In unsurprising news, Nick Chubb will miss at least the first four games of the 2024 season following his knee injury in Week 2 of the 2023 season, giving a major boost to Jerome Ford’s 2024 fantasy outlook.
Although you may have seen the incredible videos of him squatting well over 500 pounds, the 28-year-old Cleveland Browns running back is only 11 months off of MCL surgery and 10 months off of a follow-up ACL surgery. Shortly after the Super Bowl, the Cleveland Browns also worked a restructuring of the last year of his contract, moving his terms from an average of over $12M per year to under $3M this year.
Even with all of these signs of trouble for Chubb, people were still considering taking him in the single-digit rounds of fantasy drafts! Multiple RSJ staff highlighted Chubb as the worst pick of the RSJ Experts League at 8.12. Boy-howdy, were those folks right.
This season looks to be the one that the Browns move away from the once bright past of their perennial 1,000 yard rushing running back and forward to their future. I see that future as the once-considered handcuff, Jerome Ford.
24-year-old Ford stepped up in a big way last season, carrying the ball just over 200 times for 813 yards. His ability to work in the receiving game was even more impressive, hauling in 44 of his 63 targets for 319 yards and 5 touchdowns. Between weeks 1-17, Jerome Ford finished as the RB15, right below fantasy darling Bijan Robinson, which included only 1.6 points in Week 1 while Chubb was healthy.
One exciting wrinkle coming to the team this year is offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey. In an article by Erik Turner with Cover1, the case is made for how effective run concepts such as Mid-Zone and Tackle Wrap proved to be for Bill’s Running backs. By incorporating these concepts with the fourth-ranked offensive line in the league, no one would be surprised to see Ford thrive in the Dorsey system.
The best part is that Ford currently costs you a 9th-round draft pick (overall 111, RB39). It should be no surprise if his draft stock quickly starts to shoot upwards as news of Chubb’s confirmed start on the PUP spreads, but even at a rising price, he is still a value.
Players currently drafted just above him include:
| Player | Overall Pick | Position |
| Tyjae Spears | 104 | RB35 |
| Chase Brown | 105 | RB36 |
| Ezekiel Elliott | 109 | RB37 |
| Trey Benson | 110 | RB38 |
Yes, you have that right; RBs drafted over the 2023 RB15 with a promised role for the first quarter of the season include:
- The second-string running back for the 6-11 Tennessee Titans that just signed Tony Pollard to a 3-year, $21,750,000 contract.
- The second-string running back on a team that historically buries the backup RB (the last time they had two RBs over 100 rushing attempts was 2020).
- Ezekiel Elliott is currently listed as 228lb, which reminds me of the line from Liar Liar, “Weight: 105lbs… yeah, in your bra!”
- And the second-string running back for the 4-13 Arizona Cardinals, behind the RB that has finished RB7, RB9, and RB13 in the past three years.
SUMMARY: JEROME FORD 2024 FANTASY OUTLOOK
You can have a known commodity with incredible upside for the same exact price. Wolf currently has Ford ranked as his RB42, but even he notes on August 25th: “(Ford) Continues running as the clear No.1 RB while Nick Chubb’s out & injuries pile up behind him. Could be a legit monster for the first half of the year — I’ve been too low on Ford.” Yes, yes, you have, Wolf. Please fix it.
I am always one to preach about taking the players that will win you the league, not the ones that will win you a few weeks, but I am making the exception for Jerome Ford. It is only possible to make it to your championship with consistent wins, and for such a low price, Ford will bring you consistently solid starts for at least the beginning of your fantasy season.
When, not if, we impress the coaching staff at the beginning of the season, do not be surprised to see them stick with Ford as the future and leave Chubb as the past.
