John Laghezza uses Round 9 on Dylan Sampson because the Browns backfield is wide open. Quinshon Judkins is still unsigned, and Jerome Ford has produced negative yardage on over 26% of his career carries. Laghezza thinks even a mediocre Cleveland offense led by veteran Joe Flacco can create fantasy value if it selects the most efficient runner, and Sampson’s fourth-round draft investment gives him that path.

Dwain McFarland labeled Dylan Sampson the premier deep stash at a 156 ADP, noting the rookie might headline Cleveland’s rushing attack in Week 1. Sampson earned a 6.33 “eventual plus starter” grade from Lance Zierlein, a 79.4 PFF composite (69th percentile), and an 85 film score in McFarland’s Rookie Super Model, which still rated him 69 overall despite modest production. More than half of analogous prospects produced a top-36 fantasy season within three years, with one in five cracking the top-12. Zierlein’s Brian Westbrook comparison and Sam Monson’s praise for Sampson’s ability to string moves together underscore the upside. The ongoing Quinshon Judkins contract and potential suspension saga amplifies Sampson’s short-term opportunity; even if Judkins returns mid-season, Sampson could already be entrenched. McFarland is sprinkling 5 percent exposure to Jerome Ford but is "putting his chip" on Sampson turning Round 13 capital into RB1 upside.

Chris Raybon took Sampson at RB 47 because the Browns backfield is in flux. He noted that Cleveland views Jerome Ford more as a passing-down complement and that Judkins’ contract and legal issues could keep him off the field. In that scenario Sampson could grab the early-down role outright and has a credible chance to finish inside the top-24 backs. Raybon admitted it is a long-shot bet but argued this kind of upside is exactly what managers should chase in the late rounds.

Best Ball Guy echoed Sean Siegel’s stance that Dylan Sampson is one of the very best 17th- to 18th-round selections on the board. He explained that he has been loading up on Sampson at a 140-plus ADP because the price bakes in minimal risk while offering contingent upside if the depth chart in front of him thins out. By adding Ford and Judkins on this specific roster, he views Sampson exposure elsewhere as a hedge, underscoring how confident he is in Sampson’s ceiling relative to cost.

Strachan noted Dylan Sampson’s ADP has climbed 34 slots to 169 after news broke that teammate Quinshon Judkins could face a 4–6 game suspension stemming from domestic-violence charges. Cleveland originally envisioned Sampson as the lightning to Judkins’ thunder, but Strachan believes a September vacancy atop the depth chart would give Sampson a real audition to claim a sizable piece of the backfield pie. Because the price still sits in the 15th round, Strachan likes Sampson as a low-risk, high-ceiling pick who can be paired with other young backs such as TreVeyon Henderson or R.J. Harvey while drafters wait for roles to crystallize.

David Mendelson tweeted that fantasy drafters "are going to severely regret" selecting Jerome Ford ahead of Dylan Sampson, calling the rookie "the real deal." Mendelson’s stance relies on the expectation that Judkins’ looming suspension will vault Sampson into the primary role and that Sampson’s skill set will translate immediately in both the running and passing game. Because Sampson costs roughly 40 picks later than Ford, Mendelson believes the market has it backward and advises taking Sampson first in best-ball drafts.

Tom Strachan said Dylan Sampson is the biggest ADP winner in FFPC drafts and a player managers should actively target around pick 150. The author expects Quinshon Judkins to miss roughly four-to-six games because of domestic-violence allegations, leaving a "huge opportunity" for Sampson to handle early-season work in Cleveland’s backfield. Strachan framed Sampson as the "lightning" complement who can temporarily operate as a lead runner without costing meaningful draft capital. Given Sampson’s current price and the likelihood that Jerome Ford settles into a secondary role, Strachan views Sampson as one of the easiest best-ball clicks on the board.

Tom Strachan recommended stashing Dylan Samson while his price remains palatable in case Quentin Junkins’ ongoing issues cost the presumed starter games. Strachan acknowledged the offensive line is a weakness he normally avoids, but still prefers Samson to Jerome Ford at equal cost because Samson would own the most explosive profile in the backfield. The key, he said, is not chasing Samson once the market bakes in a full workload; grab a few shares now and monitor camp reports over the next few weeks.

Pete Overzet labeled Dylan Sampson (Round 4, pick 126, Super Model 69, ADP 198.9) his favorite late-round rookie RB. Kevin Stefanski said both Sampson and second-rounder Quinshon Judkins have 'done a great job of learning the system,' hinting at a true competition. Overzet thinks the talent gap is overstated—Judkins goes 120 picks earlier—and expects both rookies to get cracks at starter touches. He is exploiting the price disparity, holding 11.1 % exposure and predicting Sampson’s ADP will spike if the rookie flashes in camp.

Beimfohr moved fourth-round rookie Dylan Sampson way up his Best Ball rankings, arguing the Tennessee product suddenly has a massive opportunity edge. With unsigned second-round pick Quinshon Judkins facing a contract stalemate and a possible paid-leave designation after his domestic-violence arrest, Sampson is the only healthy rookie in camp. The former SEC Offensive Player of the Year racked up 1,600 yards and 22 TDs last season and now gets a "nice long runway" to impress coaches. If he performs, Sampson could secure the lead role before Judkins ever reports, giving drafters an explosive, discounted upside play in the double-digit rounds.

Mike Wright highlighted fourth-round rookie Dylan Sampson as an under-the-radar beneficiary of the Judkins mess. With only Jerome Ford and Pierre Strong ahead of him, Sampson could conceivably steal the passing-down role thanks to his receiving chops, something Wright stressed Ford does not excel at. If Ford becomes the two-down grinder on a low-scoring offense, Sampson’s check-down volume could turn him into a sneaky PPR flex while Judkins is away. Wright recommended grabbing Sampson in the final rounds of season-long and best-ball drafts before camp reports catch up.

Josh Pate labeled Dylan Sampson a steal if he slips past Day 2 because speed‑obsessed scouts are ignoring real football production. Sampson, the 2024 SEC Offensive Player of the Year with 22 rushing TDs, was "the engine" of Tennessee’s offense in a year the Vols leaned on defense and the ground game. Pate noted Sampson repeatedly took over contests in the deepest conference, even while competing with Boise State star Ashton Jeanty for national accolades. Although his straight‑line 40 time may top out in the mid‑4.5s, Sampson’s contact balance and short‑area burst translate to chain‑moving reliability—exactly what fantasy managers need. Pate trusts him for 17–18 carries plus goal‑line work right away and recommends dynasty drafters treat him as a top‑five rookie RB, while bettors can look at long‑shot Offensive Rookie of the Year odds before the market adjusts.