Who Should I Start? Juwan Johnson or Jerome Ford

Monday, January 6, 2:30 AM

New Orleans Saints tight end led the team in receptions and yards for the second week in a row in Sunday's 27-19 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He finished the day with six catches for 80 yards, beating the season-high he set just last week. With Chris Olave (concussion) sidelined for the season finale, rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler looked to his tight ends often. Of Rattler's 240 passing yards on the day, 122 went to the trio of Johnson, Foster Moreau (knee), and Dallin Holker. Despite the multiple injuries that drained the Saints of their biggest playmakers, little was asked of Johnson to pick up the slack until the last two games of the season. Still, he will finish 2024 with career highs in receptions (50) and receiving yards (548). The 28-year-old converted wide receiver is set to become a free agent in the coming offseason.

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.