Jerome Ford or Dylan Sampson? Which Browns Running Back Will Be Better in Week 1?

The Cleveland Browns enter Week 1 with uncertainty at the running back position after moving on from Nick Chubb, who is now with Houston, and Quinshon Judkins, who remains unsigned.

Fantasy football managers looking at the Browns’ backfield face a choice between veteran Jerome Ford and rookie Dylan Sampson. Both present intriguing options in a potentially favorable matchup. Which back deserves consideration for Week 1 lineups?

Preseason Usage and Role Ambiguity

Throughout the preseason, Ford and Sampson operated in an even split without clearly defined roles. Sampson actually started the Browns’ third preseason game, the only contest in which Cleveland played all its starters.

Both backs rotated freely without either establishing dominance in any particular situation.

Dylan Sampson started over Jerome Ford in the final Browns preseason game. He also did this! pic.twitter.com/NbqSqIsuKU

— Hayden Winks (@HaydenWinks) August 24, 2025

This lack of clarity creates both opportunity and risk for fantasy managers. Neither player has a guaranteed workload, but both have legitimate paths to fantasy relevance if they can seize the moment.

The uncertainty means both Ford and Sampson carry similar upside potential but also face the same downside risk. Without a clear pecking order, either could emerge as the primary back, or both could be limited in a true committee approach.

Week 1 Matchup Creates Opportunity

While the Browns’ offense projects as one to generally avoid in fantasy, Week 1 presents a unique opportunity. Cleveland faces a Cincinnati Bengals defense that ranked among the worst in NFL history last season. The Bengals allowed 124.8 rushing yards per game, ranking 19th in the league.

Cincinnati’s run defense was particularly vulnerable to explosive plays, surrendering chunk plays throughout the season.

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The matchup timing couldn’t be better for both Browns backs. Cincinnati has made minimal improvements to its run defense, meaning both Ford and Sampson should find running lanes available in Week 1.

Backfield Depth Creates Volume Opportunity

The Browns’ decision to move on from several veteran backs means the backfield will likely feature just Ford and Sampson as the primary options. Without a clear RB3 behind them, both players should see meaningful touches if they can stay healthy.

This two-man rotation increases the floor for both backs compared to deeper committees around the league. Even if neither emerges as a clear lead back, both should see enough volume to be fantasy relevant, especially in deeper leagues.

The lack of depth also means that if either player gets hot early in the game, his role could increase significantly. Both Ford and Sampson can handle increased volume when given the opportunity.

Week 1 Fantasy Recommendations

Ford and Sampson are startable in Week 1 if necessary, particularly in deeper leagues or formats where you need to take risks. The favorable matchup against Cincinnati’s poor run defense gives both backs a decent floor with legitimate upside potential.

However, with no bye weeks in Week 1 and most fantasy rosters at full health, managers shouldn’t need to dig this deep into their roster for starting options. Both Browns backs represent desperation plays rather than confident starts.

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If you are forced to choose between them, Ford’s veteran status and familiarity with the system give him a slight edge for the floor. In his NFL debut, Sampson offers more explosive upside but with greater bust potential.

The reality is that both backs are low-floor, moderate-ceiling options best reserved for the deepest of fantasy formats. While you could certainly do worse than either Browns running back, the uncertainty surrounding their roles makes them challenging to trust in Week 1 lineups.

If you’re somehow in a bind to open the season and need a Browns back, Ford provides the safer option while Sampson offers the higher ceiling. Either choice comes with a significant risk attached.