Cleveland Browns 55-man roster prediction midway through training camp
By Randy Gurzi
Cleveland Browns Roster Prediction: Running Back (4)
This is by far the deepest position on the Cleveland Browns roster. They have a former No. 1 rusher in the NFL as well as the runner-up in 2019. However, they’re not the only studs in this backfield.
Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt, D’Ernest Johnson, Andy Janovich
Last season, Nick Chubb lost out to Derrick Henry for the NFL rushing title — and Henry needed an unreal performance in Week 17 to knock him off. It was only Chubb’s second season in the NFL and he proved the only thing that could slow him down was Freddie Kitchens.
New head coach Kevin Stefanski will be more committed to the ground game which will be huge for Chubb. It will also allow them enough opportunities for Kareem Hunt. Listed as the No. 2 running back, Hunt won the NFL rushing title in 2017 as a rookie. He was released by the Kansas City Chiefs for an off-field transgression that was unacceptable but he’s served his punishment and looks to put that far in the past.
As for the other stud in that backfield, Andy Janovich was a steal. A throwback fullback, Janovich no longer fit the offensive scheme with the Denver Broncos and that opened the door for Cleveland to land one of the highest-rated players at the position. He’s going to win over a lot of fans this season with his style of play.
Lastly, D’Ernest Johnson edges out Dontrell Hilliard for the final spot on the roster. There’s not a ton of separation between the two and neither would see the field much due to the presence of Chubb and Hunt. Johnson makes this prediction simply as a gut feeling. Which could be what the final decision comes down to since there doesn’t seem to be anything huge making one stand out from the other just yet.