Dynasty Detour 🚧

I hope you’re all ready to get your shit ROCKED by some absolutely electric facts, figures, and opinions. Our nonexistent lawyers have demanded we begin this issue by informing you that if you develop romantic feelings for Quinshon Judkins after reading our last segment we are not liable for any of the ways you act on them. Let’s hit the Detour ➡️

-- @dynastydetourryan

Traffic Report 📝

J.K. Dobbins hits the highway — and drives right into RJ Harvey’s lane.

This felt inevitable after Dobbins' recent visit with Denver, and now it’s official: the former Chargers & Ravens back signs a one-year deal, immediately clogging up what was shaping up to be a promising opportunity for R.J. Harvey. Who’s impacted the most?

📉 RJ Harvey

• Went from no competition to losing a portion of early down work to Dobbins

• Still expected to lead the backfield in touches

• As a 24 year old rookie — there’s already some mileage on this tank — every season counts, and this one just hit a speed bump

📉 Jaleel McLaughlin / Audric Estime

• If you don’t recognize these names… keep scrolling

• Expect only one of these guys to make the roster

• The “winner” probably maxes out at 5 touches per game

   

According to ESPN’s Jeff Legwold, Harvey is now expected to play a “situational role” — a far cry from the post-draft buzz that saw Audric Estime as his biggest threat. However, it’s not all doom & gloom for Harvey:

Head coach Sean Payton has a long track record of using two-back systems, typically pairing a power runner with a pass-catching specialist. Think: Mark Ingram & Alvin Kamara, or Pierre Thomas & Reggie Bush. In 2017, Payton’s Saints saw Kamara finish as the RB3 & Ingram as the RB6. We should temper our expectations from that prolific season — but it is not impossible to see 2 backs succeed in a Payton offense.

Historically, Payton’s lead back averages 12–15 carries per game, while the pass-catching complement earns 8–12 touches, including receptions. Dobbins projects into that early-down grinder mold. Harvey? He’s the new Sproles/Kamara type. Considering the capital invested in each of them — I expect to see Harvey reaching the 15 touch mark, with Dobbins stealing some early down work and landing around 8-10 touches.

🧠 Dynasty Translation:
Dobbins did not get a big contract — but he’s talented enough to be involved in this Broncos rushing attack. With Audric Estime and Jaleel McLaughlin as the only competition, Harvey seemed like he had full control of this backfield. Now? I’m not so sure.

If you didn’t have Kaleb Johnson ahead of RJ Harvey in your rookie RB rankings — it’s now time to make the switch. But let’s not get crazy. Dobbins is injury prone and only signed through one year. Sean Payton has made it clear he wanted this guy and has a history of getting the most out of his receiving backs 👀 . Harvey remains the #13 player on my rookie big board — sandwiched between Kaleb Johnson & Matthew Golden.

-- @dynastydetourtom

Curbside Pickup 🛣️

Deep waiver wire sleepers worth a pit stop.

Dont’e Thornton Jr. ⚫️⚪️

Rostered in 58% of Sleeper Leagues

• Rookie WR, 6th pick of the 4th round to the Raiders

• Steady drumbeat of hype throughout OTAs and Minicamp

• Regularly working with starters, displaying consistent connection with QB Geno Smith

• Athletic freak: 6’5 w/ 4.30 40

Jalin Hyatt 🗽🏙️

Rostered in 39% of Sleeper Leagues

• 3rd year WR, 2023 10th pick of the 3rd round to the Giants

• Won the 2022 Biletnikoff for best college WR, among great company. Former winners: 

  • 2024: Travis Hunter

  • 2023: Marvin Harrison Jr.

  • 2022: Jalin Hyatt

  • 2021: Jordan Addison

  • 2020: Devonta Smith

  • 2019: Ja’Marr Chase

• Reportedly put on 15-20 pounds of muscle in offseason

• Arguably the best camp connection with starting QB Russell Wilson, “Jalin Hyatt, he’s a guy I really believe in”

Efton Chism III 🔵🔴

Rostered in 32% of Sleeper Leagues

• Rookie WR, UFDA to the Patriots

• Maye: “Chis had like 50 catches in OTAs.” Vrabel: “I think he’s a talented player…it doesn’t take you long to figure out who the quarterback trusts”

• Tons of opportunity in receiver room

• Caucasian WR on Pats = potential magic?  He also balled out at the same school as Cooper Kupp

Verdict: I’m prioritizing adding Thornton Jr. with Hyatt as backup. Thornton Jr. has a real chance of being a starter in a WR room with tons of opportunity. Hyatt may finally break out with a QB that believes in him and isn’t afraid to sling it downfield. Chism is worth a shout in very deep leagues.

 -- @dynastydetourjesse

Two Tweets and A Lie 📱

Discerning the meaningful tweets from the smoke and mirrors 💨 

The Shohei Ohtani of the NFL gets some reps on the ‘unimportant for our purposes’ side of the ball…

Sincere McCormick stealing touches from Jeanty? Wouldn’t be the first time Carroll put the ball in the wrong person’s hands…

Trey ‘Self Proclaimed RB1’ Benson takes the podium…

Let’s Judge 👨‍⚖️

🟢 Travis Hunter - 80% Offense / 20% Defense

• As expected — Hunter seems to be a WR Major, CB Minor to kick things off with the Jaguars. Similar to his wife, Hunter enjoys getting action any & everywhere. Don’t fret. 80% of the offensive snaps is more than enough time for Hunter to impose his will.

❌ Sincerely, Not Mccormick stealing snaps from Jeanty

• There’s a reason you shouldn’t sing an intern’s praises on the first day. You’ve got to give them something to work towards. That’s exactly what Carroll is doing as this will be far from a committee. Don’t believe me? In 8 of Carroll’s 14 Head Coaching seasons, his RB1 has more than twice the carries of his RB2. Sincerely, Not Mccormick.

🟢 Trey Benson redemption? I’ll bite

• After a disappointing rookie season - I’m willing to buy-low on some Trey Benson shares. Arizona not adding any RBs in a historically good class, signals to me that they believe in Benson. Conner is only getting older and is not a lock to stay healthy - leaving the door open for Benson to carve out a real role. If a league member is willing to ship off Benson for a future 3rd… I’ll be there.

-- @dynastydetourtom

Parking Spot Prospect 🚘

Quinshonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

A stud all three years of college, Judkins enters the NFL off a national championship season in a shared backfield alongside fellow early second round pick TreVeyon Henderson. The Browns had their pick of the two at the 36th overall pick, but went the way of the stronger Judkins over the swifter Henderson. Let’s see what they saw in the kid:

• Measurables: 6’0” 221 lbs with a 4.48 40 yard dash, 1.51 10 yard split, 38.5” vertical, and 11 foot broad jump

  • Judkins’ testing earned him a Relative Athletic Score of 9.9/10 (1st amongst RBs, T-12th in the whole draft class, 23rd amongst RBs since 1987)

• Three straight seasons of: 194+ carries, 1,000+ rush yards, and 16+ total TDs, not to mention 15+ receptions and 130+ receiving yards (two at Ole Miss, one at Ohio State)

Sounds great, any concerns?

• Judkins’ size and power make him more of a tackle breaker than an ankle breaker. Though he has been able to run through tacklers and falling forward, this could work less often against bigger, stronger defenders.

• Judkins’ speed and burst at his size are elite, but in game he is not completely consistent with demonstrating long breakaway speed. His top game speed of 21.4 mph on a breakaway run last year can hang with the best of ‘em, but it’s not his best skill.

Cleveland opted to part ways with franchise cornerstone Nick Chubb this offseason. Here’s how the new-look RB room shakes out around Judkins:

• Dylan Sampson: One of Cleveland’s multiple surprising selections in this draft, Sampson was selected towards the back of the 4th round. He’s a smaller NFL running back (5’8” 200 lbs) and failed to demonstrate much speed or athleticism in his combine performance (4.51 40 yard dash, 35” vert. 10’4” broad jump). That didn’t stop him from having quite the season last year, as he comes off his only season as the lead back for Tennessee, where he exploded for almost 1,500 yards on the ground and 22 total TDs in 13 games. He demonstrated decent receiving ability (20 rec, 278 yards) and excelled particularly in quickly getting to top speed and reading his blocks, while also demonstrating natural hands in the receiving opportunities he did see.

• Jerome Ford: Entering year four as a pro after being selected in the 6th round in 2022, Ford signed a 1 year, $1.75M dollar deal to stay in Cleveland amidst the shake up of this backfield. He’s been the team’s top rusher the last two seasons, only really demonstrating fantasy relevance with Chubb absent (12.9 ppg in games Chubb missed/left early, 4.3 ppg in games Chubb played all of in the last two seasons). He did not score a single touchdown in any game Nick Chubb finished. He was a serviceable first option on rushing and receiving downs in Chubb’s absence, and saw almost 50% of his points the last two years on receiving work.

🧩 The Fit: Many had assumed the draft capital spent on Judkins two rounds earlier had rounded out the top of the running back room, having resigned Ford as well, but the Browns clearly saw something in Sampson that they felt warranted the selection. As the most athletic and talented back, as well as the most natural rusher between the tackles, Judkins is a virtual lock for early down and goal line work. He’ll likely split 3rd down and receiving work with whoever wins the honors between Sampson and Ford.

A change at offensive coordinator, quarterback, and along the offensive line figures to change the look of this Browns offense big time, but how?

• Philosophy: The Browns threw the ball the most of any team last year in their one year with pass fanatic Ken Dorsey at OC. In Kevin Stefanski’s first three season’s as head coach and playcaller, the Browns never once entered the top 20 in pass attempts. He now has recouped the playcalling duties he ceded to Dorsey in the middle of last season and is going to get back to his old ways.

• Personnel: The Browns traded their top wide receiver in Amari Cooper halfway through last season and let their second best receiver on the year Elijah Moore walk for only a 1 year, $2.5M deal to Buffalo, leaving 235 targets vacated. Rather than invest at the position, they instead drafted 2 running backs and re-signed another. It’s clear where the priority lies.

• Protection: After struggling with injuries across the offensive line and turning in the fifth-worst run block success rate, the Browns line projects to be an average unit if healthy, especially with new addition Dawand Jones getting an opportunity to improve the weak spot of the line and replace Jedrick Wills Jr. Things look okay up front.

🗺️ The Course: The way things look, Judkins will have a controlling share of the backfield on a run heavy, decently blocked offense. Wide receivers Jerry Jeudy and Cedric Tillman certainly possess enough of a threat to keep defenses honest, and none of the potential starting quarterbacks threaten to take much of the rushing work. It’s a real solid gig.

2025: A pro-ready prospect at a position that tends to not have much of a learning curve, Judkins appears primed and ready to inherit the lauded Nick Chubb mantle in Cleveland. Though he may not exactly be a bellcow back, he is the clear favorite to lead the team’s rushing attack and will contribute in the receiving game. The offense will not exactly be high scoring, but will resemble a slightly lesser version of Stefanski’s first year with the Browns in 2020. Despite having Kareem Hunt mixed in the running game and taking much of the receiving duties, Nick Chubb finished the year the RB11 on only 13 games played. It may be a little early to expect Judkins to replicate one of the best backs in recent memory, but I have no issue in expecting a top 15 finish this year, and could see a ceiling just outside the top 5.

Beyond: Historically, betting on the Browns to improve is the equivalent of setting money on fire, but with insecurity at QB and only a few particularly talented players on the offense, it’s hard to imagine things ever look worse. Judkins’ 2025 expectations project to be his expectations for the lifespan of his time in Cleveland. His perpetual attachment to Dylan Sampson throughout this time will put a cap on his receiving work, making it hard to foresee a top 5 finish, but we are looking at a perennial top 5-15 fantasy running back. Even if Sampson were not to be able to hack it in the pro’s, it seems clear the Browns value having someone to bear some of the load going forward. Judkins should rock it at the next level for the foreseeable future, and is a welcome addition to any team I own.

📝 FINAL GRADE: Dynasty RB8-11 and a top 6 pick in rookie drafts this year… Yes, over Cam Ward.

-- @dynastydetourryan

Thanks for sticking it out this far, especially through the Judkins glaze. Trust us, though, kid’s going to kill it. Stay tuned for another Preseason Pulse newsletter this time next week, and be sure to follow us @dynastydetour on Instagram and X/Twitter to get our reactions and opinions in between issues, as well as email us with any questions at [email protected]. See you out on the road 🚘️.