Browns Stash Dylan Sampson on IR, Add Jaleel McLaughlin to Fill the Gap
Sampson's knee injury will cost him significant time after 88 PPR points as a rookie. Denver castoff McLaughlin joins Cleveland's backfield.
IR with significant time out — free up the bench spot in shallow leagues.
- Sampson placed on IR, expected to miss significant time
- Rookie posted 88 PPR pts in 2025 (175 rush, 271 rec yds)
- Sampson was our RB53, overall #219 before injury
- Jaleel McLaughlin signed to 53-man roster
- McLaughlin scored 31 PPR pts across 8 games in 2025
Cleveland shut the door on Dylan Sampson's season timeline Tuesday, placing the second-year back on injured reserve after word broke that he's expected to miss significant time. The knee injury popped up on Sunday, when Sampson returned a pair of kicks before exiting — an ugly way to lose a player who quietly put up 88 PPR points as a fourth-round rookie in 2025.
To backfill the depth chart, the Browns signed Jaleel McLaughlin to the 53-man roster. McLaughlin, most recently in Denver, managed 187 rushing yards, a score, and 31 PPR points across eight games last season (2025). Cleveland also stacked the practice squad, adding running back Eric Gray, tackles Obinna Eze and Xavier Truss, and punter Wes Pahl, while cutting corner D'Angelo Ross and D-tackle Chris Williams.
What Sampson's Loss Actually Costs You
Let's be honest about who Sampson was in fantasy terms. Our model had him at RB53, #219 overall — deep bench territory in all but the largest leagues. His value came almost entirely through the air: 33 catches for 271 yards and two touchdowns in 2025, versus a modest 175 rushing yards and zero rushing scores. He'd actually been trending up, averaging 2.2 fantasy points above his season line over his last five games.
That form bump is now moot. IR with a vague "significant time" tag on a fringe roster piece is about as bearish as it gets. If you were holding Sampson as a handcuff or a PPR dart throw, the runway just disappeared.
The McLaughlin Angle
McLaughlin is the name to actually watch here, though temper it. He lands as our RB79 (#350 overall) and he's joining a crowded room, not stepping into a workhorse role. His 31 PPR points last season (2025) tell you he's a rotational piece until proven otherwise. In deep dynasty or a 14-plus-team league, he's a speculative stash to see how the touches shake out — nothing more yet.
Bottom line: drop Sampson in any league shallower than 14 teams and reclaim the roster spot. He's a dynasty stash at best now. McLaughlin is a wait-and-see add for deep formats only — check who's actually getting the carries next Sunday before you commit a FAAB dollar.
