Unfortunately, after Monday night's game, you may be in a situation where you need to make a move today, as every league out there had Nick Chubb as a top running back.
We asked our staff about how to handle this spot. Specifically, "How do I navigate the unfortunate season-ending injury for Nick Chubb?"
Sam Wagman
In the aftermath of losing Nick Chubb, I know I'll be tempted to throw my entire FAAB budget into Jerome Ford, and while he looked great last night, I would still be hesitant that they pick up someone off waivers or make a deal for a Cam Akers/D'Onta Foreman. My advice for now is to bid up to 75% FAAB for Ford, who will seemingly have this role for at least a few weeks, and stay vigilant while the Browns search for a veteran to bring in.
Jason Wood
There are no easy answers, as losing a player of Nick Chubb’s caliber is going to impact a team's range of outcomes negatively. The Browns' best outcome would be arranging a trade for Jonathan Taylor, but that doesn’t help fantasy managers, as Taylor is also already rostered. The second-best outcome would be acquiring Cam Akers via trade. Akers is likely available for trade in most leagues. Beyond that, I would think other additions would be part of a committee with Jerome Ford, who looked good in relief this week.
Jeff Tefertiller
Chubb was a fantasy centerpiece, so we need not see picking up Jerome Ford as a one-for-one replacement. Chubb's elite. I would push all of my FAAB for Ford. There is one caveat, though. Cleveland has three tough rushing matchups next up: Titans, Ravens, & 49ers.
Jordan McNamara
Running back is a week-to-week game. You don’t need to know Nick Chubb’s replacement for Week 14 in your lineup right now. Your goal is to fix it for Week 3. Then Week 4. Then Week 5 and so on. You’re not going to replace Chubb in one player, but you can do it in the aggregate. First, claim Jerome Ford. Second, spam the RB position. Backups like Matt Breida and Tony Jones could get spot starts in Week 3. Third, load up on backups. You have to load up on the backup running backs around the league. The Joshua Kelley, Zack Moss, and Kyren Williams types all started as backups yet have taken starting jobs. There will be roster spots taken up by wide receivers who you won’t trust starting, so cut them and pick up running backs. The week-to-week nature of the position allowed you to recreate Chubb in the aggregate. Remember, losing Chubb after Week 2 probably costs your team one win, so don’t panic and work to recreate Chubb in the aggregate.
Will Grant
Most championship teams are not built on one or two key players. It's about finding a balance with the rest of your team. In a case like Aaron Jones, you know he's going to be back at some point, and you just have to hold on. In a case like Chubb - you have to be ready to pivot at a moment's notice. Jerome Ford is the next man up, and his volume alone will make him the top WW pick this week. If you had Chubb or not - Ford is a good pickup for a big chunk of your WW money. The League Dominator WW tips / Rest of the Year projections will help give you other ideas to help fill in the gaps on your roster based on your league scoring system and currently available players.
One note in Dynasty and Keeper leagues - understand your rules and your IR spots if you have them. If you are not sure - don't be afraid to ask. Most keeper/dynasty leagues will have at least a spot or two for this kind of thing. He will, hopefully, be back and still have a productive 2024. Make sure to protect him if you can.
Christian Williams
While many are projecting the Browns to covet a free-agent starter, Jerome Ford's performance in Chubb's absence indicates he should be in line for clear No. 1 duties. Ford was fantastic at creating after contact, displayed burst and speed, and gave glimpses of hope for the Cleveland offense. Ford isn't a one-for-one replacement for Chubb; they'll surely add to the room in some form. But doing everything possible to acquire Ford, including bidding up to 80% of FAAB or spending a top waiver priority on him, will help replace that production. Missing on Ford wouldn't be the end of your season, though. Players like Zack Moss and even Raheem Mostert (available in some leagues) can slot into your lineup in the short term, and it's likely that more waiver-wire running backs will become available before the season ends. It'll be roster patchwork, but the patches should be enough to keep your season alive.
Devin Knotts
There's no replacing Nick Chubb. Fantasy football has some bad breaks, and this is certainly one of them.
The opinions on Ford are going to vary greatly. In a waiver wire league, put in a bid for him, as he will have a role in this offense regardless of whether they acquire a running back or not. However, in my opinion, he is not someone that you spend your entire FAAB budget on if you're in that type of format. Someone in your league probably will do that, but if you lost Chubb, you need the flexibility to create depth and roster maneuvering. Over the next three weeks, the Browns face off against three of the best run defenses in football, so there is no telling what Ford will be after those three games.
Daniel Harms
Jerome Ford, if available, is a guy I’m spending a good chunk of my FAAB on, 40-60% of it. On top of him being in a great scheme and behind a great offensive line, he is a threat to take the ball to the house whenever he touches the ball. The worry I have is the Browns bringing in a familiar face, Kareem Hunt, to mix in in Cleveland. He's a back who could end up garnering a lot of the touches because of his understanding of the offense. I’m going after Ford, but be wary of the options out there for Cleveland (a trade for Akers or Taylor is possible too).
Dave Kluge
While the Browns might add another body to the backfield, Jerome Ford likely sits atop the corps. Ford slid to the 5th round in 2022’s Draft. He’s a hard-nosed runner despite his small stature. He has eye-popping burst as well. Pierre Strong profiles to take on the passing down work, which could limit Ford’s overall upside. But Ford will should get enough work to make him a weekly RB2/flex. Salary cap and draft capital constraints make it unlikely that the Browns will add a meaningful running back to the roster. Ford is worth 30-50% of your FAAB and Strong 3-7% (more in PPR).
There’s no replacing Nick Chubb on the football field. But losing him doesn’t mean your fantasy season is over. Stay diligent on the waiver wire. Through two weeks, we’ve already seen Kyren Williams, Brian Robinson, Raheem Mostert, Tyler Allgeier, D’Andre Swift, and Roschon Johnson all put up surprising numbers. More will come. Chubb’s talent is elite, but running backs are a volatile position in fantasy. Other viable options will bubble up throughout the season.
Matt Montgomery
There are few RBs in the league that can compare to Chubb, and there are even fewer who will be able to replace him in any meaningful way. I have a hunch (credible, I know) that this team signs Kareem Hunt again. He has familiarity with this system and will have fresh legs. *IF* he is signed, he has to be the player you go all in on. Keep an eye on Matt Breida for the Giants in the short term. Saquon Barkley will be out for a while, and Breida has the pass-catching chops that make him a dual threat at the position and the ceiling of an RB2.
Ben Cummins
The first thing I would do is check to see if Jerome Ford is available in your league. If so, I would spend 100% of your FAAB budget to land him. Ford obviously won't be a one-for-one direct replacement for the best pure rusher in the league, but he's no slouch. Ford handled 236 touches for 1,539 total yards and 22 touchdowns as a senior at the University of Cincinnati in 2021. He's ready to carry the load, even if the Browns bring in another running back.
The next thing I would do is try to buy high on Kyren Williams. Cam Akers is no longer in the Rams' plans, and Williams is a reliable rusher, receiver, and pass blocker. Williams played on 95% of the offensive snaps, saw 24 total opportunities, and received 10 targets. Williams isn't going anywhere, and his workhorse usage is equivalent to drafting in the last round or picking up Panthers-era Christian McCaffrey in terms of workload. Despite Williams' red-hot start, perhaps the Williams manager doesn't fully realize the valuable asset he has. Go get him.
Sigmund Bloom
1) Take a deep breath. Next week, it will be someone else's team that steps on a landmine. Fantasy football is a marathon, not a sprint. Every champion has to overcome adversity.
2) Don't go overboard bidding on Jerome Ford - 25-50% of your annual budget tops. Again, there will be more landmines. There will be more running backs thrust into newfound opportunity. Save some darts to benefit from future chaos. Ford showed some speed on his almost long score, and the Browns will lean on the run with a good defense, but they will almost certainly add a running back. Maybe even Kareem Hunt, who was probably asking for more money than any team wanted to give, but the Browns' willingness to pay for a running back has now certainly gone up.
3) As long as you have two viable running backs to play this week, aim for a name on the waiver wire with less buzz that will be cheaper but also has a best-case scenario that could save your season - Salvon Ahmed behind Raheem Mostert in Miami. Another name to check for is Kendre Miller - the Saints rookie should get a big opportunity next week as long as he's healthy enough to play. If you don't have two viable running backs, spend smaller on Matt Breida or Zack Moss (maybe even Craig Reynolds, but watch out for Zonovan Knight) to get you through the next two weeks.
4) Get creative on the trade market. See if the Jonathan Taylor or Alvin Kamara team is 0-2 and willing to make a deal. See if Isiah Pacheco has been on his team's bench and might be available in a trade. Raheem Mostert, Rachaad White, James Conner, Kyren Williams, Brian Robinson Jr, and Gus Edwards weren't drafted as fantasy starters, so they might be available in a trade. But they are coming off of good weeks and could be pricy. If you believe in Josh Jacobs, it's a perfect buy-low moment for him. Tyjae Spears continues to push for more work in Tennessee; see if you can get him in a bench player swap deal where you give from your position of strength.
5) Redouble your efforts to improve your team elsewhere via the waiver wire, trades and good lineup choices. Remember fantasy football rewards endurance and continued focus just as much as it rewards luck and being right about players and situations in your draft. Good luck!!
Ryan Weisse
I'll reiterate what Sigmund said: "There will be more landmines next week," and the week after, and the week after. Plan for that. Look for backups that will be instant starters once an injury occurs. Roschon Johnson and Tyjae Spears are on far too many waiver wires right now. So are both the Baltimore running backs, and they became starters last week. All is not lost; you just have a lot more work ahead of you.
Jeff Haseley
Losing Nick Chubb is a hit to your weekly expected total points in your lineup. His high production and consistency will be difficult to replace, but you can work to fill, or partially fill, his expected points. A trade of a player, likely in a different position, whose points can be replaced in your lineup is a good start. Trade a player from a position of strength to receive a running back who can help replace Chubb's vacated point totals.
You can also attempt to acquire Chubb's backup, Jerome Ford, either via waivers or through a trade, depending on the situation. Ford is expected to take over the Browns backfield. I don't see Cleveland reaching out to their former teammate, Kareem Hunt. They released him for a reason in the offseason. His production slowed way down in 2022 and Cleveland moved on. Ford should be the team's primary running back moving forward. He may provide a decent return but he is likely not going to give you a full replacement of what Chubb would've given you.
There are other running backs and receivers available. Perhaps your lineup can allow you to use a different position for production? Such potential players include:
- Kyren Williams RB, LAR - taking over for Cam Akers? He has proven he can produce.
- Tank Dell WR, HOU - Hard-working rookie WR in the Amon-Ra St. Brown mold
- Josh Reynolds WR, DET - Short-term solution. Taking over the Marvin Jones role. Could see more if St. Brown is limited.
- Craig Reynolds RB, DET - Short-term solution while David Montgomery is out.
- Tutu Atwell WR, LAR - Short-term solution. He is the second fiddle behind Puka Nacua. Could see a reduction when Cooper Kupp returns.
- Jayden Reed WR, GB - He is taking advantage of Christian Watson's absence and could evolve into a consistent play even after Watson's return.
- Hunter Henry TE, NE - Becoming a key piece for Mac Jones
- Matt Brieda RB, NYG - Short-term solution while Saquon Barkley (ankle) is out. Rookie Eric Gray is also in the mix.
Jason Wood
Sigmund Bloom Sigmund point about being judicious with your FAAB bids on Ford is spot on. There's a good chance Ford a) isn't that good, b) is thrust into a committee as soon as next week, or c) is relegated back to backup duties if Cleveland makes a bold acquisition in the vein of Jonathan Taylor.
Bob Henry
To parlay the discussion and sentiment above, if you have Jerome Ford rostered it would behoove you to put him on the market as trade bait. With Barkley out for a bit, Montgomery a couple weeks, Dobbins, Chubb, etc.... there are likely at least one owner willing to take a shot at Ford being that guy.
