Is Dylan Sampson a PPR Sleeper?

What They're Saying

Here’s RB coach Duce Staley on the team's internal thinking with Sampson (and fellow rookie Quinshon Judkins), via Cleveland.com.

“Being able to show him [Sampson] as a running back and a receiver. Also meeting with (WR coach Chad O’Shea) in there and going over some of the receiver splits and routes, and just being able to just take his game and expand it.

Dylan is able to go play in the slot and also he’s able to go and play on third down and maybe sprinkle in a little second down. I’m not saying (Judkins) can’t play on third down, but I’m just looking at what we can do with Dylan as far as the receiver, and we’ll be able to do a little something with (Judkins) at receiver too.”

2025 Fantasy Football Impact

Recall that Cleveland spent a Round 2 pick on Judkins. Ninety picks later -- in Round 4 -- Sampson came off the board.

He'll have to beat out veteran Jerome Ford for the change of pace role, but that's likely what the team desires. Ford took a pay cut to remain in Cleveland and isn't under contract for 2026.

Sampson has the skill set of a slippery post-catch player, although he didn't shine as a receiver at Tennessee. Here's what he said this month on his pass-catching ability (again via Cleveland.com):

“[It's] something that I wasn’t able to showcase a lot at Tennessee, but I feel like I was able to showcase what could be at my pro days and at the (NFL) combine. Anytime I could run routes, I ran routes.”

Sampson averaged a solid 8.6 yards per catch across his three seasons. He totaled only 40 receptions, though, with a career-high 20 coming last season.

Ultimately, Sampson sits in late-round flier range in our 2025 RB rankings. He could benefit from some pass-friendly game scripts -- especially with the Browns' win total at only 4.5.