5 bold predictions for the Cleveland Browns in 2018

4. Nick Chubb will outrun Carlos Hyde

Isaiah Crowell’s decision to leave Cleveland for New York leaves a lot of available carries in the Browns’ offense. Cleveland signed Carlos Hyde in free agency to be their starting running back, but they doubled down by adding Nick Chubb in the second round of the draft.

Expect Hyde to get most of the carries out of the gate. He was a productive player during the first four seasons of his career in San Francisco. He rushed for over 900 yards in each of the last two seasons for the 49ers offense.

Still, the fact that his yards per carry average slipped from 4.6 to 3.9 in the last season makes you wonder if he has what it takes to be the team’s starter. His efficiency might bounce back, but that’s not a certainty. When he slips, look for Chubb to literally take the ball and run with it.

His physical style of running the ball is exactly what Jackson looks for in a ball carrier. Chubb is the sort of back who craves contact. That might not help him establish a lengthy NFL career, but it’s going to ease his short-term transition to the pros. Don’t expect either back to post massive stats, but Chubb will grind out more yards than Hyde. He’s the future of the Browns’ backfield.