Nick Chubb’s return will be worth the wait

Walk up to the Chubb Club at 100 Alfred Lerner Way in Cleveland, and a sign on the door reads in bold print: “TEMPORARILY CLOSED FOR RENOVATIONS.”

No thumping DJ beats. No bottle service behind the velvet rope. No good times.

It's anyone’s best guess when Nick Chubb will return to the field. Months removed from a catastrophic knee injury that spoiled what could’ve been a supernatural 2023 season, the Browns battering ram opened training camp on the active/PUP list, as expected.

A video of him squatting the equivalent weight of a giant walrus recently made the rounds on social media. It no doubt blew viewers’ minds and prompted excitement of a possible earlier than expected activation. However, as The Athletic recently reported, expectations must be tempered. Given the experience and effectiveness of Jerome Ford and D’Onta Foreman, there’s no need to rush Chubb back.

When in uniform, the veteran back is arguably the most punishing road grater in the game. He racks the YAC (RB8 in YAC/attempt in 2022) and misses ample tackles (RB2 in ’22). Working behind an elite offensive line and operating in a fairly conservative Kevin Stefanski system (42.80 run percentage in ‘23), Cleveland’s offensive centerpiece should renew his chain-moving ways.

But when?

The Browns have a perfectly placed midseason bye in Week 10. Yes, the extent of this dunderhead’s medical knowledge is failing to remove fake bones in Operation, but it’s conceivable Chubb will receive doctor clearance for the Week 11 matchup at New Orleans.

Much is to be determined as the summer heat drags on, but draft, stash and save Chubb for the late-season stretch. He’s a highly affordable dice roll after Round 10 — the discount tier of Devin Singletary, Trey Benson and Gus Edwards — in 12-team 0.5 PPR leagues (127.87 ADP, RB34; $12.58 AAV). Given Cleveland’s eighth-easiest projected strength of schedule for fantasy RBs in Weeks 15 through 17 and the ninth-easiest SOS overall, he’s worth the affordable investment.

The Chubb Club, even at 75% functionality, could be bangin' during December’s money-making weeks. Get down with the Brown in fantasy drafts, but at a reasonable price.

Nick Chubb’s return will be worth the wait

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