The comeback story of quarterback Joe Flacco has gotten a lot of attention, but has his success come at a cost to the Cleveland Browns’ running game? After averaging 147.9 rush yards per game in their first nine games, the Browns have averaged just 75.8 YPG on the ground over their last six contests.
So, is Jerome Ford or Kareem Hunt worth the start in your fantasy football lineups? Here’s a breakdown of each player.
Should You Start Jerome Ford or Kareem Hunt This Week?
In the Pro Football Network Start/Sit Optimizer, our Consensus Rankings say Ford is the player to start. His projected 8.0 points include 41 rushing yards and one reception for eight receiving yards. That projected stat line narrowly outperforms Hunt’s 7.4 points.
My ranking for these running backs aligns with the consensus. Even though his production hasn’t been where it was earlier in the season, he still is getting more touches than Hunt, allowing for more opportunities to make an impact in this game.
Fantasy Outlook for Ford This Week
Ford was on the field for only 43% of the Browns’ offensive snaps last week, his lowest percentage since Week 7. Still, he carried the ball 15 times last week, his most rush attempts since Week 10.
The problem is, he just hasn’t done much with these opportunities. Ford finished last week with just 25 yards on those 15 carries, an average of 1.7 yards per carry. He did score his first touchdown in three weeks, which was a positive.
However, his numbers of late have simply not looked good. Over the last two weeks, Ford has carried the ball a combined 23 times for a total of 45 rushing yards. That won’t get it done for fantasy football managers.
Still, Ford should be the choice of these two backs to start. The numbers say it’s in the Browns’ best interests to keep giving Ford the ball. Cleveland is 9-1 this season when Ford has 10 or more carries in a game.
And although he was held to one reception last week (for negative one yards), Ford is still a capable receiver. He has 40 receptions on the season, and of his seven scrimmage touchdowns, three have come from the receiving game.
Fantasy Outlook for Hunt This Week
Hunt keeps getting time on the field. Last week, he was on the field for 31 offensive snaps, his most since Week 11 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
However, he just isn’t getting a lot of opportunities to produce when he’s on the field. In his last two games, he’s had just seven rush attempts in each game — for 19 combined rush yards.
MORE: PFN’s FREE NFL Playoff Predictor
If there is a reason to consider Hunt this week, it’s his ability to get in the end zone. Hunt has scored a touchdown in two of his last three games, including last week, and he’s scored a touchdown in seven of his last 11 games (eight touchdowns total in that stretch).
The PFN Start/Sit Optimizer projects Hunt to finish with 23 rushing yards and two receptions for 14 receiving yards.
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 and DFS Lineup Optimizer to help you make the right decision!