Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Ford (personal) reportedly missed practice on Thursday due to a personal matter. Patrick Warren of clevelandbrowns.com reports that Ford is expected back at practice on Friday as he only needed to tend to the matter on Thursday. The 24-year-old projects to be the starter with Nick Chubb (knee) still on the PUP list and recovering from his gruesome injury last season. The good news for fantasy managers is this is just a temporary absence and Ford should be back on the field taking first-team snaps.
Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Ford enters 2024 with a chance to sit atop the depth chart, but his exact role will depend on the status of Nick Chubb (knee) and Nyheim Hines (knee), according to Zac Jackson of The Athletic. Both injured running backs are recovering from ACL tears, with Chubb working his way back from a gruesome knee injury sustained during a carry near the goal line last season and Hines dealing with the effects of a terrible jet ski accident last summer. Jackson notes that Ford could open the year as the Browns' No. 1 running back if he has a strong training camp and Chubb isn't cleared by Week 1; as of now, a Week 1 return would seem unlikely for Chubb, who also tore his MCL and meniscus on the same play. On the other hand, if Chubb progresses faster than expected, Ford could find himself competing for the backup role with the likes of Hines and D'Onta Foreman. This lack of clarity poses a challenge for fantasy managers trying to finalize their draft strategy. However, given the severity of Chubb's injury, it seems unlikely that he'll play in the season opener, and even if he does, he'll probably have a reduced role. Therefore, Ford should have enough early-season volume to make him a solid RB3/FLEX option for the first few weeks of the campaign (and perhaps even after Chubb returns). His ADP of 115 gives him a 10th-round price tag and slots him in as the 38th running back off the board in redraft leagues.
In a media availability this week, Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski spoke on the team's current running back situation. "I think Jerome [Ford] has done a nice job. He had some really, really, really big moments for our football team and he made big plays for us when we needed it." Stefanski said. "So, excited about that." Cleveland appears to have a crowded running back room heading into 2024, as Nick Chubb (knee), Ford, and D'Onta Foreman have all had their moments over the last two seasons. Of course, Chubb is recovering from a major knee injury that he suffered in Week 2 of last season, so he could be eased into action to begin the new campaign. "With Nick [Chubb], obviously, we'll continue to let him rehab, and when he's ready and the doctors tell me he's ready, he goes." Stefanski said," Until then, we like the guys we have." There will be plenty of updates on this situation as we inch closer to fantasy football season, but for now, his comments regarding Ford are promising. The Cincinnati product rushed 204 times for 813 yards and four touchdowns last year to go along with 44 receptions for 319 yards and five scores. Regardless of Chubb's status, Ford should at least be involved in the receiving game in his third NFL season.
Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Ford carried the ball nine times for 17 yards and added four catches for 15 yards in a 45-14 loss to the Houston Texans in the first round of the playoffs on Saturday. Ford was quiet in his first playoff game as the Browns fell behind 24-14 at halftime and had to shift to a pass-first approach in the second half. Ford turned in a solid effort as Cleveland's lead back after the team lost Nick Chubb to a season-ending knee injury in Week 2. Chubb is likely to be back at some point early in the 2024 season but Ford has certainly earned himself a role as the No. 2 running back in Cleveland moving forward. With Chubb set to become a free-agent after next season, Ford remains an interesting long-term asset in dynasty formats.
Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Ford should be well-rested after he handled just five touches in a Week 18 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. The second-year running back will now head on the road to take on the Houston Texans in the first round of the NFL playoffs. Ford draws a difficult matchup this weekend as the Texans allowed just the 19th-most fantasy points per game to running backs in the regular season. That being said, Ford has been active in Cleveland's passing game, so he should be a decent fantasy options in full PPR sites. Ford is on the board as a top-12 fantasy running back in DFS this weekend.
Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Ford carried the ball three times for six yards and added two catches for 26 yards in a 31-14 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 18. Ford did not start but he wound up seeing a handful of touches in a final tuneup before the Browns head to Houston to take on the Texans in the Wild Card round of the playoffs next week. The second-year back finishes his 2023 season with nine all-purpose touchdowns although his role next season will depend on how Nick Chubb (knee) progresses in rehabbing his knee injury. Ford will be a solid DFS option next week against Houston.
Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Ford has rolled up nine all-purpose touchdowns as the lead back for his team in 2023. The second-year back may not get a chance to add to his TD total in Week 18 against the Cincinnati Bengals, however. The Browns are already locked into the No. 5 seed in the AFC and are planning on resting some of their key starters in what is a meaningless game for them. Ford would certainly fit into that criteria as he and Kareem Hunt have been Cleveland's two primary ball carriers since Nick Chubb (knee) was lost for the season back in Week 2. The Browns haven't made any official announcements pertaining to their running back room for Sunday but Pierre Strong Jr. would operate as the team's No. 1 back if Hunt and Ford ultimately don't play. That would put Strong on the radar as a high-end RB3 and a cheap dart-throw option in DFS tournaments this weekend. Stay tuned.
Jerome Ford Hauls In Two Touchdowns In Week 17 Win
Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Ford carried the ball 12 times for 64 yards and added two receptions for 57 yards and two touchdowns in a 37-20 win over the New York Jets in Week 17. Ford got the Browns on the scoreboard with a seven-yard TD reception to cap off their first drive of the game. He later ripped off a 50-yard touchdown catch and run in the second quarter to give him nine all-purpose touchdowns on the season. Ford will remain an RB2 in Week 18's road matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Ford was held to 25 rushing yards on 15 carries but he managed to find the end zone in a Week 16 win over the Houston Texans. He will look for better efficiency against the New York Jets in Week 17's Thursday night game. Ford is listed on the injury report with a wrist injury but he got in full practices on Monday and Tuesday and should be available to play on Thursday night. The Jets have been a run-funnel defense in 2023 as they have been good at shutting down the pass but have been vulnerable to the run. The Jets are allowing the seventh-most fantasy points per game to running backs, so look for Ford to be a main piece to Cleveland's game plan on Thursday. Ford sets up as a low-end RB2 in Week 17.
Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Ford carried the ball 15 times for 25 yards and a touchdown while losing two yards on his lone catch in a 36-22 win over the Houston Texans in Week 16. Ford has now been held to 25 or fewer rushing yards in two straight games, although he now has seven all-purpose touchdowns for the Browns this season. The second-year running back will hope to show more efficiency in Week 17 against a vulnerable New York Jets run defense.
