Who Should I Start? Nyheim Hines or D'Ernest Johnson

Thursday, October 24, 12:08 PM

Cleveland Browns running back Nyheim Hines (knee) was not officially activated from Non-Football Injury list within his 21-day practice window, meaning he will miss the remainder of the 2024 season. Hines will end up missing the entire season in Cleveland after tearing his ACL in a jet-ski accident in July of 2023. With Nick Chubb returning from his own devastating knee injury last week, there just wasn't room for the 27-year-old pass-catching specialist on the Browns' active 53-man roster heading into a Week 8 contest against the division-rival Baltimore Ravens. Jerome Ford (hamstring) missed the Week 7 loss to the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals, but the Browns also have D'Onta Foreman and Pierre Strong Jr. as depth at the position behind Chubb.

Saturday, November 16, 12:00 PM

Jacksonville Jaguars running back D'Ernest Johnson could get some opportunities to produce this week against the Detroit Lions. With Tank Bigsby out with an ankle injury, Johnson should serve as the clear backup to Travis Etienne Jr. While the Jaguars have used multiple backs for most of the season, that is mostly due to Etienne Jr.'s previous season performances and Bigsby's emergence this season. In the weeks when Etienne Jr. missed due to injury, Johnson didn't produce much. He did do decent against the Patriots in Week 6, producing 70 total yards on 12 touches. However, the Patriots have been one of the worst run defenses this season, while the Lions have been one of the better run defenses this season. Unless Johnson gets involved in the passing game, he is nothing more than a desperate fantasy option in Week 11 against the Lions.