Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Ford exited the team’s Week 6 game against the Philadelphia Eagles early in the first quarter. What’s the latest on Ford, and what does his injury mean for the Browns and fantasy managers going forward?
What Happened to Jerome Ford?
On the second drive of the Browns’ Week 6 contest, Ford limped off the field after an 11-yard carry. Unfortunately for Browns fans and fantasy managers, Ford did not return.
Ford had two carries for 14 yards at the time of his injury. He was later ruled out with a hamstring injury to open the second half.
Jerome Ford #browns
Limps off the field after this play. Hard to see what happened. Hopefully minor pic.twitter.com/YqAX1vU6YT
— Tom Christ, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT (@FantasyInjuryT) October 13, 2024
Ford will miss at least one game due to the hamstring injury, as he was declared out on Friday after missing practice all week.
The Browns ruled out Jerome Ford and Ronnie Hickman, who didn’t practice this week.
Jordan Hicks, Nyheim Hines, Ethan Pocic and Juan Thornhill are all questionable. https://t.co/ZFjam52z54
— Daniel Oyefusi (@DanielOyefusi) October 18, 2024
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters that the running back in week-to-week. That suggests his return for Week 8 isn’t a given, when the Browns will face the Baltimore Ravens.
Ford entered Week 6 as the Browns’ leading rusher with 250 yards on 48 attempts, good for a 5.2 yards-per-attempt average. However, playing in a struggling offense, he had not scored since the team’s season opener.
However, between this hamstring injury and Nick Chubb’s imminent return, it appears Ford’s days as a fantasy-relevant back are over.
Fantasy Outlook for Jerome Ford and the Browns
A hamstring yanked Ford off the field early in the losing effort to the Eagles on Sunday, and with Chubb making his season debut, his time as a Flex option has come to an end.
I wouldn’t cut ties with him given Chubb’s uncertainty, but he’s now strictly a handcuff that is highly unlikely to hold stand-alone value in a below-average offense as a secondary back.
Even if this hamstring injury results in missed time, I’m holding onto Ford. I don’t think he’s a special player, but there’s a path to work for him, and the Browns face the Bengals/Dolphins during the fantasy Super Bowl.
Ford is unlikely to get back into my lineup this season, but the small chance that he is the lead back at the perfect time is enough to hold my interest for now.
With Ford sidelined in Week 7, expect Chubb and D’Onta Foreman to handle the bulk of carries for the Browns. Foreman received 10 carries and two targets once Ford left the game in Week 6, and he’ll likely be the one who spells Chubb against the Bengals. With that said, Foreman isn’t an appealing option in fantasy.