Through two weeks of the season, we’ve already had some of the best running backs in the NFL suffer injuries that have forced them to miss time. And it stinks, especially Nick Chubb’s season-ending knee injury Monday night.
Jonathan Taylor (ankle) is on the PUP list, and he’s out until Week 5. Austin Ekeler (ankle) and Aaron Jones (hamstring) missed Week 2, and we don’t know when they’ll return. J.K. Dobbins (Achilles) is out for the season. And then Sunday and Monday happened.
Saquon Barkley injured his ankle at Arizona, and he’s expected to miss 2-3 weeks. David Montgomery injured his thigh against Seattle, and he could also miss multiple weeks.
Jamaal Williams hurt his hamstring Monday night at Carolina in the second quarter, and he was unable to return. And then, the worst injury of all, was Chubb getting carted off at Pittsburgh.
Cleveland coach Kevin Stefanski said Chubb is out for the rest of the season, which is brutal. And now the Browns and Fantasy managers have to figure out how to replace him.
The most logical choice is Jerome Ford, who is rostered in 23 percent of leagues on CBS Sports. Ford was great against the Steelers with more than 130 total yards and a touchdown, and he is now going to be the most added player off the waiver wire. With Chubb out for the season, Ford is worth at least 50 percent of your remaining FAB — if not more.
Pierre Strong Jr. is also on the roster, but Cleveland could look to add a running back via free agency or trade. A reunion with Kareem Hunt would make sense, or the Browns could look at someone like Leonard Fournette or Darrell Henderson Jr. And then there’s Cam Akers, who the Rams have placed on the trade block, or even Taylor. All scenarios are possible right now, but Ford is expected to be the initial starter
The best running back aside from Ford who might be available is Zack Moss (57 percent rostered), who will be the lead rusher in Indianapolis until Taylor is back. Matt Breida (6 percent) now steps into the lead role for the Giants, and he should be added in all leagues. He has a tough matchup in Week 3 at San Francisco, but then Breida gets more favorable opponents against Seattle in Week 4 and Miami in Week 5 if Barkley is still out.
