Cleveland Browns Running Back Depth Chart — 2026
The Cleveland Browns running back depth chart for the 2026 season: Quinshon Judkins at RB1, Dylan Sampson at RB2, Raheim Sanders at RB3. Depth order follows the current published depth chart and refreshes daily.
Browns running back depth chart
| Role | Player | Status | 2025 RYOE | RYOE/Att | Follow | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RB1 | Quinshon Judkins | 45.3 | 0.20 | |||
| RB2 | Dylan Sampson | — | — | |||
| RB3 | Raheim Sanders | — | — | |||
| — | Benny LeMay | — | — | |||
| — | Jaleel McLaughlin | — | — |
Who is the Browns RB2?
Dylan Sampson is the Browns RB2 behind Quinshon Judkins, which makes him the back in line for the workload if Quinshon Judkins misses time — the handcuff.
Who backs up the Browns at running back?
A handcuff is the backup who inherits the starter's workload if the starter gets hurt — so the Browns handcuff is whoever sits directly behind Quinshon Judkins on the depth chart above. Rostering him is how you protect a starting back you have already spent a pick on. More on what a handcuff is.
Dylan Sampson is Cleveland's receiving back, and by some distance the most productive per opportunity: 1.73 receiving yards per pass snap against Quinshon Judkins' 0.91. Sampson drew 40 targets in 15 games; Judkins drew 36 in 14, on nearly twice the snaps.
If Quinshon Judkins misses time
Neither back has an availability record worth reading — both are one season into their careers — so this page cannot tell you how likely it is.
What it can tell you is the size of the job. Judkins took 230 carries at +0.30 yards over expected per carry, 29th of 49 qualifying backs, and 42.3% of the offence's snaps, 31st among running backs.
Sampson took 22.8% without clearing the hundred carries a back needs before a rushing rate is worth ranking. He has caught passes well; he has not yet carried a lead-back load, and the reporting below describes a scheme change toward physical gap-scheme running that suits the other man.
Touches with everyone healthy
A real share for Dylan Sampson, concentrated in the passing game. Sampson took 22.8% of the snaps against Quinshon Judkins' 42.3%.
The reporting below has the running backs coach describing Judkins in purely downhill terms and Sampson as a rookie who made plays in both the run and the pass game. Those are different jobs, and both are available every week.
Is there a passing-down back?
Yes, and he is the most efficient receiver among all the backup backs on these six teams.
Sampson drew 40 targets in 15 games, 2.67 a game, catching 33 for 271 yards — 1.73 receiving yards for every pass snap he was on the field for. Judkins managed 0.91 on 187 pass snaps to Sampson's 157.
That rate is the argument. Sampson was not on the field much — 24.5% of Cleveland's pass snaps — and still produced more per opportunity than his starter. A scheme that puts him out there more is the single clearest upside case in this backfield.
What the beat is reporting
What the beat is reporting, last refreshed 2026-09-04. Nothing here is measured — it is reporting, attributed and dated.
Dylan Sampson made plays in both the run and the pass game as a rookie, finishing with 175 rushing yards and 271 receiving yards and two touchdowns (ClevelandBrowns.com, 2026-07-01).
Running backs coach Duce Staley described Quinshon Judkins as a runner who can put his foot in the ground, hit it downhill, break tackles and get tough runs (ClevelandBrowns.com, 2026-07-01).
New offensive coordinator Todd Monken emphasises physical gap-scheme running concepts (ClevelandBrowns.com, 2026-07-01).
Choosing between a Browns back and someone else?
Both men's 2025 production side by side, and which of them rests on inputs that historically repeat.
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