Vegas Expects D'Ernest Johnson to Lead All Runnings Backs for Browns vs. Broncos

The Cleveland Browns have been hit by the injury bug hard in Week 7, making their matchup with pesky Denver Broncos on Thursday Night Football that much more difficult.

Already without running backs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, Cleveland will also be down starting quarterback Baker Mayfield, linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and fullback Andy Janovich. Players listed as questionable to play on Thursday Night Football, and could sit out, are wide receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry, tackle Jack Conklin, center JC Tretter, tackle Jedrick Wills, and defensive linemen Malik Jackson and Jadeveon Clowney.

That’s ridiculous.

Vegas expects the Browns’ backfield to heavily showcase D’Ernest Johnson tonight, as WynnBET Sportsbook has Johnson’s value as an anytime touchdown scorer listed at -125; the shortest odds on the book. Even shorter odds than Melvin Gordon (+140) and Javonte Williams (+160) of the Broncos’ backfield.

That is high praise for a man who has never scored a touchdown in the NFL regular season.

Last season, Johnson rushed 33 times for 166 yards, which is a solid five yards per carry. He flashed some potential in the Week 4 contest against the Dallas Cowboys last year, taking 13 carries for 95 yards on the ground.

Johnson could see some competition in the backfield from rookie running back Demetric Felton out of UCLA. Felton has appeared to be a capable receiving back in his small sample of playing time, catching eight of nine targets this season for 90 yards and a touchdown. Felton has yet to get a rush in the regular season, but did have 12 carries for 40 yards in the preseason slate.

Felton is +120 on WynnBET Sportsbook as an anytime touchdown scorer.

While Johnson is the favorite to lead this backfield, I would expect head coach Kevin Stefanski to continue running his backfield as he has been; with separate roles for two different backs. Instead of Chubb and Hunt, it will be Johnson and Felton.