Who Should I Start? Ty Johnson or Jerome Ford

Tuesday, March 11, 7:01 PM

The Buffalo Bills have re-signed running back Ty Johnson on a two-year deal. The amount of the contract is undisclosed. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported the news. The Maryland product tied his career high with four total touchdowns last season and was a valuable asset on third downs for the team. Johnson played the second-most snaps of all Bills' RBs in 2024 and will likely again slot in as a change-of-pace option and third-down specialist behind incumbent starter James Cook. However, he'll still have second-year back Ray Davis to compete with for touches, and Davis out-carried Johnson 113-41 in just his rookie season. Despite what this means for the team on the field, it's unlikely to make an impact regarding fantasy. The 27-year-old presents as nothing more than a potential low-end handcuff.

Wednesday, July 9, 3:20 PM

According to Zac Jackson of The Athletic, Cleveland Browns veteran running back Jerome Ford is likely to open the 2025 season in the RB1 role. The team just selected former Ohio State running back Quinshon Judkins and former Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson in the first four rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft, so this backfield could be difficult to navigate for fantasy football purposes. However, Ford's familiarity with Kevin Stefanski and his pro experience could give him the early nod. The 25-year-old has flashed at times over the last two seasons, compiling 308 carries for 1,378 yards and seven touchdowns. However, the Browns' selecting two rookie running backs should tell us they are not all that satisfied with Ford as the unquestioned RB1. Even if he starts the season as the touch-leader in the backfield, this will likely be a fluid situation based on which Cleveland ball carrier performs well in the preseason and during the regular season. With the Nick Chubb era officially over, the Browns backfield is being reshaped, and one of Ford, Judkins, or Sampson could be a tremendous value pick.