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Will Nick Chubb start for the Cleveland Browns when he returns? John Johnson breaks down the Nick Chubb return timeline and fantasy football outlook.
Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb is working his way back from a devastating knee injury that ended his 2023 season prematurely. He was tackled while another player had hold of his leg and had his leg bent 90 degrees sideways, tearing his ACL and MCL and causing meniscus damage.
It was the same knee that he injured in college. In 2015, he tore his PCL, MCL, and LCL, dislocated his knee, and had cartilage damage. His smashing success in the league is an unlikely story, considering the slew of injuries could have ended his career. Instead, he became one of the NFL's best backs.
So will Nick Chubb start for the Browns when he's back? What is Nick Chubb's fantasy football outlook when he returns?
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Will Nick Chubb Start For The Browns When He Returns?
The most likely scenario is that the Browns slowly ramp up the seventh-year pro's activity levels upon his return. He should start in some kind of committee with current lead back Jerome Ford, but over the coming weeks, Chubb's workload should gradually increase.
(1) #Browns Nick Chubb - Data predicts 20% stats hit, ~50% chance for Wk 1. RBs avg 4 game ramp up in touches
(2) #Vikings TJ Hockenson - Wk 1 = possible, but data says mid-Oct = most likely. Receiving dips ~15% Yr 1. Increased rate of minor injury during 1st 6 wks back
2/7 pic.twitter.com/LNRNu9P7rQ
— Deepak Chona, MD. SportsMedAnalytics (@SportMDAnalysis) August 3, 2024
Four-week ramp-ups in activity are common for running backs returning from serious ligament injuries, so it may take him some time to reclaim the starting role, but it's highly unlikely that he'll be the backup for the entire 2024 season. Depth chart formalities aside, it could take some time.
Nick Chubb Fantasy Football Outlook
He's an elite running back and one of the best in the NFL over the last decade. The question is how his knee holds up. His injury was devastating, and there are legitimate concerns that he'll never be 100% again. That said, Ford hasn't been great, and if Chubb even attains 75% of his former self, he'll probably be productive.
Cleveland Browns red zone rushing report
This sure seems like Nick Chubb's role when he's ready for it. pic.twitter.com/KMm2yN5f5w
— Jacob Gibbs (@jagibbs_23) October 8, 2024
He's better than Ford in every way, possibly except speed. His top-end speed was a big factor in his game as he was one of the fastest running backs in the NFL despite his reputation as a power runner. He may struggle to hit home runs at first, but his speed should improve as the season wears on.
NICK CHUBB. 70 YARDS. GONE. #Browns
📺: #CLEvsCIN on CBS
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/O6OqTQfXvI— NFL (@NFL) November 7, 2021
He will likely return to at least a pseudo-workhorse role by the last few weeks of the season and can be started confidently by then. He may not have enough volume to be fantasy-relevant for the first two or three games, but if he gets all the red-zone work, he could be worth starting.
The Browns offense is terrible right now and quarterback Deshaun Watson doesn't seem interested in changing that, so Chubb will fight an uphill battle, though. But he's talented enough to carry an offense on his back, so you can never count him out.
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