RADIO
Quinshon Judkins' Fantasy Floor Rising Due to Receiving Work
Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins is an intriguing buy-low candidate in fantasy football leagues as the Browns head into a very favorable Week 5 matchup against the New York Jets. Judkins saw 17 carries for 53 yards and his first rushing touchdown of the season in last Thursday night's 27-24 win over the division-rival Pittsburgh Steelers, and he added a season-high six catches on seven targets for 43 yards as Cleveland's clear workhorse back. The second-year back out of Ohio State has not found a ton of running room, averaging just 3.0 yards per carry on his 59 rushing attempts through four games, after he averaged 3.6 yards per rushing attempt in 14 starts as a rookie in 2025. The former second-rounder had a team-high six catches, though, and if he continues to be used more like that in the passing game in this Browns offense, Judkins will continue to have a higher floor as an RB2 for fantasy football managers. In a Week 5 matchup this Sunday on the road against the Jets, Judkins should be locked in as a starter in all leagues.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Quinshon Judkins Looks To Get Going Against Steelers in Week 4
Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins remains the Browns' lead back but has yet to produce a truly breakout performance yet this season. On the season, Judkins has 42 rushing attempts for 124 rushing yards (3.0 yards per carry). He also has nine receptions for 53 receiving yards. Judkins will look for that breakout performance against the Steelers in Week 4. The Steelers are allowing 113 rushing yards per game to opposing teams. Judkins has the ability to be heavily involved in both the run game and have some involvement in the passing game. The Steelers are allowing 4.4 yards per carry to opponents this season through three games. It would be best to treat Judkins as a mid-tier starting running back this week with the potential for more. It's hard to put blind faith in the former Ohio State running back when he has yet to produce a truly big game. But this is a home matchup against a fairly vulnerable defense, so at least look for Judkins to get back on track in this game.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Raheim Sanders Pairs Increased Receiving Volume with More Playing Time
Cleveland Browns running back Raheim Sanders remains the clear backup to Quinshon Judkins, but that hasn't stopped him from carving out RB3/flex appeal in very deep leagues. Sanders saw his snap share soar to 43% on Sunday, and along the way, he caught four of five targets for 34 receiving yards. The 24-year-old now has eight catches through three games, seamlessly taking the place of pass-catching running back Dylan Sampson (knee), who was placed on injured reserve. The Browns' offense is still a bit iffy right now, and we're not confident they can support two fantasy-relevant running backs at a time. Instead, most of Sanders' value comes from his status as a handcuff, even if it means he'll require more patience and offer less of an immediate burst of fantasy points.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Quinshon Judkins Is a Mid-Tier Starting RB in Week 3 Vs. Panthers
Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins looks like a mid-tier starting running back option this week against the Carolina Panthers after failing to break out thus far this season. Judkins has found the rushing game a slow go so far, with 12 carries for 33 yards in Week 1 against the Jaguars and 12 carries for 21 yards in Week 2 against the Buccaneers. He has been involved in the passing game and has seven total receptions for 44 receiving yards combined in both contests. The good news is the carries and involvement in the passing game are there for Judkins. In Week 3, he goes against the Carolina Panthers, who will be missing leading tackler Devin Lloyd at linebacker due to injury. The Panthers gave up 291 total rushing yards in Week 1 to the Bears but rebounded with 157 rushing yards allowed to Bijan Robinson and the Atlanta Falcons in Week 2. The Browns could fall somewhere in the middle of the two performances, and Judkins is clearly the lead back. Look for Judkins to get going a little bit more on the ground and continue his role in the passing attack. Judkins is a solid starter at the RB position; just don't expect elite RB1 numbers out of him this week.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Can Quinshon Judkins Rebound from His Slow Start to 2026?
Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins has had a quiet start to the 2026 season, recording 24 carries for 54 yards and seven catches for 44 yards on seven targets across his team's first two games. While Judkins remains the clear RB1 in Cleveland, he hasn't quite dominated backfield work the way fantasy managers were hoping before the year. In the Browns' Week 2 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Judkins played just 67% of his team's offensive snaps. Even with second-year running back Dylan Sampson (knee) on Injured Reserve, the Browns have given snaps to reserve running backs Raheim Sanders and Jaleel McLaughlin. The Browns offense was better in Week 2 than in Week 1, but Judkins will still likely need a high volume of touches to counteract what will almost certainly be a below-average offensive environment in Cleveland. Heading into Week 3, Judkins' redraft stock is slipping.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Nick Chubb Retiring With the Browns
Free-agent veteran running back Nick Chubb is returning to Cleveland to sign a one-day contract to retire as a member of the Browns, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Chubb previously announced his retirement from the NFL at the end of August after spending seven of his eight seasons in the league in Cleveland. The 30-year-old was drafted in the second round (35th overall) by the Browns in 2018 from Georgia. He had a run of four straight years in which he made the Pro Bowl from 2019 to 2022, a stretch that included four straight 1,000-yard seasons with 40 rushing touchdowns and two receiving scores in 59 starts. Everything changed in 2023, though, when Chubb tore his ACL, MCL, and meniscus in his knee. He was never the same after that, carrying the ball 224 times for 838 yards and six touchdowns in 23 games over the last two seasons with the Browns and Houston Texans. Chubb will finish his NFL career with 7,349 rushing yards and 54 touchdowns on 1,462 carries (5.0 yards per carry) in 100 regular-season games played. He added 141 catches for 1,109 yards and another five scores through the air.
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Raheim Sanders A Risky Play in Week 2
Cleveland Browns running back Raheim Sanders will serve as the backup to Quinshon Judkins in Week 2 at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but should not enter the discussion for fantasy lineups yet. The Browns have a tough matchup with the Bucs and Judkins is the only running back worth a starting look for fantasy purposes. Sanders has entered the conversation with the injury to Dylan Sampson but has not yet shown enough to be relied upon. He had one carry for one yard in Week 1's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Sanders is in his second year after playing in college at South Carolina. He's a big back at 6-foot-0 and 230 pounds so look for him as a bit of a change of pace from Judkins. However he still has a lot of work to do to establish himself as a valuable backup running back for the Browns and someone who can be counted on for fantasy teams.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Quinshon Judkins Has Tough Matchup Week 2 At Bucs
Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins had a rough time establishing a run game in Week 1 against the Jacksonville Jaguars and he could see more of the same in Week 2 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He carried 12 times for 33 yards in the opening week, good for 2.8 yards per carry. He did add two receptions for 17 receiving yards. The Bucs limited Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown to 56 rushing yards in Week 1 and allowed 106 team rushing yards to the Bengals. With Deshuan Watson at quarterback, Judkins could find it hard to get established again in Week 2 with the Bucs likely dominating the flow of the game and possession of the ball. While Judkins rushing ability could be stymied, he is a capable pass catcher and could be a threat in the underneath passing game of the Browns. However, a strong Bucs defense playing at home should not yield much overall to Judkins. Judkins is a talented back but until the Browns get the quarterback situation resolved, he will continue to find it tough to see big openings in the run game.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Quinshon Judkins' Production Upside Limited by Shaky Quarterback Play
Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins had a rough game in his team's 34-10 Week 1 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, recording 12 carries for 33 yards and two catches for 17 yards on two targets. Judkins remains Cleveland's undisputed RB1 and should dominate early-down touches in the Browns backfield. However, Cleveland appears likely to lean on backup running back Raheim Sanders in obvious passing situations. Unfortunately for Judkins and his fantasy managers, Cleveland's highly questionable offensive environment with Deshaun Watson at quarterback makes it likely that the Browns will be chasing points early and often in 2026. Judkins should see a larger workload in Week 2 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and beyond, but his production upside currently appears to be limited by his team situation.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Raheim Sanders to Take on Bigger Role
Cleveland Browns running back Raheim Sanders will have the opportunity to see an expanded role in the offense, according to Scott Petrak of BrownsZone. Sanders will move up the depth chart to the No. 2 role with Dylan Sampson (knee) going down in the season opener. The Browns placed Sampson on the Injured Reserve, so he'll be forced to miss at least the next four games. Sanders rushed the ball once and hauled in three receptions for 25 yards during the season opener. He could emerge as an interesting handcuff for fantasy managers going forward. He could offer some value in Week 2 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense that allowed over 100 rushing yards last week.
Source: Scott Petrak
Source: Scott Petrak
Browns Add Running Back Jaleel McLaughlin to Active Roster
The Cleveland Browns signed running back Jaleel McLaughlin to the active 53-man roster from the practice squad on Tuesday, according to Zac Jackson of The Athletic. McLaughlin will take the place of running back Dylan Sampson (knee), who was placed on the Injured Reserve with a significant knee injury. With Sampson out for the foreseeable future, Raheim Sanders will now be the RB2 in Cleveland behind starter Quinshon Judkins, with McLaughlin settling in as the RB3 for the Browns as they head into a Week 2 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The 26-year-old McLaughlin should remain firmly on the waiver wire in most single-year fantasy football leagues, but he could become intriguing for RB depth in point-per-reception formats if he works his way into a decent chance-of-pace role behind Judkins. The former undrafted free agent from Youngstown State has 226 career carries for 1,093 yards and three touchdowns while adding 59 receptions for 263 yards and four touchdowns as a receiver in his three NFL seasons with the Denver Broncos.
Source: The Athletic - Zac Jackson
Source: The Athletic - Zac Jackson
Raheim Sanders Emerging as a Handcuff Option Amid Backfield Injury
Cleveland Browns running back Raheim Sanders began the 2026 season as his team's RB3 behind Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson (knee). However, Sampson suffered a knee injury in the first quarter of Cleveland's Week 1 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars and is now set to miss at least four games after being placed on Injured Reserve on Tuesday. As a result, Sanders now looks to be the Browns' primary backup running back. If Judkins were to also go down with an injury, Sanders would immediately become fantasy relevant. The 24-year-old may have some deep-league standalone appeal even if Judkins stays healthy, as he recorded three catches for 25 yards on three targets after replacing Sampson against Jacksonville. As a handcuff running back option with some pass-catching upside, Sanders could be a worthy waiver wire target for fantasy managers in deeper leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Dylan Sampson Placed on Injured Reserve With Knee Injury
Cleveland Browns running back Dylan Sampson (knee) is being placed on injured reserve, according to Zac Jackson. The Browns are promoting Jaleel McLaughlin from the practice squad to take his roster spot. Sampson hurt his knee in the first quarter of Sunday's loss to Jacksonville and never returned, finishing the day with two kickoff returns for 64 yards and no offensive touches. Reports Monday indicated he was going to miss significant time, and the move to IR will keep him out for at least four games. Sampson was Cleveland's No. 2 back behind Quinshon Judkins after recording 175 rushing yards and adding 33 catches for 271 yards and two touchdowns as a rookie. Raheim Sanders was already next on the depth chart, while McLaughlin now gives the Browns another option behind Judkins. Sampson can be moved into an IR spot in fantasy leagues while Cleveland sorts out the backup work in his absence.
Source: Zac Jackson
Source: Zac Jackson
Dylan Sampson is Expected to Miss Significant Time with Knee Injury
Cleveland Browns running back Dylan Sampson (knee) was seen using crutches following Sunday's Week 1 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. According to Jeremy Fowler, Sampson is expected to miss significant time due to the knee injury he suffered on Sunday. Fantasy managers will likely need to wait until later in the week for a better timetable. The Browns aren't required to provide any update until the injury report is released on Wednesday. His absence will mean an uptick in value for Quinshon Judkins, while Raheim Sanders figures to handle the backup duties going forward. Fantasy managers should check back later in the week for a better timetable on Sampson.
Source: Jeremy Fowler
Source: Jeremy Fowler
Quinshon Judkins Inefficient as Lead Back in Week 1
Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins rushed for 33 yards on 12 carries during Sunday's Week 1 loss against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He also caught two passes for an additional 17 receiving yards. This was Judkins' first regular-season action since Week 16 of his rookie season last year. The 22-year-old is quite talented, but he's likely being held back by the suboptimal state of the Browns' offense, led by quarterback Deshaun Watson. As long as this offense continues to struggle to sustain drives and stay on the field, Judkins will remain a mid-to-low RB2 option in fantasy football. His path to production gets only slightly easier next week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who just surrendered 78 scrimmage yards and a touchdown to Chase Brown.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
