Jerome Ford, RB, Cleveland Browns

Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Ford won’t be a reliable weekly option this season, and he’ll be even less viable if and when Nick Chubb returns to the lineup. However, he should get a heavy workload against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 1.

The Browns have serious questions at offensive tackle and Dallas’ pass rush remains dangerous. Cleveland should try to counter that with a lot of running against a defense that ranked 15th in yards allowed per carry last season.

D’Onta Foreman is a threat to steal work in the red zone, so Ford is a mid-range flex option at best. But his PPR floor (44 receptions in 2023) is high enough to warrant a start in deeper leagues.

Dontayvion Wicks, WR, Green Bay Packers

How quickly will the Philadelphia Eagles’ new secondary be ready in 2024? That’s the big question Green Bay Packers pass-catching executives will have to ask themselves this week.

The reality is, we don’t know. Philly’s defense should be better than it was a year ago (31st in passing yards allowed), thanks to an influx of DBs and the addition of defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. However, the Eagles didn’t play any of their starters at all in preseason, so there could be some growing pains.

It’s worth taking a chance on Packers wideout Dontayvion Wicks in deeper leagues this week. The Virginia product emerged as a potent receiving threat as a rookie (581 yards, 4 TDs), and there’s a decent chance he develops into one of Jordan Love’s go-to targets in 2024.

This week the Eagles will likely focus on slowing down Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed and Luke Musgrave, giving Wicks more opportunities.