Who Should I Start? Jerome Ford or Zay Flowers

Thursday, January 2, 2:02 PM

Cleveland Browns running backs Jerome Ford (ankle) and Pierre Strong Jr. (concussion) have both been ruled out for the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Baltimore Ravens on Saturday. Ford sprained his ankle in the Week 17 loss to the Miami Dolphins and will be unavailable to play in the final game of the season. With Nick Chubb (foot) getting a late start in 2024 while recovering from a gruesome knee injury he suffered in 2023, Ford opened 2024 as Cleveland's RB1 and will finish the year as their leading rusher with 104 rushing attempts for 565 yards (5.4 yards per carry) and a team-high-tying three rushing touchdowns. With both Ford and Strong out this weekend, D'Onta Foreman will be in play as a low-upside RB3/flex for fantasy managers as the team's lead back. John Kelly should serve as his backup.

Monday, January 13, 4:07 PM

When asked about the status of wide receiver Zay Flowers (knee) for the upcoming Divisional Round showdown against the Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said they are in "we'll-see" mode. "He's working hard to get back. We'll see toward the end of the week if he's practicing. He can play without practicing, for sure, if he feels healthy enough and it's safe for him," Harbaugh said. Flowers sprained his knee in the Week 18 win over the Cleveland Browns and was inactive for the wild-card playoff win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday. The 24-year-old could play this weekend against Buffalo without practicing, but he'd be a much riskier lineup option for fantasy managers. With Flowers out on Saturday in the win over Pittsburgh, Rashod Bateman benefitted the most and caught a touchdown, with Tylan Wallace and Nelson Agholor also seeing the field in three-wide sets.