The injury bug continued to affect the Browns’ running back room as Jerome Ford is set to miss some time with an ankle injury.
The next man up is Pierre Strong Jr. Time will tell how exactly the work will split between him and Kareem Hunt. But despite Hunt scoring twice against the Colts, he’s continued to be an inefficient runner, dating back to most of last season, highlighted by just 3.1 yards per carry in Week 7.
The former Patriot back brings 4.37 speed, enabling him to break off long runs more so than Hunt. He also possesses an elite speed and burst score, making him one of the best athletes at his position.
So, while it was Hunt who got the goal-line touches this past weekend, it’s Ford who broke off 69-yard runs against the Steelers and Colts. Although Hunt is the presumed starter with Ford out, Strong out-snapped Hunt 23-to-19 after Ford’s departure in Indianapolis.
Pierre Strong, along with a continuously solid Browns offensive line, can create this same big-play opportunity in Week 8 against the Seahawks.
THE UNKNOWN OF STRONG’S LITTLE PREVIOUS USAGE
The Patriot Way sometimes includes running backs not getting much run their rookie season, so it’s not necessarily a knock on Strong that he only saw 17 touches in 2022 before being traded to the Browns in the off-season for tackle depth.
Now it looks like Cleveland’s decision to trade left tackle Tyrone Wheatley for Strong’s services may pay off, as Wheatley may have been too buried on the depth chart in Cleveland to ever see playing time.
Even on limited action, Strong turned those 17 touches, seven of them receptions, into 142 yards and a touchdown in New England.
ACCOUNTING FOR THE LIKELIHOOD OF UNDERWHELMING QUARTERBACK PLAY
With Deshaun Watson‘s shoulder still an issue, PJ Walker could start again.
The passing game hasn’t been pretty under Walker, and Deshaun may not be back to the form we saw against the Titans, even if he returns this week.
The Browns have won their last two games despite Walker’s play, not because of it.
And because of that, it’ll once again be on their defense and run game to carry the load. A big play or two from Strong might not be a luxury, but it may be necessary to grind out another win.
STREAM STRONG IN WEEK 8
So, while the unknown is real, so is the upside. You could do worse in your FLEX, or if you’re desperate at your RB2 position, stream a back with elite speed who may only need one play to break off a long TD and make it all worth it.
“For now, expect Pierre Strong Jr. to go from special teamer and deep backup to a steady role as running back 1-B alongside Hunt,” wrote Zac Jackson of The Athletic. “Strong has shown some speed in limited opportunities with the Browns since being acquired in a late August trade.”
The unknown currently keeps Strong as the RB48 in The Wolf’s Fantasy Week 8 Rankings.
