Now more than ever in fantasy football, we’re finding teams that have multiple running backs who get fairly even touches. This is what we call a running back by committee, and it can sometimes be a bit of a headache as you need to decide who to take. Here, we have the debate between Cleveland Browns running backs Jerome Ford and Nick Chubb.
Chubb has been more productive over his NFL career than Ford, but he’s set to miss time after being placed on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list to start the year.
Below, I’ll explore who you should take between Ford and Chubb while examining a fantasy football strategy for either.
2024 Fantasy Outlook for Nick Chubb
Chubb is coming off a rough injury. He tore his MCL, ACL, and meniscus in Week 2 of the 2023 season. He also had another major injury in the same knee eight years ago in college.
According to TruMedia, Chubb had 28 carries for 170 yards before the injury. On first down, he averaged 6.1 yards per carry. In 2022, he had 1,525 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns on 203 carries.
The Browns won’t rush Chubb back, and as of now, there’s no timeline for when he’ll return. Hopefully, it is before Cleveland’s Week 10 bye week.
Chubb is currently going as the RB34 in PPR leagues, but that may drop significantly following the news that he’s starting the season on PUP.
2024 Fantasy Outlook for Jerome Ford
In Chubb’s absence last season, Ford had 204 carries for 813 yards (4.0 ypc) and four touchdowns. He also caught 44 passes on 63 targets for 319 yards and five touchdowns. Excluding Week 18, Ford finished as the RB14 in PPR leagues and averaged 12.9 points per game (RB23).
With Chubb remaining absent, Ford will be a consistent RB2 with potentially more upside, as the depth chart is mostly the same as 2023.
Regarding his pass-game production, the Browns do have quarterback Deshaun Watson back under center (hopefully for the full season) and wide receiver Jerry Jeudy, who had 87 targets in 2023 with the Denver Broncos.
Of course, when Chubb comes back, Ford’s usage will drop, but again, we’re unsure of when that will be.
As of now, Ford is going as the RB39 in PPR formats.
Who Should I Draft in 2024?
Determining who to pick between these two really comes down to what you do in the draft before these picks. They’re going close to one another, but here are the scenarios for each player.
- Draft Chubb if you have two secure starters and additional depth. It also helps if you’re in a league with an IR spot.
- Draft Ford if your RB depth is thin. He will start for an unknown number of games and bring value.
There’s also a world where I’m okay with drafting both if you can. Chubb is going No. 93 overall and Ford No. 117.
As for my draft strategy, I’ll aim to secure enough running backs to not have to necessarily rely on Ford, but I’m also aware that he’s an excellent Zero RB option for potentially the first quarter or more of the season.
Both players have value.