Why Browns RB Quinshon Judkins is a Fantasy Football Sleeper in 2026

2025 was a disastrous season for the Cleveland Browns, marking the third time in four seasons that they finished last in the AFC North. 

They moved on from head coach Kevin Stefanski after six seasons and hired former Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken. Cleveland entered training camp unsure who its starting QB would be, but after a battle between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders, it was Watson who won the job.

Watson may not need to lead this offense with his arm, however, as he has one of the league’s best up-and-coming RBs. 

Quinshon Judkins had an excellent rookie season, rushing for 827 yards and 7 TDs in just 14 games. This year, the Browns might rely on him to be the catalyst for the offense, which could result in a big year in fantasy.

Let’s get into Judkins’ PrizePicks NFLSZN projections and discuss why he is a top fantasy football sleeper in 2026.

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Quinshon Judkins 2026 Fantasy Football Projections

Despite their disastrous 2025 campaign, the Browns had some bright spots, including Judkins. The second-round pick from Ohio State missed Week 1 due to domestic battery charges that stalled his contract negotiations; he also missed all of training camp. 

It didn't take Judkins long to earn the RB1 job, going from a 27% snap share in Week 2 to 55% in Week 3. He had at least a 52% snap share in eight of his 14 games, and that usage helped him average 12.1 fantasy points per game.

He's expected to be the lead back and could see a lot of volume in 2026, which is why he’s a steal at the average draft position (ADP) of 53 (RB22), via FantasyPros.

Find our staff's top 10 fantasy football sleepers HERE.

Quinshon Judkins Projection – 874.5 Rush Yards

Judkins only needs 48 more yards than his total from last season to exceed this projection. If he’s in the lineup for all 17 games, it might not be a problem.

Judkins has the potential to be among the league’s busiest RBs, as Monken’s offense emphasizes the run game. In the last three seasons in Baltimore with Monken as the OC, the Ravens led the league in rush-play percentage twice and were second once. 

Monken also hired Travis Switzer, his former run-game coordinator with the Ravens, as his OC in Cleveland.

There doesn’t seem to be any doubt Judkins will be the Ravens' bell cow. RBs coach Duce Staley, the only Browns offensive assistant from last year retained by Monken, believes Judkins “can play all three downs.”

Defenses may prepare for the Browns running the ball by stacking the box with eight or more defenders, but Judkins excelled against that last year. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Judkins faced a stacked box on a league-leading 45.2% of his rush attempts and ranked second with 24.0 yards after contact per game anyway. 

It also doesn't hurt that history is on Judkins' side. In each of the last two seasons in Baltimore, Ravens RB Derrick Henry had more than 310 touches in Monken’s offense.

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Quinshon Judkins Projection – 6.5 Rush TDs

Here is how the red zone rush attempts for the Browns were divided last year among currently rostered RBs:

• Raheem Sanders: 7
• Dylan Sampson: 6
• Quinshon Judkins: 31

It looks like Judkins will be the go-to guy when the Browns get inside the 20-yard line. Monken’s run-first approach doesn’t stop when they get near the end zone, either. Last year, Henry ranked third in the league with 63 red zone carries, including a league-leading 24 carries inside the five-yard line.

Another factor that could help Judkins is the potential improvement of the offensive line. Last season, the Browns had one of the worst in the league, ranking last in pressure rate allowed (29.7%) and 28th in Pro Football Focus run block grade (55.4%). That certainly affected Judkins, who averaged only 1.27 yards before contact.

Browns GM Andrew Berry has made it a priority to rebuild the offensive line, including trading for Texans RT Tytus Howard, signing Chargers G Zion Johnson and two-time Pro Bowl C Elgton Jenkins, and drafting Utah T Spencer Fano with the ninth overall pick and T Austin Barber in the third round.

More importantly, Cleveland re-signed G Teven Jenkins, who had the team’s best PFF run-blocking grade (79.1). 

Judkins had an impressive rookie season with a terrible offensive line, and we’ll see if the upgrades come through on the field.

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Judkins is coming off an exceptional rookie year, during which he became the team’s leading back almost immediately. The Browns don't have the best options at QB, so they may need to use Judkins as much as possible to give this offense any chance at achieving relevance.

Monken has shown he emphasizes running the ball, further reinforcing Judkins’ potential as a fantasy football sleeper.

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