Fantasy Football 2019: Kareem Hunt Lands in Cleveland

If Kareem Hunt plays for the Browns in 2019, what is the fantasy football effect of the move?

The Cleveland Browns are already making moves in preparation for the 2019 football season. In a shocking move, the team announced they signed running back Kareem Hunt to a one-year deal. Despite what you think about him personally (this is not the post to debate that), he can still be an effective running back. If he is eligible to play in 2019, what kind of fantasy football impact will he have?

Hunt led the NFL in rushing in 2017 with 1,327 yards and eight touchdowns in his rookie season. He was on a nice pace last season before he was released by the Kansas City Chiefs. In 11 games, he amassed 824 yards and seven touchdowns. He also caught 26 passes for 378 yards and another seven touchdowns.

The Chiefs didn’t break as they had Spencer Ware and Damien Williams take over running back duties. They will likely be back splitting time this season.

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Many thought Hunt would sign with a team this offseason. He’s only 23 years old with a high ceiling. The League is forgiving like that, but it usually takes players a bit longer to find a home.

Mike Vick revitalized his career with the Philadelphia Eagles after missing two full years.

Adrian Peterson posted a 1,000-yard season with the Washington Redskins last season.

The only thing people didn’t think was that he would play for the Browns. They already have a dangerous one-two punch in Nick Chubb and Duke Johnson. Hunt just devalues all three players.

Chubb recorded 998 rushing yards with eight touchdowns and another 149 receiving yards and two touchdowns in his first season. Johnson is the change-of-pace back and the better pass-catching option. He caught 47 passes for 429 yards and three touchdowns.

While the Browns do lack at wide receiver, Jarvis Landry led the team with 81 receptions and 976 yards, the running backs were able to carry the offense. I don’t believe adding Hunt improves the offense as much as he would have for other teams. Maybe the Browns do what they did last year with Carlos Hyde and trade one of them to a team that needs help.

In order for all of this to take place, Hunt would have to be removed from the commissioner’s exempt list. That happens when the NFL completes its investigation into the incidents and a decision on potential discipline is made.

Browns’ general manager John Dorsey, who drafted Hunt in 2017, said “he expects the NFL’s investigation to wrap up in a couple of weeks and he hopes Hunt is present April 1 for the start of offseason workouts,” according to ESPN.

That is an optimistic outlook from the Browns front office. We haven’t heard anything from the NFL since Hunt was placed on the exempt list.

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There are teams that make the running back by committee work. Look at the Patriots but this is all speculation. News of his signing was just announced and we are all reacting to it. From a fantasy football perspective, I don’t like Hunt going to Cleveland. It hurts Chubb and Johnson as well. Chubb falls to RB18, though it’s early.

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