3 Cleveland Browns who will explode in 2020

CLEVELAND, OHIO - NOVEMBER 24: Running back Kareem Hunt #27 of the Cleveland Browns runs to score a touchdown while under pressure from defensive back Nik Needham #40 of the Miami Dolphins during the first half at FirstEnergy Stadium on November 24, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)"n
CLEVELAND, OHIO - NOVEMBER 24: Running back Kareem Hunt #27 of the Cleveland Browns runs to score a touchdown while under pressure from defensive back Nik Needham #40 of the Miami Dolphins during the first half at FirstEnergy Stadium on November 24, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)"n /
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PITTSBURGH, PA – DECEMBER 01: Kareem Hunt #27 of the Cleveland Browns runs to the end zone for a 15-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter during the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on December 1, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – DECEMBER 01: Kareem Hunt #27 of the Cleveland Browns runs to the end zone for a 15-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter during the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on December 1, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) /

2. Kareem Hunt

It wasn’t that he had a bad season in 2019 but Kareem Hunt was suspended for the first eight games so he didn’t contribute as much as he could’ve if he played the full season.

Hunt had just 179 rush yards, 285 receiving yards, and three touchdowns. Not bad for half of a season by your backup running back but there are two reasons why his numbers will explode, playing the full season of course and the new system put in by head coach Kevin Stefanski.

The Browns will run the ball a lot under Stefanski, last season when he was the offensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings they were one of just three teams who ran the ball more than they passed.

They were led by Dalvin Cook with over 1,100 yards but his backups also played really well. Alexander Mattison, Mike Boone, and Ameer Abdullah combined for 850 yards and had a big impact when Cook wasn’t on the field.

Hunt is a far better backup than all of those players so if he gets the same amount of opportunities he will take advantage. He was the league’s leading rusher as a rookie in 2018.

Running back is one of the most physically demanding positions in football and the Browns got lucky last year with Nick Chubb playing all 16 games. It’s unlikely for that to happen again so there could be a couple of games when Hunt takes on the full load.

Hunt will have 1,000 all-purpose yards if he can stay healthy in 2020.