5 Cleveland Browns whose stock is booming after running over Broncos in Week 7

1. Browns RB D’Ernest Johnson

The die hards already know the story of D’Ernest Johnson. The South Florida product was making a living as a gulf fisherman until he made the Cleveland Browns roster as a backup in 2020.

Playing behind Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, though, there aren’t a lot of opportunities. He always plays well in the preseason and even showed out during Cleveland’s exciting win against the Cowboys last year with a 90+ yard performance.

But Thursday night? Johnson had the game of his life–the type of performance his grandkids will tell their grandkids about.

Johnson rushed for 146 yards and a score on 22 carries, making for 6.6 yards per rush. In channeling Nick Chubb, he broke five tackles, rushing for 75 yards after contract and four his 22 runs went for 10 yards or more, according to Pro Football Focus. 

He also had seven first downs. You just can’t put a price on how important it is to move the chains with the rushing attack.

There were trade rumblings surrounding Johnson’s name not all that long ago, but with the Browns now banged up, forget out it. He’s here for the long haul.