Strong was traded during the preseason to the Browns, where he is expected to compete for the No. 3 role behind Nick Chubb and Jerome Ford. That could lead to more work than backing up Rhamondre Stevenson and Ezekiel Elliott in New England; Ford remains largely unproven as the No. 2, so Strong may get the opportunity to be the Browns' third-down back with some possible handcuff value backing up Nick Chubb at some point. At the least, Strong gives the Browns another young back to fill the No. 3 role unless more help at the position is acquired prior to Week 1.
Strong carried six times for 27 yards and returned one kickoff for 26 yards in Sunday's 27-3 win over Tennessee.
In Cleveland's first game without Nick Chubb (knee), Strong (eight snaps) operated as the No. 3 back behind Jerome Ford (40) and the newly re-signed Kareem Hunt (14). Strong had one carry on the first series, then five more on the Browns' final drive of the game. The kickoff return was his first of the season, and it appears he will take those duties from Ford, who is now atop the running back depth chart. Head coach Kevin Stefanski does not want to risk injury to another lead RB by having them returning kickoffs.
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Browns' Pierre Strong: Backfield depth added
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Strong faces added competition for work in the Cleveland backfield following the team's addition of Kareem Hunt on Wednesday, Kelsey Russo of the Browns' official site reports.
In the wake of Nick Chubb's season-ending knee injury, Strong's profile in the Browns offense initially looked as though it could increase. While that's still possible to some degree, Strong's change-of-pace touches now are less clear following the signing of Hunt, who played for Cleveland from 2019 through 2022. For now, Jerome Ford is slated to work as the team's lead back, beginning with Sunday's game against the Titans. Assuming Hunt is active Week 3, he could end up serving as the top backup rather than Strong, who has been with the Browns for less than a month and didn't play his first snaps on offense until after Chubb exited Monday's loss to the Steelers.
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Browns' Pierre Strong: Role likely to grow
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Strong had two carries for one yard and a touchdown and failed to catch his only target in Monday's 26-22 loss to the Steelers.
Strong, who played only 13 special-teams snaps in Week 1, saw his first action of the season on offense after the Browns lost Nick Chubb to a potentially season-ending knee injury. Jerome Ford will move to the No. 1 spot on the depth chart while Strong becomes the primary backup. The 24-year-old was selected by the Patriots in the fourth round of the 2022 draft and was mainly a special-teams contributor during his rookie season, producing 100 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries over 49 offensive snaps, but he got traded to Cleveland in late August after New England signed Ezekiel Elliott. Ford and Strong could be joined by Hassan Hall, who is currently on the Browns' practice squad.
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Browns' Pierre Strong: Special teams only in opener
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Strong did not play an offensive snap in Sunday's 24-3 win over the Bengals in Week 1.
Strong operated as the No. 3 back but did not see the field while the Browns were on offense. The former Patriot instead played 13 snaps on special teams while Nick Chubb and Jerome Ford handled all the backfield duties. Strong, who was traded to Cleveland in late August, could see a bigger role in the backfield once he's more familiar with the playbook.
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Browns' Pierre Strong: Could have role early on?
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Strong may have a role in the Browns offense to start the season, Irie Harris of cleveland.com reports.
Strong is one of three RBs on the initial 53-man roster, along with Nick Chubb and Jerome Ford, after the Browns traded OT Tyrone Wheatley to New England for the running back this past Sunday. While Ford's recent return to practice after battling a hamstring injury suggests Strong may not really be needed Week 1, a small role on offense isn't out of the question, nor is playing time on special teams.
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Browns' Pierre Strong: Traded to Cleveland
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The Patriots traded Strong to the Browns in exchange for Tyrone Wheatley on Sunday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
With the addition of Ezekiel Elliott, Strong found himself buried on New England's running back depth chart, which is led by Rhamondre Stevenson, and was losing ground to fellow 2022 draft pick Kevin Harris. In Cleveland, there's less of a logjam behind Nick Chubb, so Strong will be competing with Jerome Ford, Demetric Felton and others for backup opportunities.
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Patriots' Pierre Strong: Back at practice Tuesday
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Strong (concussion) returned to practice Tuesday, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.
Strong is sporting a red, non-contact jersey for Tuesday's session, but this puts him on track to play in the preseason finale Friday against the Titans after he missed last weekend's exhibition. Strong is trying to carve out a pass-catching role in New England's offense behind Rhamondre Stevenson and Ezekiel Elliott.
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Patriots' Pierre Strong: Expected to see action Thursday
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Strong is among the younger Patriots players who is expected to see some early action in Thursday's preseason opener against the Texans, Paul Perillo of the team's official site reports.
While head coach Bill Belichick hasn't specifically outlined his plans for who will play in Thursday, based on the way Tuesday's practice played out, the Patriots appear set to rest or limit a number of key players. As a result, the door could be open for the likes of Strong, fellow running back Kevin Harris, and receivers Tyquan Thornton, Kayshon Boutte and Demario Douglas to get some run with the team's reserve quarterbacks versus Houston. Though Rhamondre Stevenson is entrenched as the Patriots' top back, both Strong and Harris are competing for complementary work, with the continuing absence of Ty Montgomery (leg) having afforded the pair of 2022 draftees added opportunities in practice of late. While the 5-foot-10, 225-pound Harris is a candidate to spell Stevenson on early downs, Strong's speed could make him a change-of-pace asset this coming season.
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Patriots' Pierre Strong: Logs 10 carries in rookie season
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Strong finished the 2022 season with 10 carries for 100 yards and a TD in 15 games to go along with seven catches (on seven targets) for 42 yards.
The 2022 fourth-rounder saw limited action as a rookie, with Rhamondre Stevenson and Damien Harris handling the bulk of the Patriots' backfield duties. With Harris slated to become a free agent this offseason, there could be snaps and touches up for grabs next season for Strong, as well as 2022 sixth-rounder Kevin Harris. Though Strong is no threat to supplant Stevenson, the 5-foot-11, 205-pounder out of South Dakota State could potentially carve out enough of a change-of-pace role during his second pro campaign to merit fantasy consideration in PPR formats.
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Patriots' Pierre Strong: Catches two passes in Week 16
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Strong caught both of his targets for 10 yards in Saturday's 22-18 loss to the Bengals.
Even though Damien Harris (thigh) remained out Saturday, Strong logged just two snaps in the contest, while working behind Rhamondre Stevenson (51snaps), per Mike Reiss of ESPN.com. As long as Stevenson and/or Harris are available, Strong can't be counted on to see enough touches to merit fantasy lineup consideration.
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Patriots' Pierre Strong: Limited touches Sunday
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Strong carried the ball four times for 25 yards and caught all three of his targets for 12 yards in Sunday's 30-24 loss to the Raiders.
The rookie was coming off a big performance against the Cardinals, but with Rhamondre Stevenson apparently fully recovered from his ankle injury and having a massive day, there weren't many touches left over for Strong in the New England backfield. He may have played well enough over the last two weeks to secure the No. 2 spot on the depth chart even once Damien Harris (thigh) is healthy, but his fantasy outlook seems dim for Week 16 against a Bengals defense that has stifled the likes of Nick Chubb and Derrick Henry over the last month.
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Patriots' Pierre Strong Jr.: Sleepers (Start/Sit)
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We'll keep an eye on the Patriots backfield this week, but Rhamondre Stevenson (ankle) and Damien Harris (thigh) could be out. That would leave Strong and Kevin Harris as the backfield tandem against the Raiders, and Strong is the preferred Fantasy option. In Week 14 against the Cardinals when Stevenson got hurt, Strong had five carries for 70 yards and a touchdown, along with two catches for 20 yards on two targets, and Harris had eight carries for 26 yards and a touchdown. Both could have the chance to make plays, but Strong is clearly the more explosive rusher. The Raiders have allowed six running backs to score at least 12 PPR points in their past five games.
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Patriots' Pierre Strong Jr.: Week 15 Adds (RB Preview)
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I prefer Strong to Kevin Harris because I think he has more paths to Fantasy relevance. If Rhamondre Stevenson is out, I could still see a path to five-to-10 carries and a handful of targets if Strong is sharing with Damien Harris. If both Patriots' lead backs are out then you could start both Pierre Strong and Kevin Harris as borderline No. 2 backs, but I would prefer Strong because of his work in the passing game. For now, put in a claim for both.
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Patriots' Pierre Strong: Listed as active Sunday
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Strong (hamstring) is listed as active for Sunday's game against the Colts, Evan Lazar of the Patriots' official site reports.
With Damien Harris (illness) inactive for the contest, look for Rhamondre Stevenson to handle the bulk of the Patriots' backfield duties on Sunday, while J.J. Taylor and Strong are available to work in complementary roles. Neither of two backups are high-percentage fantasy lineup options in Week 9, however.
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Patriots' Pierre Strong: Listed as questionable for Week 9
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Strong (hamstring) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Colts, Evan Lazar of the Patriots' official site reports.
A hamstring issue limited Strong at practice this week, with his status of added import in terms of the Patriots' backfield depth Week 9, given that Damien Harris (illness) also is listed as questionable for the contest. If Harris ends up being unable to play this weekend while Strong is available, the rookie fourth-rounder still would be a speculative fantasy option, however, with Rhamondre Stevenson capable of absorbing the bulk of the RB touches in the event of a Harris absence.
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Patriots' Pierre Strong: One carry in Week 6
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Strong logged four of a possible 70 snaps on offense in Sunday's 38-15 win over the Browns, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.
With Damien Harris (hamstring) inactive Sunday, Strong -- who carried once for five yards -- and Kevin Harris (12 snaps, three carries) both suited up for the contest, but as expected Rhamondre Stevenson handled the bulk of the team's backfield work. Strong remains off the fantasy radar until or unless he starts seeing steady snaps and touches in the Patriots offense.
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Patriots' Pierre Strong Jr.: Week 5 Waiver Priority List
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NFL Network reports that Damien Harris (hamstring) will "likely miss multiple games," which means Strong is now the No. 2 running back in New England behind Rhamondre Stevenson. That could change when Ty Montgomery (knee) is healthy, but Strong has some lottery-ticket appeal in case something happens to Stevenson while Harris is out. And there's a chance the Patriots can use Strong in tandem with Stevenson, so Strong could become a flex option in deeper leagues. He's worth adding in all leagues for up to 5 percent of your remaining FAB.
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Patriots' Pierre Strong: Inactive in Week 5
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Strong is inactive for Sunday's game against the Lions.
With Strong inactive, Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson will once again lead the Patriots' rushing attack in Week 5, while the team will have six wide receivers active against Detroit.
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Patriots' Pierre Strong: Logs two special teams snaps
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Strong did not log a snap on offense in Sunday's 37-26 loss to the Ravens.
Strong was limited to two special-teams snaps in the contest, with Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson once again leading the Patriots backfield. At some point, Strong could earn a share of change-of-pace work for the team, but for now the 2022 fourth-rounder is off the fantasy radar.
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Patriots' Pierre Strong: Three snaps in Week 2
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Strong logged three snaps on offense in Sunday's 17-14 win over the Steelers, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.
Strong, who didn't record a catch or carry in the contest, did return two kickoffs for 48 yards in his NFL regular-season debut. While it's possible that the 2022 fourth-rounder could grow into a change-of-pace role in the Patriots offense over the coming weeks, the team's backfield is currently led by Damien Harris (27 snaps, 15 carries) and Rhamondre Stevenson (42 snaps, nine carries).
