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The Fantasy Football Impact Of Kareem Hunt’s Trade Demand

NFL DFS DraftKings FanDUel picks lineup optimizer today tonight Week 14 daily fantasy NFL player props picks best bets betting odds lines predictions parlays free expert advice tips strategy Kareem Hunt

TAMPA, FL - AUGUST 23: Cleveland Browns running back Kareem Hunt (27) enters the field prior to the first half of an NFL preseason game between the Cleveland Browns and the Tampa Bay Bucs on August 23, 2019, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL. (Photo by Roy K. Miller/Icon Sportswire)

Will the Cleveland Browns be without Kareem Hunt for the upcoming season?

Last week, it was revealed that Hunt has asked to be moved from the Browns after he was unable to reach a contract extension in the offseason.

Unfortunately, Kareem Hunt’s timing on his decision is likely causing issues for the Browns, who have undoubtedly been operating under the assumption that they’ll have both Hunt and Nick Chubb at their disposal. But it’s also causing issues for another demographic: fantasy football players.

With fantasy drafts beginning to take place all over the country, players are suddenly wondering how the situation in Cleveland will affect both Hunt and Chubb.

Per ESPN’s fantasy rankings, Chubb is currently the #13 ranked RB, with Hunt checking in at #31.

Check out the full rankings for a normal PPR league below:

Rank, Player Karabell Yates Cockcroft Clay Moody AVG
1 1 1 1 1 1.0
6 2 2 2 2 2.8
3. Austin Ekeler, LAC
2 3 3 3 3 2.8
4. Derrick Henry, Ten
3 4 4 4 6 4.2
5. Najee Harris, PitQ
5 5 6 5 4 5.0
6. Dalvin Cook, Min
4 6 5 6 5 5.2
7. Joe Mixon, Cin
7 8 8 7 9 7.8
10 9 10 8 8 9.0
9. Alvin Kamara, NO
8 7 11 10 11 9.4
13 10 7 9 12 10.2
9 12 9 11 13 10.8
12. Aaron Jones, GB
12 11 12 13 7 11.0
13. Nick Chubb, Cle
11 13 13 17 15 13.8
14. James Conner, Ari
15 15 18 12 14 14.8
15. Cam Akers, LAR
16 14 16 14 18 15.6
17 16 14 16 17 16.0
17. Saquon Barkley, NYG
18 20 17 15 10 16.0
18. Ezekiel Elliott, Dal
14 17 20 20 21 18.4
19. Antonio Gibson, Wsh
19 21 15 22 20 19.4
20. Josh Jacobs, LV
20 18 21 21 22 20.4
21. Breece Hall, NYJ
22 23 23 19 16 20.6
22. J.K. Dobbins, BalQ
25 22 19 18 23 21.4
21 19 24 25 19 21.6
23 24 22 23 26 23.6
25. Miles Sanders, Phi
28 25 27 24 27 26.2
24 29 29 29 25 27.2
27. AJ Dillon, GB
32 27 25 32 24 28.0
28. Damien Harris, NE
29 28 26 30 28 28.2
26 31 30 27 35 29.8
35 26 33 26 30 30.0
31. Kareem Hunt, Cle
27 32 32 28 31 30.0
32. Chase Edmonds, Mia
31 30 28 35 33 31.4
33. Tony Pollard, Dal
38 33 34 31 29 33.0
34. Rashaad Penny, Sea
34 36 31 36 34 34.2
30 34 36 40 37 35.4
39 39 37 37 32 36.8
40 37 38 33 36 36.8
38. Michael Carter, NYJ
37 35 35 38 41 37.2
39. James Robinson, JaxQ
33 40 44 34 45 39.2
40. James Cook, Buf
41 43 41 39 38 40.4
41. Ronald Jones, KC
36 41 39 46 44 41.2
42. J.D. McKissic, Wsh
43 38 42 42 47 42.4
43. Nyheim Hines, Ind
42 45 46 41 39 42.6
44. Raheem Mostert, Mia
45 42 43 43 NR 44.8
50 NR 40 48 43 46.4
46. Isaiah Spiller, LAC
46 NR NR 47 40 47.0
47. Dameon Pierce, Hou
47 NR NR 45 42 47.2
48. Marlon Mack, Hou
48 44 NR 44 NR 47.6
NR 46 45 50 48 48.0
50. Jamaal Williams, Det

Kareem Hunt’s Fantasy Football Outlook

Unfortunately for Kareem Hunt, he isn’t the same guy as he was in his Kansas City days anymore.

In 2017-2018 with the Chiefs, Hunt logged 19 explosive runs (10 or more yards). Over the past two seasons with the Browns, he has just 5 of those types of runs. Even though he’s played more snaps, it’s important to note that Chubb has 35 explosive runs during that same time period.

Last year, Hunt was hurt for nine games of the season. In the two years prior, his yards per carry dropped to 4.2 after being up near 5 for most of his tenure in Kansas City.

In the end, the Browns seemed to be fully prepared to move off of Kareem Hunt after this season, and it’s hard to see him becoming the impact fantasy football player he once ever again.

If Hunt truly decides to sit out regular season games (or gets traded), perhaps Nick Chubb becomes a more clear back-end option in the first round of fantasy football drafts.


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