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Cleveland Browns · 2026
Who is Quinshon Judkins’s handcuff?
Explore the full Cleveland Browns depth chart, player roles and draft history
The published handcuff answer
Dylan Sampson
Behind Quinshon Judkins · CLE
Dylan Sampson is the preferred fantasy handcuff to Quinshon Judkins in our published Week 7 Cleveland Browns analysis. This backfield has committee uncertainty, so an absence could split the work between multiple backs.
Sampson clears his knee tag and is RB2
Handcuff score
Backup opportunity, not projected points or an injury probability.
Analysis published . Status and role notes reflect that board.
Check official availability and your league’s transaction rules before adding.
Cleveland Browns backfield overview
If Quinshon Judkins misses time
Cleveland's only running back on today's Week 7 inactive list, updated 11:45 a.m. ET, is Audric Estime - Sampson is not on it, so he has cleared the knee designation he carried into the weekend and is dressed behind Quinshon Judkins. That makes him the No. 2 with Estime down and Raheim Sanders on injured reserve, with Jaleel McLaughlin third. Sampson is free almost everywhere; for him to matter Judkins would have to sit, and Judkins has consolidated this backfield since returning from a Week 5 ankle injury. Fact: Estime inactive, Sampson dressed, depth order. Projection: Sampson's pass-catching profile suggests he would lead a replacement committee rather than share it.
Audric Estime is inactive for Week 7 against Tennessee and Raheim Sanders is on injured reserve, leaving Dylan Sampson and Jaleel McLaughlin as the backs dressed behind Quinshon Judkins. Sampson, who had been working back from a knee issue and an earlier IR stint, is not on the inactive list. Judkins practised in full and has taken the overwhelming share of backfield opportunities, so Sampson's value this week is contingent. In dynasty he remains the more interesting long-term asset of the two backups on his receiving profile.
Explosive second-year pass-catching back, still on IR with no published return date. Judkins has since consolidated the room (27 of 32 backfield opportunities in Week 4), so Sampson would return to a smaller slice than he held in Week 1. Redraft: no value until a date exists; the talent and dynasty case is unchanged.
- availability_unverified
- stale_availability
- conflicting_availability
- thin_profile
- judkins_consolidated_room
- returning_from_knee_issue
- small_2026_sample
- committee_risk
Why this candidate scores here
Other candidates in this backfield
Jaleel McLaughlin
change of pace · score 47/100
Michael Burton
fullback · score 28/100
Candidates and scores are from the same published board. A split workload can limit the upside of any one backup.
The production behind the names
2026 regular season. Recorded production, not a projection. A missing stat line is not a zero.
| Player | Games with stats | Carries | Receptions | Total yards | PPR / game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 90 | 19 | 427 | 13.3 |
| 2 | 6 | 3 | 77 | 5.3 |
Carries + receptions, last 6 recorded games in 2026
Carries + receptions, last 2 recorded games in 2026
Totals include all teams played for that season. Per-game averages use games with recorded stats. Source: nflverse player statistics.
Handcuff, backup and next-man-up questions
Who is Quinshon Judkins’s handcuff?
Dylan Sampson is the preferred fantasy handcuff to Quinshon Judkins in our published Week 7 Cleveland Browns analysis. This backfield has committee uncertainty, so an absence could split the work between multiple backs.
Who is the backup running back behind Quinshon Judkins?
Dylan Sampson is the preferred replacement candidate in the published Cleveland Browns board. The board lists him at RB2. A fantasy handcuff recommendation and an official depth-chart position can differ; compare the full team chart and role evidence.
Who is next up if Quinshon Judkins misses a game?
Dylan Sampson is the preferred fantasy handcuff to Quinshon Judkins in our published Week 7 Cleveland Browns analysis. This backfield has committee uncertainty, so an absence could split the work between multiple backs. Other published candidates include Jaleel McLaughlin, Michael Burton. Cleveland's only running back on today's Week 7 inactive list, updated 11:45 a.m. ET, is Audric Estime - Sampson is not on it, so he has cleared the knee designation he carried into the weekend and is dressed behind Quinshon Judkins. That makes him the No. 2 with Estime down and Raheim Sanders on injured reserve, with Jaleel McLaughlin third. Sampson is free almost everywhere; for him to matter Judkins would have to sit, and Judkins has consolidated this backfield since returning from a Week 5 ankle injury. Fact: Estime inactive, Sampson dressed, depth order. Projection: Sampson's pass-catching profile suggests he would lead a replacement committee rather than share it.
Should I add Dylan Sampson as a handcuff?
Consider Dylan Sampson if you have a spare bench spot and want exposure to the replacement role behind Quinshon Judkins. His value depends on availability, competition for carries and receiving work, and your league’s roster rules. A handcuff is not automatically a useful starter this week. Review the dated analysis, current injury reports and the next kickoff before adding.
Compare backup running backs and next-man-up candidates for every team. Published depth and scores come from the documented roster, depth-chart and scoring process; they do not establish game-day availability.
Sources behind the analysis
Published analysis may use automated research. How evidence and recommendations are handled.
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