Things are really rough right now for the Cleveland Browns, as the team is entering Week 11 with a 2-7 record. With many fans already focused on the team’s draft position , the only thing left to look forward to this season is the debut of rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders. However, head coach Kevin Stefanski remains committed to rookie Dillon Gabriel, despite the entire football world saying it’s time to move on.
The Browns would like for Gabriel, who has already started five games, to remain in the lineup, and hopefully improve. Unfortunately, Stefanski’s patience with Gabriel is hurting the team, and is negatively affecting one of Cleveland’s most talented young players . That player is Quinshon Judkins, whose promising rookie season is quickly unraveling with Gabriel under center.
Quinshon Judkins among 45 RBs:
Weeks 1-5
4.8 yards/carry (15th)
4.15 yards after contact/carry (4th)
8.3% explosive rate (13th)
44.6% success rate (25th)
Weeks 6-10
3.1 yards/carry (42nd)
2.75 yards after contact/carry (27th)
Ian Hartitz, of Fantasy Life, recently broke down Judkins’ numbers in his first four games, and his last four games. The biggest takeaway is that Judkins was playing much better during the beginning of the season; he was posting numbers that had him near the most productive backs in the league, but now his numbers are grouped with the least productive.
Naturally, everyone who saw the breakdown of Judkins’ season pointed to Dillon Gabriel being inserted into the starting lineup. In Gabriel’s defense, though, the rookie running back’s best game did come in Gabriel’s starting debut. Judkins rushed for 110 yards in Week 5 against the Minnesota Vikings, but since then, it has been much more of a struggle to gain yards.
The reason why is simple: teams don’t fear or respect Cleveland’s passing game. Defenses are able to sell out to stop the Browns’ rushing attack, without fear they will be picked a apart through the air. Additionally, Cleveland’s run blocking isn’t good enough right now to consistently thrive against loaded boxes. That would explain why Judkins is averaging just 3.1 yards per carry in his last four games, which is an entire 1.7 yards less than what he averaged in his first four outings.
This decline in production from a clearly talented running back is just the latest example of why the Browns need to see if Shedeur Sanders can shake things up. If Sanders can at least give defenses something to think about, or complete a few passes to make defenders back up from the line of scrimmage some, Quinshon Judkins and the Cleveland run game could get back rolling.
It’s easy to forget, given that TreVeyon Henderson finally had his breakout game with touchdown runs of 55 and 69 yards on Sunday for the
But it wasn’t Henderson who was given the first carry of that Week 10 contest by the Pats.
No, the first run went to Terrell Jennings.
Part of Henderson’s breakthrough came in the second half after Jennings had gotten injured. That’s not to say it wouldn’t have happened. But it’s worth noting.
It’s a quick turnaround for the Patriots now, taking on the
Jennings is dinged up, and that could end up mattering for Henderson’s night.
Jennings is officially questionable for Thursday night.
He got in a couple of limited practices this week while dealing with a knee injury.
If Jennings plays, it limits Henderson’s upside a bit. The rookie got 14 carries two weeks ago with Jennings also out there, so he’s likely looking at a similar number even in something resembling a timeshare. But the Pats will have that alternative.
If Jennings is out, it probably leaves D’Ernest Johnson (or another practice squad promotion) as Henderson’s backup, and New England doesn’t seem as inclined to give him touches. In that scenario, Henderson probably gets 20 or more touches against an overmatched Jets team.
Inactives come out about 6:50 p.m. ET.
For fantasy players, Henderson is worth starting either way. He’s a much safer play if Jennings is out, though.