Who Should I Start? Jerome Ford or Trey Benson

Friday, August 8, 6:36 PM

Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Ford is among the players who are not expected to play for the team in its first preseason game against the Carolina Panthers on Friday night. Many key offensive contributors for Cleveland are not expected to play, including wide receiver Jerry Jeudy, tight end David Njoku, and quarterback Joe Flacco. Notably, Browns rookie running back Dylan Sampson is expected to suit up. With fellow rookie Quinshon Judkins still unsigned due to a July arrest, Sampson and Ford are competing for backfield snaps in Cleveland. Ford is entering his fourth season with the Browns, so he has less to prove in preseason action than Sampson.

Saturday, August 2, 7:13 PM

Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner considers Trey Benson a starter. "We're both RB1," said Conner. "He's gonna play a lot this year." Benson was drafted in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft. He appeared in 13 games last season. However, he finished with only 291 yards and one touchdown off 63 touches. Head coach Jonathan Gannon has already indicated that Benson would be more involved during the 2025 campaign. Yet, Conner's latest comment adds more validity to Gannon's statement even more. It appears Benson could be more than an insurance policy this season, although his increased involvement won't be good for Conner's fantasy outlook. If anything, Conner could be the preferred pass-catching option out of the backfield, with Benson in line to handle the bulk of the carries.