jerome Ford.
Is Jerome Ford Playing in Week 18?
Week 18 Status: PLACED ON INJURED RESERVE
Ford suffered a sprained ankle early in last week’s loss to the Miami Dolphins. He did not practice all week and won’t play. Before Saturday’s game, Ford was one of three players placed on injured reserve to free up active roster spots, formally ending his season.
With Pierre Strong Jr. (concussion) also out and Nick Chubb (foot) done for the season, Week 18 should see a large dose of D’Onta Foreman as the lead back.
Are you looking for start/sit advice for other players in your lineup? Read our Week 9 Fantasy Start-Sit Advice Cheat Sheet for every fantasy-relevant player in every game.
Jerome Ford’s Fantasy Outlook
The broadcast over the weekend seemed to suggest that Ford’s ankle sprain was minor in nature, but the team elected to take a cautious approach and limited his second-half usage.
I’m not a doctor, and I don’t play one on TV, but with a backfield in flux due to Nick Chubb’s injury and Ford on a team-friendly deal for next season, why extend him to maybe impact a game that means nothing to them?
And that’s exactly what the Browns had in mind, placing him on injured reserve this week. If Ford had been cleared, I would have valued his versatility in this specific matchup in a low-end Flex sort of way. D’Onta Foreman has soaked up some of the red zone usage since Chubb was lost and is replacing Ford in my rankings.
In terms of this matchup, I would have preferred Ford’s skill set. Foreman, for his career, averages 15.7 carries per catch, a lack of versatility that is a red flag given the projected game script in hand this week. That said, since Ford is out, the touch competition is minimal.
Are you looking for start/sit advice for other players in your lineup? Read our Week 18 Fantasy Start-Sit Advice Cheat Sheet for every fantasy-relevant player in every game.