Cleveland Browns

Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Ford has rolled up nine all-purpose touchdowns as the lead back for his team in 2023. The second-year back may not get a chance to add to his TD total in Week 18 against the Cincinnati Bengals, however. The Browns are already locked into the No. 5 seed in the AFC and are planning on resting some of their key starters in what is a meaningless game for them. Ford would certainly fit into that criteria as he and Kareem Hunt have been Cleveland's two primary ball carriers since Nick Chubb (knee) was lost for the season back in Week 2. The Browns haven't made any official announcements pertaining to their running back room for Sunday but Pierre Strong Jr. would operate as the team's No. 1 back if Hunt and Ford ultimately don't play. That would put Strong on the radar as a high-end RB3 and a cheap dart-throw option in DFS tournaments this weekend. Stay tuned.

Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (rest/knee/illness) missed practice on Wednesday but got in limited sessions on Thursday and Friday. The star tight end is listed without an injury designation heading into a Week 18 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Browns already have the No. 5 seed in the AFC locked up and are planning to rest several starters in a meaningless game against Cincinnati. Njoku has not been ruled out of action as of Saturday morning but there is a strong chance he is not active in Week 18 as Cleveland looks toward the first round of the playoffs next week. If Njoku ultimately doesn't play, Harrison Bryant would see starter's snaps and settle in as a TE2 for the final week of the regular season. Stay tuned.

Cleveland Browns kicker Dustin Hopkins (hamstring) has officially been ruled out for the Week 18 regular season finale against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. It will be the second straight missed game for the 33-year-old booter. Cleveland will be hoping Hopkins will be ready to roll for the wild-card round of the postseason next week. When healthy, Hopkins has been a fantasy relevant kicker this year, especially since quarterback Joe Flacco arrived and jumpstarted this offense. In 15 games in his first year with the Browns, Hopkins has gone 33-for-36 on field-goal attempts and 24-for-26 on extra points. With Hopkins being held out again this weekend, Riley Patterson will do the kicking for Cleveland and should be avoided in fantasy lineups with the Browns resting some of their key starters, including Flacco.

Cleveland Browns wide receivers Elijah Moore (concussion) and Marquise Goodwin (knee) are both listed as questionable to play on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals. Amari Cooper (heel) has been ruled out for the second straight game. The Browns are locked into the No. 5 seed in the AFC for the postseason, so Moore and Goodwin probably won't play all that much if they are actually active on Sunday morning. Moore suffered a concussion in last Thursday's win over the New York Jets, while Goodwin popped up on this week's injury report on Thursday. Fantasy managers in season-long leagues or DFS contests would be wise to stay away from Moore. Expect rookie Cedric Tillman, David Bell and James Proche II to get a lot of playing time this weekend as the Browns play out the string of the regular season.

Cleveland Browns wide receivers Elijah Moore (concussion) and Marquise Goodwin (knee) were both listed as limited in practice on Thursday. Moore was also limited on Wednesday after suffering a concussion in last Thursday's win over the New York Mets. Goodwin, meanwhile, was added to the injury report Thursday. The 23-year-old Moore is headed in the right direction to be available for the Week 18 regular season finale against the Cincinnati Bengals, but with the Browns being locked into the No. 5 seed for the playoffs, Moore is a candidate to be limited on Sunday or held out entirely. And if he does play, he'll be taking passes from quarterback Jeff Driskel with Joe Flacco being rested. Goodwin hasn't been anywhere near the fantasy radar in his first year in Cleveland.