Should You Start D’Ernest Johnson In Fantasy? His Ceiling with Nick Chubb, More Browns RBs Out For Week 10

The Browns' backfield is thin for Week 10.

With Nick Chubb, Demetric Felton and John Kelly on the COVID list — plus Kareem Hunt still on Injured Reserve with a calf injury — that leaves D'Ernest Johnson to carry the load for Cleveland when it heads to New England for Sunday afternoon's matchup.

The last time Johnson led this backfield (Week 7), he finished as the RB3 in half PPR scoring. So what can fantasy football managers expect from him this week? Our duo of exert rankers weigh in.

Start D'Ernest Johnson In Fantasy?

by Sean Koerner: D'Ernest Johnson is a top 10 fantasy running back this week based on volume alone.

He already proved fantasy football managers can trust him anytime both Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt are out — in a similar situation in Week 7, Johnson was able to rack up 22 carries for 146 yards and a touchdown.

by Chris Raybon: D'Ernest Johnson could see every backfield snap for the Browns against the Patriots on Sunday with Nick Chubb, Demetric Felton and John Kelly on the COVID list, and Kareem Hunt still not back from IR. Johnson is a locked-in RB1 for Week 10 as a result.

For daily fantasy, Johnson has to be locked into cash game lineups against a run-funnel Patriots defense that ranks sixth in Football Outsiders' pass DVOA and 17th against the run, as well as 29th in DVOA on passes to running backs.

Need More Fantasy Advice?

Consult our expert's real-time fantasy football rankings for standard, PPR and half-PPR scoring here.