By: Jake Rajala

The Cleveland Browns have a special talent in Kareem Hunt. The bowling-ball RB has often been an excellent partner to Nick Chubb and weapon in Kevin Stefanski’s offense. He might be a household name with success as an all-purpose RB, but he is also an aging RB in an offense that should really sling the rock with Deshaun Watson moving forward. With that said, I believe it’s important to untwine the outlook for Hunt. So, let’s begin.

Here is a closer look at how productive Hunt has been over the past two seasons in CLE:

2020: 841 rushing yards, 6 rushing touchdowns, 38 receptions, 304 receiving yards, and 5 receiving touchdowns

2021 (8 games played): 386 rushing yards, 5 rushing touchdowns, 22 receptions, and 174 receiving yards

Hunt is under contract with the Browns until the 2022 off-season and then it’s unclear where his next chapter will lie. On the horizon, Hunt should be a modest RB2 in PPR, but I don’t love his up-side on the Browns new-look team next season. Outside of him being the second option at RB for the Browns, I don’t expect the Browns to be a Top 8 team in rushing attempts for the third straight season.

The Texans ranked 31st in passing attempts in 2020 and I expect the Brown to lean on Watson and Amari Cooper to break down opposing defenses. Hunt, who had roughly 3 receptions per contest in 2021, should slightly benefit from the absence of Jarvis Landry and be involved in the Browns creative passing attack. I still wouldn’t feel comfortable that Hunt will be a 700+ yard RB and he shouldn’t be a legit threat in the passing game for the Browns.

Hunt could be a sneaky Top 15 RB in PPR on a new team in 2023 and beyond. He might be 27 before Week 1 next season, but he has less wear on his tires in comparison to fellow RBs from his draft class. I expect him to leave the Browns and return to being a starting RB on a team like Buffalo or Tampa Bay after his Browns tenure. I expect Hunt to have a dip in performance from his 2020 outcome and then I honestly foresee him to be at least a Top-20 RB in PPR in a better situation for 2-3 more seasons after his Browns journey.

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By Calvin K (Twitter: @Calvin_SGF)

The Cleveland Browns have a backfield well-suited to the NFL, with a between-the-tackles power runner in Nick Chubb and an elusive change-of-pace pass-catcher in Kareem Hunt. While Hunt is technically the backup, he could probably start for the majority of NFL teams, and he consistently is efficient and effective even in his efficient role. Same with Chubb, who is one of the toughest and most consistent runners in the game. However, the fact that both take work away from each other can put a slight cap on their respective fantasy values, although the Browns’ run-heavy offense can offset much of that. In this article, I’ll unpack Chubb and Hunt’s value before arriving at the final verdict.

Nick Chubb’s Outlook

After three straight years of top-10 finishes (excluding Week 18 in 2021 and Week 17 in 2020-2019), Chubb has established himself as one of the top fantasy RBs, and it’s honestly fair to say that Hunt doesn’t have a major negative effect on his fantasy value. Sure, his PPR value is diminished by low reception totals, but Chubb isn’t an amazing pass-catcher anyway, and if he were out on the field for 100% of snaps, his efficiency would drastically diminish. Speculation consistently abounds regarding Chubb’s potential without Hunt, but it’s very possible that the narrative of “Hunt limits Chubb” is overplayed.

With that being said, Chubb has now seen three straight years with a heavy workload and a couple of injuries, and at 26, he’s not too far off from the universally feared age 27 season that marks the end for many RBs. Chubb hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down yet, so that narrative can also be taken with a grain of salt somewhat, but it’s something to keep an eye on as he continues to maintain a heavy workload on the ground. Overall, Chubb can still be considered a borderline top-10 RB in dynasty. I’d certainly rank a younger back with immense upsides, such as Javonte Williams, ahead of him, but Chubb will still be consistently elite in the short-term, making him a solid trade target for a win-now team.

Kareem Hunt’s Outlook

Kareem Hunt’s outlook is murkier because recently, there’s been speculation that he could get traded from the Browns. Among the possibilities mentioned have been a reunion with Kansas City, as well as Houston as part of a Deshaun Watson package. None of these rumors have any actual traction behind them at this point, but they are two of a number of possibilities for Hunt’s future.

Right now, Hunt is a solid RB3 with his main upside coming in the potential for a trade. Hunt is certainly talented enough to be an NFL starter, and we shouldn’t let his primary usage as a pass-catcher make us forget about his ability on the ground as well. If he gets moved to a spot where he’s the clear starter, Hunt immediately jumps to solid RB2 status, with potential for more if he gets enough of a workload. If he stays in Cleveland, there’s no point in pursuing him in dynasty given his limited upside, but for a team looking to take a risk, he’s an okay trade target at the right price, given that a trade seems somewhat unlikely at this point.

Final Verdict

Overall, Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt’s fantasy values for next year likely will play out similarly to how they have in the past. Chubb will be a back-end RB1 with a high rushing total, and Hunt will be a semi-consistent PPR option that catches a lot of passes. A trade could certainly change this outlook, but as of now, there don’t seem to be rumblings of trade, at least in NFL circles. Thus, Chubb is probably the better trade target in the dynasty at this point, given that many managers may be looking to trade him at the right price given his current spot in a timeshare. Hunt has limited upside at this point, so he’s a good hold for consistency if you currently roster him, but he’s not someone that dynasty managers should look to trade for.

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