Browns RB Quinshon Judkins returned from his one-week absence for an ankle sprain to hit up the Titans for 96 yards and 2 TDs on 17 carries in Sunday's victory. Judkins added 8 yards by catching his only target. RB Dylan Sampson joined him in returning logging 6 carries for 45 yards and 3 catches for 32 more on 3 targets.
What They're Saying
The Athletic's Zac Jackson: "Judkins looked healthy and confident. Those are two important things -- and two things that hadn't been part of the story for much of the season. But Judkins returned after missing last week and looked explosive ... The Browns have survived without getting much from their conventional ground game. But going forward, they'll need the version of Judkins they got Sunday."
Here's Why They Probably Won't Get That
To be fair, Cleveland might very well get a "healthy and confident" Judkins the rest of the way. They just shouldn't expect him to keep averaging 5.6 yards per carry.
Judkins entered Sunday averaging just 3.0 yards per rush for the season. The Tennessee game marked the first time he reached 4.0 yards per carry in a contest since Week 13 of last year, his first time over that rate since Week 5 of last year, and just his third time at 5.0 or higher since entering the league in 2025.
Cleveland collectively ranks 23rd in the league in expected points added per rush this season and 26th in rushing success rate.
Judkins ranks 28th among 47 qualifiers in rush yards over expected per attempt (minus-0.18). That route's down from last year (0.2) despite Judkins' yards before contact per carry rising from 1.4 last season to 2.3 this year, according to Pro Football Reference.
Combine that with an offense ranked just 24th in total yards and 28th in scoring, and it's tough to get excited.
The Browns get negative RB-scoring matchups with the Steelers and Texans within the next three weeks, sandwiching a high-upside visit to New Orleans (second-friendliest in adjusted fantasy points allowed to RBs).
