Cleveland Browns: 4 players key to Week 7 victory

Cleveland Browns key No. 3 – D’Ernest Johnson and Demetric Felton

With both Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt out on Thursday night, the two backups must step up in a huge way. D’Ernest Johnson will likely see most of the carriers, while Demetric Felton will step in as the third-down back and be more of a receiving target.

Both guys have shown they can contribute, but now it’s time to do it when the light is shining bright. If you remember last year when Chubb was injured in the Dallas game, Johnson stepped in and had 13 carries for 95 yards. That is by far the best game of his career, but also the only game he has really gotten a chance.

Felton has also been limited thus far in 2021, but he certainly has had a few exciting plays including the touchdown catch vs. Houston that looked like it was going for about five yards and turned into 41. Although it was preseason, Felton also shined in all three preseason games where Stefanski made it a focus to get him involved.

There’s no way to paint a positive of having your top two running backs out, but for one game, I have faith that Johnson and Felton can step up in a big way. Johnson will need to run for 75-yards and a touchdown, with Felton adding at least 50 receiving yards to give this offense the boost they need to win.