Cleveland Browns: Week 6 predictions against the Houston Texans
2. Running back Duke Johnson catches at least six passes and racks up over 100 total yards.
The Browns most consistent play-maker through five games has clearly been Johnson. There is no reason for that to change this week.
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Despite playing behind Isaiah Crowell, the Miami (FL) product has 77 yards rushing and two touchdowns on the ground and 23 catches for 270 yards and another score through the air.
Why Johnson is not the starting running back is a mystery to me. Still, the Browns are getting him the ball, which is all that matters. Since Week 2, Johnson has had over 80 total yards in three of four games. He has a touchdown in three of four games as well.
With the Browns expected to be down from the get-go on Sunday, Hogan should rely heavily on Johnson out of the backfield. The receiving corp is drop-prone and struggles to create separation, while Johnson always seems to be wide open for a check down. It would not be a surprise to see Johnson get peppered with targets early to get Hogan into a groove.
Houston has been great at limiting catches to opposing running backs. According to Scout Fantasy, the Texans have allowed just 20 catches for 107 yards to opposing running backs this year. However, Chiefs running backs Kareem Hunt and Charcandrick West had five catches and two touchdowns combined last week.
Johnson is better out of the backfield than both of them and is a safe bet to hit the numbers he has the last four weeks. However, with Hogan at quarterback, Johnson could be looking at an even bigger game. Six catches and over 100 total yards is not out of the question.