Cleveland Browns DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Ford carried the ball three times for six yards and added two catches for 26 yards in a 31-14 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 18. Ford did not start but he wound up seeing a handful of touches in a final tuneup before the Browns head to Houston to take on the Texans in the Wild Card round of the playoffs next week. The second-year back finishes his 2023 season with nine all-purpose touchdowns although his role next season will depend on how Nick Chubb (knee) progresses in rehabbing his knee injury. Ford will be a solid DFS option next week against Houston.

Denver Broncos wide receiver Jerry Jeudy was a distant No. 2 receiver behind Courtland Sutton all year and wasn't able to do anything significant (three catches for 54 yards) in the Week 17 win over the Los Angeles Chargers with Sutton out due to a concussion. The former first-rounder has just one touchdown all season long and has been outside the top-50 receivers this year in half-PPR points per game despite ranking 48th at the position with 81 targets. In the Week 18 regular season finale against the Las Vegas Raiders with Sutton returning from his concussion, it's unlikely that Jeudy suddenly breaks out in the final game of the year with quarterback Jarrett Stidham running the offense. Fantasy managers looking for upside in DFS and season-long contests in Week 18 should ignore Jeudy.

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Cedric Tillman has caught 18 passes for 181 yards in his rookie season. Tillman could be in store for a larger role in Week 18's matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Browns have already locked up the No. 5 seed in the AFC and are planning to rest several key players in the regular-season finale. Amari Cooper (heel) has already been ruled out and Elijah Moore (concussion) is listed as questionable. It would be a bit of a surprise to see Cleveland rush Moore back into action after he suffered a concussion back in Week 17's Thursday night game. Tillman should conceivably operate as Cleveland's No. 1 wideout against a Cincy defense that is allowing the 10th-most fantasy points per game to the position this season. Assuming Moore doesn't play, Tillman sets up as an interesting dart throw in DFS tournaments on Sunday and can be used as a desperation flex in season-long formats.

Cleveland Browns running back Pierre Strong Jr. has seen just 49 carries for 226 yards as the team's No. 3 RB this season. He could be in store for an increased role in Week 18 against the Cincinnati Bengals, however. The Browns have already locked up the No. 5 seed in the AFC and don't have much to play for in the regular-season finale. The team hasn't ruled Jerome Ford or Kareem Hunt out yet but it wouldn't be a surprise if both running backs sat out of Week 18. If that happens, Strong would operate as the team's lead back against a Cincinnati defense that is allowing the 14th-most fantasy points per game to running backs this season. Strong sets up as a solid flex option in season-long formats and an interesting RB2 in DFS contests this weekend.

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.