Fantasy Football 2016 Preview: Cleveland Browns running backs

Isaiah Crowell

This offseason Crowell was in the news for all the wrong reasons, but it doesn’t look like his social media follies will cost Crowell any time.  Hue Jackson has stated his support for Crowell, and it looks like he’ll be ready to be the team’s starting running back to open the year.

He worked throughout the preseason as the team’s first team early-down option and put up some pretty decent numbers. He ended up with 22 carries in his four games for 76 yards and a touchdown.  His best game came in Preseason Week 3 when he averaged almost five yards a carry against a tough Tampa front seven and ended ups with 39 yards on eight carries.

Crowell is entering his 3rd season after joining the Browns as an undrafted free agent out of Alabama State.  He has been durable playing in all 16 games both seasons and set career highs across the board last year.  He finished with 706 yards rushing and 182 yards receiving on 19 catches.  He found the end zone five times and was a serviceable starter even though he did average under four yards per carry.

This season, he is part of another timeshare and will give up at least third-down work to Duke Johnson Jr. (more on him later). I see Crowell as having a limited ceiling, but being a solid option as a backup for your fantasy team since he should have a relatively high floor due to his weekly workload.

Right now, Crowell is being drafted in the 12th round as the 41st running back off the board.  That seems like about the right spot for him although I could see going with him as an RB4 if you had some high-risk starters.  Crowell is a low-risk draft pick in the 12th since he has the job, but he isn’t a swing for the fences option either.  Consider the rest of your running back corps, and if you need some “insurance” look to make Crowell part of your team.

Next: More upside, but will he get more work?