The Browns have struggled to find playing time for all three members of their crowded backfield recently, and Ben Tate was open about his unhappiness with his role. The team took care of that problem by waiving him Tuesday, which should open things up in Cleveland at least a little more.
Isaiah Crowell got the start in the team's most recent game against the Texans in Week 11, rushing for 61 yards on 14 carries, while Tate got just two carries and Terrance West received just five. Additionally, Crowell received 66 percent of the snaps Sunday, while West actually had a smaller role than Tate, seeing the field on just 10 percent of the team's plays. However, West is also just two weeks removed from getting his own start and rushing for 94 yards on a team-high 26 carries, so it's hard to say where the team will go from here.
Crowell has been the best back in Cleveland on a per-carry basis, leading the team in yards per carry, first downs and rushes of longer than 20 yards. Of course, he is also the only Browns back to put the ball on the turf so far, with three fumbles in 78 carries. Coaches can be fickle about running backs with fumble histories, which makes Crowell somewhat risky, even if he looks like the best back of the two right now.
In the short term, Crowell looks like the back to own in Cleveland if you can only have one. However, West should still get plenty of carries down the stretch, and has plenty of Fantasy value of his own.