Cleveland Browns: Taking a deeper look at the running backs

Duke Johnson

Johnson has been the subject of a lot of questions this offseason. Whether it be if he will come to an agreement with the team on a contract extension or what exactly his role will be this season. But one thing is certain, Johnson is too talented not to be on the field.

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Johnson will likely be used in a variety of ways, similar to how he was used last year. With the Browns having a lot of questions surrounding their number three wide receiver, Todd Haley may look at using Johnson as his pseudo number three receiver.

He can be lined up in the slot or on the outside, but oftentimes he will be picked up by a linebacker or a safety. Because of his quickness and excellent footwork, any defender that is not a cornerback is in a mismatch against Johnson.

Other than his receiving abilites, Johnson has shown that he can be a very good runner. He averages 4.2 yards per carry over the course of his three year career.

Being a much quicker and faster runner, he is a different running back compared to Hyde and Chubb. Haley can bring him in to take advantage of a defense that has been dealing with the two physical runners and are unable to keep up with the speed of Johnson.

He may not get a lot of carries in 2018, but he will get a lot of touches. He was the team’s best playmaker last season and he has the dynamic abilities to change games, either as a runner or as a receiver.

Matthew Dayes

Dayes did not have a huge role in his rookie season, getting only five carries for 13 yards. He was featured more as kick returner than as a running back, returning 18 kicks last season.

He showed in last year’s preseason that he can play well in the similar play style to Johnson as a do-it-all back. But with three running backs that are going to receive a lot of playing time, there may not be a spot on the roster for Dayes. Danny Vitale will likely make the team as the fourth running back, although he will be the fullback.

Next: Does John Dorsey want to extend Duke Johnson?

There will be a lot of competition for the final roster spots across the entire roster, so Dayes will have to show a lot in the preseason to make the roster. If Dayes can show that he can excel as a kick returner, that will be his best route to take to make the final 53-man roster.