Quinshon Judkins and Omarion Hampton’s top 3 running backs in the NFL
NFL Draft RB prospects Quinshon Judkins and Omarion Hampton have almost similar lists when it comes to their favorite running backs in the NFL.
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Fantasy football managers are always searching for quality depth at running back. The position tends to get thin during the season, so loading up on the position and selecting players with paths to potential workhorse roles is something managers often do during their fantasy drafts.
That’s why some will be tempted to target Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins ahead of the fantasy football season. The 2025 second-round pick was expected to take on a big role in Cleveland’s running back room after posting three seasons with at least 1,000 yards and 14 touchdowns across three college seasons at Ole Miss and Ohio State.
However, Judkins’ status for the start of the 2025 NFL season remains murky. He isn’t injured, but he remains unsigned by the Browns as the parties navigate some off-the-field concerns and a contract dispute.
Here’s what to know about whether Judkins will play in 2025 and whether you should target him in fantasy football drafts.
Will Quinshon Judkins play this year?
It isn’t clear whether or when Judkins will play in 2025. The 21-year-old remains unsigned by the Browns even after the Broward County State Attorney’s Office announced Aug. 14 it was declining to move forward with a misdemeanor battery charge against him.
Neither coach Kevin Stefanski nor the Browns organization have provided an update about when the second-round pick might ink his rookie contract.
Judkins was the 36th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, which gives him a slot value of just under $11.39 million, per Spotrac.com.
However, many NFL second-round picks remained unsigned long-term during the offseason as they attempted to negotiate fully guaranteed contracts. Seven players were successful in those goals, including fellow Browns second-rounder and No. 33 overall pick, linebacker Carson Schwesinger.
Judkins remaining unsigned “may or may not have to do with the full guarantee,” Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reports.
Either way, as long as Judkins remains unsigned, his status for the 2025 NFL season will remain murky.
Should you draft Quinshon Judkins in fantasy football?
It’s hard to recommend taking Judkins as anything other than a speculative, late-round flier as he remains unsigned.
Judkins certainly has talent. He was the third running back selected in the 2025 NFL Draft behind only first-round picks Ashton Jeanty and Omarion Hampton. It was expected the powerful 5-11, 211-pound running back would have a chance to earn the starting job in Cleveland’s backfield and emerge as a potential RB2 with good volume.
But Judkins missed all of Cleveland’s training camp and the preseason after his July 12 arrest in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on a misdemeanor charge of domestic violence and battery. The charges were dropped on Aug. 14, but he and the team still haven’t yet agreed to terms on his rookie contract.
As such, Judkins remains off the field in the week leading up to the 2025 NFL season. Even if the two parties can reach an agreement before Week 1, it may take the rookie time to work into playing shape and get up to speed enough in the Browns’ offense to be a factor for them.
With that in mind, it will probably be a while before Judkins is able to emerge as a fantasy football factor. That makes his FantasyPros average draft position (ADP) of RB32 a bit rich, though patient fantasy managers could potentially benefit if they are able to keep Judkins until the second half of the season.
Verdict: Judkins has potential if he can get on the field, but without knowing when he might be available, it’s hard to trust him as anything more than a speculative bench flier. He’s being drafted more as an RB3, but fantasy managers should balk at that price given the uncertainty surrounding him.
Browns RB depth chart
The Browns currently have three running backs on their 53-man roster and five in their organization as a whole. Below is a look at their available running backs:
- Jerome Ford
- Dylan Sampson
- Raheim Sanders
- Trayveon Williams (practice squad)
- Ahmani Marshall (practice squad)
Judkins figures to occupy a top-three spot on Cleveland’s depth chart once he signs. Still, it isn’t clear how quickly he might be able to leapfrog Ford and fellow rookie Sampson as the Browns seek a backfield leader.
