Nick Chubb suffered a brutal knee injury on Monday Night Football. Now, unfortunately, his fantasy football managers will scramble to the fantasy Week 3 waiver wire for potential replacements. It won’t be easy, as Chubb has arguably been one of the league’s most consistent and best pure runners over the past few years. But we have 24 hours to find his substitute in this sick business.
Note: Around 50% or less ownership on Yahoo!
TRY THESE FIRST
These two are very good options but could be unavailable in your league.
ZACK MOSS, INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (53% ROSTERED)
The plodding Zack Moss returned from a fractured forearm to play all but one offensive snap in Week 2. Yes, you heard that right. Moss played 56 out of 57 snaps on Sunday and touched the ball 22 times (18 carries and four rec). As long as Jonathan Taylor is in street clothes, this looks like Moss’ backfield. He’s one of the most boring runners in the league, but the snap share and volume are undeniable.
JUSTICE HILL, BALTIMORE RAVENS (43%)
We call this replacing a running back with another running back’s replacement. In the wake of JK Dobbins’ injury, the Ravens have deployed both backs evenly. With Gus Edwards rostering out of this article, Justice Hill remains in the fold as he out-snapped Edwards this week and was much more involved in the passing game. Edwards might have the ‘sexy’ RB1 title when the offense trots out there for the opening drive, but Hill is getting valuable touches.
OPTIONS IN CLEVELAND
Let’s take a look at the in-house options in Cleveland.
JEROME FORD, CLEVELAND BROWNS (15%)
Jerome Ford is the next man up in the Browns’ backfield… for now. The Browns’ depth was already thin, but Ford could see a heavy workload depending on Cleveland’s future moves. Will they look to re-sign Kareem Hunt? Will they trade for disgruntled Cam Akers? Will it be a gross committee with Ford and Pierre Strong Jr.? We aren’t sure yet. But, Ford showed his wheels on MNF with a nice 69-yard rush after Chubb exited and finished the game with 106 yards on 16 carries and 25 yards and a score on three receptions.
Ford is full of question marks, but he can make plays in this run-heavy offense behind a very solid offensive line. He should be your primary target here.
PIERRE STRONG JR., CLEVELAND BROWNS (1%)
The Browns acquired Pierre Strong Jr. from the Patriots before the season kicked off. But, as the clear RB3 on this team, he was only playing special teams until Monday Night Football. Strong drips in elite speed (4.37 40-yd dash) with a 95th percentile speed score, making him an intriguing option in deep leagues. He did not necessarily turn heads in New England, but he did manage 100 yards on ten carries while adding another 42 yards on seven receptions. The talent is intriguing, but he’s not a must-add by any stretch right now.
KAREEM HUNT, FREE AGENT (14%)
Relax, I’m not a dummy. I know Kareem Hunt is on his couch and not in Cleveland right now. But, with the Browns desperate for some depth, Hunt could be an option for the team to add some depth to its running back room. As noted, Ford and Strong are the only two real NFL backs in this thin room right now, and Hunt knows the offense better than anyone. The two sides did not end on great terms, but money and the probability of significant touches could help heal the wounds.
Even if he doesn’t land in Cleveland, a needy team could use his services soon.
BE PATIENT AND STASH
If you already have some RB depth, stash these upside RBs until one takes over a starting gig.
ROSCHON JOHNSON, RB CHICAGO BEARS (38%)
While the Bears continue to stink, rookie Roschon Johnson is slowly working his way up the running back ladder. He bumped D’Onta Foreman off the depth chart and has secured the RB2 job behind Khalil Herbert — who isn’t doing much himself.
It may not be long until he leapfrogs Herbert if they decide to go all-in to see what they have in the rookie.
JAYLEN WARREN, PITTSBURGH STEELERS (41%)
We thought a healthy Najee Harris would be in for a bounce-back season, but it appears that is not happening. Jaylen Warren is the more complete and electric back of the two, and although he’s struggled on the ground so far, he’s caught 9 of 12 targets for 78 yards. It may only be a matter of time until Warren starts to see early-down rushing work to give this anemic running game a jolt. Either way, he’s a top handcuff.
TYJAE SPEARS, TENNESSEE TITANS (17%)
Tyjae Spears saw his snap percentage decrease from Week 1, mostly due to the game script. The Titans played ahead this week, allowing them to deploy Derrick Henry between the tackles. Still, Spears saw eight carries and recorded 49 yards on the ground. We know he can catch the ball and play on third downs, making him an intriguing handcuff if the King were sidelined.
STREAM IT FOR A BIT
We can try to piece it together until a starting running back emerges elsewhere.
CRAIG REYNOLDS, DETROIT LIONS (0%)
Craig Reynolds could start in Detroit for a few weeks or maybe not even one week, depending on whether you trust David Montgomery or his head coach. So, we may need to wait for clarification. But, following Montgomery’s Week 2 exit, Reynolds played ten snaps in the fourth quarter and saw three carries to Jahmyr Gibbs’ one (WHY??). Reynolds’ fantasy owners should expect a similar, juicy Montgomery role if he remains out of the lineup. In his first career start in 2021, Reynolds had a 26-carry game for 112 yards against a strong Cardinals’ run defense.
MATT BREIDA, NEW YORK GIANTS (2%)
The injury to Saquon Barkley for the Giants’ offense leaves Matt Breida as the RB1 in New York. The only problem is Breida’s not very good anymore, and the Giants’ offense is inconsistent. Over the next three weeks, they get the 49ers on a short week, followed by the Seahawks and the Dolphins. He’s not the ideal streamer at running back, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.
TONY JONES JR., NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (0%)
Jamaal Williams left the Saints game early with a hamstring injury, putting his status for next week in question. While Alvin Kamara is suspended and Kendre Miller can’t stay healthy, that would leave Tony Jones Jr. as the lone back remaining for the Saints. He stinks but somehow fell into the end zone twice in Williams’ absence on MNF.
