The Athletic’s Zac Jackson believes that Jerome Ford is “the starter for now” and will “still play and probably start early in the season.”

11 July 2025

“How many opportunities — and how soon they come — will probably be decided by how Judkins plays and progresses this summer,” writes Jackson in discerning that rookie back Quinshon Judkins is the player to watch for the Browns in training camp. It shouldn’t surprise anybody, given his offseason pay cut, that Ford is on borrowed time, but this report is at least a little optimistic about him holding some fantasy value in 2025. If Ford can start for a month or so then hang on as the team’s main third-down back, he’ll have some runouts where he’s a worthwhile RB3 this year.