Fantasy Football: Kareem Hunt, Marvin Hall, Nick Chubb please stand up

After some recent Cleveland Browns COVID-19 news, there were some big changes for Sunday’s fantasy football main slate.

This has been a hell of a year for everyone across the country. Frankly, I am a bit amazed that the NFL has managed to complete every scheduled game of the season, even if some postponements were required. Fantasy Football players know it has been a bit hectic year during weeks where these postponements and schedule changes were necessary.

In fact, the NFL has received some scrutiny for the way things have been handled because there has not been much consistency with their decisions. I think the flexibility that the league has shown in 2020 is commendable.

We’ve obviously never dealt with a pandemic since the inception of the NFL, so really, everyone is rolling with the punches. Safety has to be the number one priority, and that goes without saying.

Saturday evening, news broke via an Adam Schefter tweet that all but one Browns wide receiver would miss Sunday’s game against the New York Jets.

The Browns also posted the following statement on Twitter:

Earlier this year, the Denver Broncos played with no quarterbacks. The Baltimore Ravens played without their running backs. The Detroit Lions played without their coaching staff. Now the Browns will play without almost all of their wide receivers.

Marvin Hall has a great opportunity this Sunday and is worth a look for daily fantasy football players.

“He’s made some big plays for us, but there’s a lot that goes into it, in terms of roster spots, and more than just play on the field, I think he came in, and you kinda saw what he was able to do. He made some big plays for us.” – Lions interim Head Coach Darrell Bevell

If you’re a Detroit Lions fan reading this, you know the name: Marvin Hall. He spent a good portion of 2020 with the Lions and is now their senior wideout in Cleveland without ever playing a snap there.

Hall did not get much of a chance in Detroit, and the Lions unsuspectedly released him a few weeks ago.

After the news mentioned above, Hall is now the only active wide receiver the Browns currently have according to Tom Pelissero. (via a PFF Tweet)

This will be a great chance to show everyone what he’s got! The Jets defense is not particularly good, and Baker Mayfield should be able to get him the ball.

I’m not saying to start him in your fantasy football championships, but on DraftKings, he has the minimum price of $3,000. Definitely worth a play or two in daily fantasy football.

What does this mean for Mayfield, Nick Chubb, and Kareem Hunt?

To me, this situation is a downgrade for Mayfield. He’s lost all of his normal targets, including Jarvis Landry. The matchup is still great, and this may be where Kareem Hunt comes in.

Hunt traditionally plays the role of the third-down back for the Browns at this point, but I wouldn’t be surprised if we see him lining up at wide receiver throughout the game too. For Hunt, I think his stock on DraftKings and in DFS just went up. He’s priced at $5,700 and is going to get the football.

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I’m sure even before this situation unfolded, Cleveland had plans to get Nick Chubb the ball.

His workload may be even bigger now, though. Chubb is the second-highest priced running back on DraftKings in Week 16.

Technically, Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey is still not going to play, making Chubb the number one option by default.

In my opinion, many DFS players are going to lean to the guy directly under him in pricing, David Montgomery.

DraftKings pricing

1. Christian McCaffrey (D) – $9,200
2. Nick Chubb – $7,800
3. David Montgomery – $7,700
4. Austin Ekeler – $7,600

Montgomery has been on a tremendous run with the Chicago Bears, scoring 28.3, 27.1, 27.5, and 32.2 over the last four weeks.

As mentioned in my main-slate DFS article this week, Montgomery is facing the Jacksonville Jaguars. His run is likely to continue, and he is a good play.

However, with all of this news, I’m tilting to Chubb and Hunt as a slight contrarian play in tournaments. Chubb has not seen the success that Montgomery has, but the opportunity to join that level is certainly here this week. The Browns will hand him the football, and the Jets are likely not going to stop him.

I’m starting Chubb, Hunt, and tight end Austin Hooper, in DraftKings tournaments.

Good luck on the rest of the championship weekend, and Happy Holidays to everyone. Please leave your thoughts on the situation in the comments below!