Cleveland Browns

Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb (knee) was officially placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list on Wednesday. Nothing has changed in terms of Chubb's timetable for a return from last year's Week 2 dislocated knee and torn MCL, as there remains no word regarding the likelihood of his Week 1 availability for this season. The 28-year-old Pro Bowl running back is being drafted 134th overall on average in fantasy drafts this summer, per RotoBaller, with the idea that he may not be ready for the outset of the campaign. Entering his age-29 year and coming off his second major knee surgery, Chubb is one of 2024's top wild cards with a wide range of potential outcomes as an RB3/4 gamble. At the moment, Jerome Ford looks like a decent value pick in the later rounds as the likely lead back for the Browns for any games Chubb may be inactive for.

The Cleveland Browns and star wide receiver Amari Cooper have agreed to a restructured one-year contract, guaranteeing his $20 million salary and adding an additional $5 million. Cooper will still be entering the final year of his deal with the Browns, but the important takeaway for fantasy managers is that he's reported to the team for the start of training camp on Tuesday after skipping out on mandatory minicamp. The 30-year-old veteran wideout earned his fifth Pro Bowl selection last season after recording a career-high 1,250 receiving yards with 72 catches (128 targets) and five touchdowns through 15 outings. As the clear-cut centerpiece of Cleveland's passing game, Cooper remains safe to draft in fantasy leagues as a WR2 this summer after finishing third at the position in yards per catch (17.4).

Cleveland Browns running back Nyheim Hines (knee) is still recovering from the torn ACL he suffered during a jet ski accident last summer, but the team believes he could compete to be their third-down back and primary kick returner if healthy, according to Zac Jackson of The Athletic. Specifically, Jackson notes that Hines could compete with Jerome Ford and D'Onta Foreman for the backup role if Nick Chubb (knee) is cleared for Week 1, but that would put Chubb well ahead of schedule. If Chubb needs more time to recover, Ford would likely handle early downs while Hines rotates in on third down. Hines specialized as both a returner and pass-catcher during his first four years in the league with the Indianapolis Colts, ultimately catching 103 passes for 792 yards and four touchdowns between 2020 and 2021. He played more of a special teams role after being traded to the Buffalo Bills in 2022 but did still show an ability to catch passes. Despite this new optimism about Hines' recovery and role for the upcoming season, he's still not a very intriguing name in fantasy football leagues. His ceiling is the backup role with pass-catching upside, but his floor is likely No. 4 on the depth chart (and a heavy dose of special teams snaps) once Chubb returns. This uncertainty keeps him off the fantasy radar in most redraft leagues, where he currently sports an ADP of 526 (134th among running backs).

Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Ford enters 2024 with a chance to sit atop the depth chart, but his exact role will depend on the status of Nick Chubb (knee) and Nyheim Hines (knee), according to Zac Jackson of The Athletic. Both injured running backs are recovering from ACL tears, with Chubb working his way back from a gruesome knee injury sustained during a carry near the goal line last season and Hines dealing with the effects of a terrible jet ski accident last summer. Jackson notes that Ford could open the year as the Browns' No. 1 running back if he has a strong training camp and Chubb isn't cleared by Week 1; as of now, a Week 1 return would seem unlikely for Chubb, who also tore his MCL and meniscus on the same play. On the other hand, if Chubb progresses faster than expected, Ford could find himself competing for the backup role with the likes of Hines and D'Onta Foreman. This lack of clarity poses a challenge for fantasy managers trying to finalize their draft strategy. However, given the severity of Chubb's injury, it seems unlikely that he'll play in the season opener, and even if he does, he'll probably have a reduced role. Therefore, Ford should have enough early-season volume to make him a solid RB3/FLEX option for the first few weeks of the campaign (and perhaps even after Chubb returns). His ADP of 115 gives him a 10th-round price tag and slots him in as the 38th running back off the board in redraft leagues.

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Kadarius Toney was seen working as a running back during portions of the team's first training camp practice over the weekend. Toney had a disastrous 2023 season with the Chiefs, so perhaps the coaching staff is looking for creative ways to get the speedy wideout more involved this year. During wideout drills, Toney was present for 7-on-7 reps, alternating with the first-string offense and the third-string unit. Head coach Andy Reid didn't really give any clues to how the Chiefs might be using Toney differently this year. Not only does the former first-rounder need to show more in camp and the preseason this year in order to secure a roster spot, but he needs to stay healthy. The 25-year-old is currently on the outside looking in and is off the fantasy radar in single-year leagues.