In a huge AFC North matchup, the Cleveland Browns and their third-ranked rushing offense will try and move the ball on the Baltimore Ravens, who have an eighth-ranked rushing defense. So, which Browns running back is the right choice to start on your fantasy football team? Here’s the fantasy outlook for each.
Is Jerome Ford, Kareem Hunt, or Pierre Strong Jr. a Better Start This Week?
In the Pro Football Network Start/Sit Optimizer, our Consensus Rankings say that Hunt is the player to start. His projected 9.2 points include 29 rushing yards, three receptions, and 18 receiving yards. That projected stat line outperforms the consensus projections for Ford (8.8 points) and Strong (5.6 points).
My ranking for these three running backs aligns with the consensus. There should be a split of carries, but I believe Hunt’s ability to catch passes is big in this matchup.
Fantasy Outlook for Hunt This Week
When the Browns faced the Ravens back in Week 4, Hunt was held to only 12 rushing yards on five carries. But in the four games since, Hunt has averaged double digits in carries — 12.5 — and he’s also averaged over 50 scrimmage yards a game (51.8).
But his biggest asset at the moment is his ability to get in the end zone. Hunt has scored at least one rushing touchdown in each of his last four games (five total touchdowns over that span).
Hunt has basically been invisible in the passing game, catching just one pass over his last three tilts, but his career says he is capable of catching passes. In four of his previous six seasons, he finished with 35 or more receptions.
In a potentially crowded Browns backfield this week, Hunt should be the guy that puts up the most production.
Fantasy Outlook for Ford This Week
While it’s Hunt who leads the team in touchdowns (5), it’s Ford who leads the Browns in carries (107) and rushing yards (425). The back was a workhorse last week for the Browns, with a season-high 20 carries but only 44 yards (2.2 yards per carry).
Still, he did tie his season highs in receptions (5) and receiving yards (33), but averaging just over two yards a carry against the Arizona Cardinals’ defense doesn’t give me a lot of confidence heading into their battle with Baltimore’s defense.
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The PFN Start/Sit Optimizer projects Ford to finish with 88 rush yards, zero catches, and no receiving yards.
Fantasy Outlook for Strong Jr. This Week
Strong has had his moments this season. Just two weeks ago, he had 41 rushing yards on a season-high 10 carries against the Seattle Seahawks.
But the fact is that Strong has just 34 rush attempts on the season. On top of all that, a hamstring injury kept him out of practice Wednesday and left him questionable for Sunday.
The PFN Start/Sit Optimizer projects Strong Jr. to finish with 17 rush yards, two catches, and 11 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!