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While most of the focus in Cleveland is on Baker Mayfield and Odell Beckham Jr., we must not forget second-year running back Nick Chubb, who is coming off of a terrific rookie campaign.
Chubb rushed for 996 yards and eight touchdowns while averaging 5.2 yards per carry this past year while also notching a couple of receiving scores.
But what should we expect from Chubb going into 2019, and where should you target him in your Fantasy Football draft?
Well, one thing we really need to keep in mind with Chubb is that the first half of the season is likely when he will post his biggest numbers, as Kareem Hunt will be returning after eight games.
Obviously, Hunt is an elite running back, and once he gets back on the field, Chubb will, at the very least, surrender a chunk of his carries to Hunt as the two share the backfield.
There is also the situation with Duke Johnson. Johnson wants a trade and has not backed off of his stance, but the Browns seem intent on going into the season with Johnson on the roster, and if he is, he will surely be Cleveland's primary receiving back, at least until Hunt returns.
So, realistically speaking, Chubb will kind of be a one-dimensional halfback. He is an efficient rusher and should be able to rack up a nice amount of yards and some touchdowns, but he is not much of a pass-catcher out of the backfield, as he totaled just 20 receptions in 2018 and finished with 31 catches total over four years at Georgia.
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Plus, with Johnson still on board, Mayfield will likely be targeting him with most of his throws to running backs anyway. Hunt himself is also a really good receiver, so once his suspension is lifted, he will begin to receive some targets.
Taking all of this into consideration, Chubb will almost certainly not be an elite running back in fantasy this coming season. That's not to take anything away from Chubb, who might develop into a star one day, but his current situation just does not lend much credence to him being a top-flight back, as he is miles away from being Saquon Barkley or Christian McCaffrey.
As a matter of fact, given the addition of Hunt, it seems pretty unlikely that Chubb will reach the 1,000-yard mark this season, as there is a very good chance that he finishes with less yardage than he did during his rookie year simply based on opportunity.
We also need to consider that with Beckham in tow and with Mayfield having a full year of experience under his belt that the Browns may throw the ball more in 2019, which will limit opportunities for Cleveland's running backs in general.
While many may be targeting Chubb within the first two rounds of their fantasy drafts, that will likely end up being a big mistake, as the stars are simply not aligning for Chubb to be that productive this coming season. Instead, Chubb should be viewed as a third or fourth-round pick. You're better off getting great value late than being disappointed by taking an overvalued player early.
