Browns' Dylan Sampson: Week 9 Waiver Priority List
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Kevin Stefanski said Monday that Quinshon Judkins (shoulder) is day-to-day after getting hurt in Week 8 at New England, and the Browns have a bye in Week 9. But we'll keep an eye on what happens with Judkins, and if he's out for Week 10 at the Jets, then Sampson and Jerome Ford (17 percent rostered) could be potential flex options in all leagues. I'd lean toward Sampson over Ford, and Sampson just had five catches for 29 yards on six targets and three carries for no yards against the Patriots. Ford had no carries and one catch for minus-1 yard on two targets. It's worth it to add Sampson and Ford now, just in case Judkins can't play after the bye, and Sampson should be added in all leagues for 5-10 percent of your remaining FAB. Ford should be added for 1 percent.
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Browns' Dylan Sampson: Eight touches in Week 8
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Sampson gained zero rushing yards on three carries and caught five of six targets for 29 yards in Sunday's 32-13 loss to the Patriots. He added one kickoff return for 19 yards.
The eight touches on offense were Sampson's biggest volume since Week 1, before fellow rookie RB Quinshon Judkins had made his NFL debut. Sunday's increase also came in part due to the absence of Judkins, who left the game in the third quarter with a shoulder injury. Sampson's biggest contributions so far have come as a receiver, and through eight games he's managed just 51 rushing yards and 1.8 yards per carry, but a 20-133-1 line on 23 targets. The Browns are on bye in Week 9, so Judkins may not miss any further time, but if he isn't ready to return, Sampson could be the lead back -- with Jerome Ford in support -- in Week 10 against the Jets.
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Browns' Dylan Sampson: Preparing for larger role
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Sampson had three carries for eight yards, caught his lone target for nine yards and returned two kickoffs for 37 yards in Sunday's 31-6 win over Miami in Week 7.
Sampson was on the field for just nine snaps, but he out-touched veteran Jerome Ford, who had three touches on 13 snaps. The game provided more evidence that the rookie is taking over the No. 2 RB role from Ford. The trade deadline is two weeks away, and Sampson could be all alone behind starter Quinshon Judkins if Ford, who is in the final year of his contract, gets moved. That still may not translate into meaningful fantasy value for Sampson with Judkins dominating the backfield workload for Cleveland, but it would put him on the field more often for an offense that typically plays from behind and needs a reliable third-down back.
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Browns' Dylan Sampson: Adds return duties to repertoire
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Sampson rushed three times for 12 yards, caught both his targets for 12 yards and returned five kickoffs for 124 yards in Sunday's 23-9 loss to Pittsburgh.
Sampson took on his highest offensive snap share since Week 2 and also served as the Browns' primary kickoff returner. Once Quinshon Judkins established himself as the team's lead back upon making his Cleveland debut Week 2, Sampson's playing time on offense has declined steeply. He had just four touches over the last three weeks prior to Sunday's contest.
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Browns' Dylan Sampson: Seven snaps in loss
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Sampson had one carry for minus-4 yards and caught one of two targets for six yards in Sunday's 21-17 loss to Minnesota in Week 5.
Not much changed for Sampson with the switch from quarterback Joe Flacco to Dillon Gabriel. Sampson's seven snaps Sunday was the third consecutive game with fewer than 10 for the rookie, whose role has diminished since Quinshon Judkins entered the picture Week 2.
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Browns' Dylan Sampson: Remains third on depth chart
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Sampson had one carry for minus-2 yards and did not secure his lone target in Sundays 34-10 loss to Detroit in Week 4.
The Browns' backfield is securely in the hands of Quinshon Judkins, who has steadily increased his dominance since being activated in Week 2, while Jerome Ford has a tenuous hold on the No. 2 spot. Sampson has a combined 14 snaps and one target over the last two games.
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Browns' Dylan Sampson: Limited usage Week 3
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Sampson had one carry for two yards in Sunday's 13-10 win over the Packers in Week 3.
Sampson was on the field for just five offensive snaps and went untargeted for the first time in three weeks. He had eight targets in Week 1 followed by a touchdown catch last week, but it looks like Jerome Ford has emerged as the primary target out of the backfield. In addition to the diminished targets, Sampson's overall usage has taken a hit, dropping from 33 snaps in Week 1 to 17 in Week 2 and now five. That drop coincides with the availability of Quinshon Judkins.
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Browns' Dylan Sampson: Scores receiving TD in reduced role
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Sampson rushed four times for six yards and brought in all three targets for 13 yards and a touchdown in the Browns' 41-17 loss to the Ravens on Sunday.
Sampson had led the Browns' ground attack with 12 carries and had garnered 20 total touches in Week 1, but the debut of fellow rookie Quinshon Judkins in Sunday's loss altered the backfield hierarchy. Judkins ultimately recorded a game-high 10 rush attempts, but Sampson still found a way to make an impact by recording an eight-yard touchdown reception from another member of the team's 2025 draft class, Dillon Gabriel. With Judkins' workload a virtual lock to go up from this point forward, Sampson will likely be looking to displace veteran Jerome Ford for the No. 2 role.
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Browns' Dylan Sampson: Sleeper RBs
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There's no guarantee that Quinshon Judkins will play in Week 2 at Baltimore, which could mean more work for Sampson and Jerome Ford. Based on Week 1 against Cincinnati, I like Sampson as a flex in that scenario, especially in PPR, given his role in the passing game. He led the Browns with 12 carries for 29 yards, but more importantly, had eight catches for 64 yards on eight targets. The Ravens just allowed James Cook to catch five passes for 58 yards on five targets in Week 1 against Buffalo, and Sampson should continue to be a weapon out of the backfield for Joe Flacco in this game.
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Browns' Dylan Sampson: Week 2 Adds (RB Preview)
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Sampson was at the top of this column last week and is still just 65% rostered. It is not a good matchup, and Quinshon Judkins could be back, but we still like Sampson as a flex in Week 2. And a flex is about all you are going to get off the waiver at running back this week. Judkins just recently started practicing with the team, so I would expect a very slow ramp-up period. Sampson could have a large role for the next month.
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Browns' Dylan Sampson: Week 2 Waiver Priority List
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The Browns backfield is about to get crowded with Quinshon Judkins now signed, but hopefully Sampson and Judkins can work in tandem together moving forward. In Week 1 against the Bengals, Sampson was the best running back for Cleveland with 12 carries for 29 yards and eight catches for 64 yards on eight targets. His role in the passing game could be a constant, which helps in PPR, but he's worth adding in all leagues. Even if he's sharing touches with Judkins, Sampson could be a flex in PPR heading into Week 2 at Baltimore. He's worth adding for at least 10 percent of your remaining FAB.
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Browns' Dylan Sampson: Works as lead back
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Sampson rushed the ball 12 times for 29 yards in Sunday's 17-16 loss to the Bengals. He added eight receptions on eight targets for 64 yards.
Sampson was expected to serve as the change-of-pace back in Cleveland, but he took the first carry for the Browns and out-touched Jerome Ford 20-7. Sampson wasn't particularly impressive on the ground, but he was still more efficient than Ford. He ultimately made his mark as a pass catcher, however, as he led the Browns in receptions (eight) and was second in yards (64). While it was an encouraging debut for Sampson, the backfield is likely to grow more crowded with the addition of Quinshon Judkins in Week 2 against Baltimore.
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Browns' Dylan Sampson: Set for change-of-pace duties
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Sampson is expected to handle a change-of-pace role Week 1 against the Bengals on Sunday, while Jerome Ford leads Cleveland's backfield, Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com reports.
Sampson, a rookie fourth-round pick, has been heavily involved alongside Ford throughout the preseason with 2025 second-rounder Quinshon Judkins still unsigned, but he's expected to be relegated to complementary change-of-pace utilization in his regular-season debut. There's a significant possibility that Sampson's involvement grows as his experience at the NFL level does, especially if he's able to impress early, though Cabot also reports that the Browns hope Judkins will report to team facilities this week. Cleveland also claimed UDFA Raheim Sanders off waivers from the Chargers, who boasts a larger frame than Ford or Sampson and could carve out a role in short-yardage situations.
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Browns' Dylan Sampson: Working with starters
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Sampson was the first running back through the rotation both Wednesday and Thursday during joint practices with the Eagles, Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports.
Sampson started Cleveland's preseason opener and took two carries for six yards, although it didn't mean much with most of the key veterans -- including RB Jerome Ford -- being held out. The first-team reps in practice are a better sign, especially with no report of Ford being injured, potentially hinting at a rotation between the two RBs early in the season. Fellow rookie running back Quinshon Judkins remains unsigned -- and uncertain to play this season -- after a July arrest for domestic violence charges.
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Browns' Dylan Sampson: Getting reps in receiving game
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Browns running backs coach Duce Staley said at mandatory minicamp in mid-June that Sampson has gotten work "as a running back and a receiver," Dan Labbe of cleveland.com reports.
Staley also said that Sampson has worked with wide receivers coach Chad O'Shea, and that the rookie fourth-round pick "is able to go play in the slot and also he's able to go and play on third down and maybe sprinkle in a little second down." The running backs coach also noted that fellow rookie RB Quinshon Judkins, whom the Browns drafted two rounds ahead of Sampson, will be "able to do a little something [...] at receiver, too." Meanwhile, incumbent Jerome Ford has already demonstrated tangible pass-catching chops, and Staley praised his "speed" and ability to "pick up the blitz and catch the ball." While all three of Cleveland's top running backs could see tangible usage in the passing game, Labbe hypothesizes that as things currently stand Judkins and Sampson project to lead the Browns' revamped backfield, with Ford serving as the No. 3 back. Sampson didn't catch many passes in college at Tennessee, including as the team's starter in 2024, so it would come as a surprise if he in fact beats out Ford for passing-down reps at training camp, but if the rookie fourth-rounder can manage that feat he'll have a clear path to fantasy relevance in Year 1, especially in PPR formats.
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Browns' Dylan Sampson: Another back drafted by Cleveland
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The Browns selected Sampson in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, 126th overall.
The Browns had a significant hole at running back entering the draft, and they've invested accordingly. Sampson will join Quinshon Judkins -- selected in the second round -- as rookies on the running back depth chart. The former showcased mediocre athletic ability at the combine, but Sampson was an excellent contributor at Tennessee by tallying 1,491 rushing yards and 22 total touchdowns across 13 games in 2024 while facing stiff SEC competition. Both scouting reports and draft capital suggest Sampson will start behind Judkins on the depth chart, but Sampson should have the chance to find the field in his rookie season.
