What Cleveland Browns 53 man roster means for Nick Chubb’s fantasy value
By Mitch Zoloty
The Cleveland Browns have recently released their 53 man roster, which includes the three running backs the team will be taking into the season. Here is a breakdown of how Chubb’s backups impact his fantasy value.
The Cleveland Browns are no longer a split-time backfield as Nick Chubb has emerged as the primary ball carrier for the team. Browns fans who are fantasy football players no longer have to suffer wondering whether they should have Duke Johnson, Jr. or Isaiah Crowell on their roster, or whether to have Chubb, Duke, or Carlos Hyde. Until Week 10 Cleveland’s backfield will be the Nick Chubb show.
With Nick Chubb’s great performance last year, he has become a borderline first-round pick. Matthew Berry ranked Nick Chubb the 14th best prospect in his top 200 PPR fantasy players rankings. In my recent fantasy draft, one of my friends (a lifelong Ravens fan) was bold enough to take him with their first-round pick, which was pick 11 in our 14-man fantasy league. Is Nick Chubb worth a first-round draft pick in your fantasy league?
Currently, Nick Chubb’s backups are Dontrell Hilliard and D’Ernest Johnson. While both being good players, they probably won’t see the field much this season. Nick Chubb is going to get many carries this season in games early and often. The first 9 weeks of fantasy football Chubb is going to be a reliable #1 scoring option for your fantasy team. However, when Kareem Hunt comes back from his suspension Week 10, expect Chubb’s value to drop.
Kareem Hunt most likely won’t be named the starter right away if at all, but the Browns are a smart organization and won’t run Nick Chubb into the ground if they don’t have to. Kareem Hunt is on a one year contract and most likely won’t be resigning with the Browns, so they are going to get their money’s worth out of him. That means when your fantasy league playoffs roll around, Nick Chubb will be splitting carries with Kareem Hunt, which isn’t ideal for your first-round pick.
For those Browns fans who have already drafted Nick Chubb, I would ride his wave and try to trade him for a high price around week 8 of your fantasy league. Past week 10 Nick Chubb’s fantasy value will drop drastically, as he will be splitting time with Kareem Hunt. Hunt will most likely fit the Browns new fast-paced passing offense, so in passing situations, Nick Chubb will see a significant drop in snaps.
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In all, if you are in a full-season league, then Nick Chubb is a bad choice to be your first-round pick. However, as a second-round pick, or any pick between 20-30, he would be a great choice. No other running back on the Cleveland Browns is worth drafting unless you’re selecting Kareem Hunt with a late-round draft pick to stash on your bench until Week 10.