Fantasy Football: 32 Teams in 32 Days: The Cleveland Browns
By Matt Mikolas
Fantasy Football: 32 Teams in 32 Days: The Cleveland Browns
Off-Season Overview
The Cleveland Browns winning football games. I know, I know. It seems like solar eclipses happen more often than the Brownies coming up on the right side of a final score. And, it is true, an eclipse did in fact happen more recently than Cleveland’s last victory.
But NO MORE!
No, it would seem the NFL’s favorite punching bag wants to stand up and be counted. A slew of off-season moves stands to catapult them from dregs of the NFL to the realm of not horrible. But will any of those changes have positive impact on Cleveland’s fantasy outlook?
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YES! (We all hope. I mean, come on, Brownies… we want it for you! Really, we do!)
Cleveland has made wholesale changes to its offense. Newsflash, they’re actually investing resources into moving and scoring the football. And, they’re pretty good resources.
Tyrod Taylor comes in to take over the reigns at quarterback, at least for this year, before rookie phenom Baker Mayfield will take over presumably in 2019. Taylor isn’t coming alone. He’s bringing with him offensive weapons WR Jarvis Landry along with RBs Carlos Hyde and rookie Nick Chubb. I don’t know if it will translate into wins, but the new-look Browns should put up some points in 2018.
I Gotta Get Me One of Those!
Jarvis Landry led the league in receptions last year, and has been top 7 each of the last three seasons. Obviously, he’s a PPR god, and two of those three seasons he’s put up more than 1,000 yards.
Tyrod Taylor has shown if nothing else that he can make the most out of a number one receiver when he has one. While Taylor won’t put up fantastic numbers HIMSELF, he served up a 1,049 yard 9 touchdown season to Sammy Watkins in 2015. Only starting 13 games and nagging lower body injuries prevented him from being a top wideout that year.
Speedster Josh Gordon should (SHOULD) be playing in his first full season since 2013. His unique speed will draw the attention of defensive backs, and I expect Landry to feast in Cleveland’s new offense.
Buyer Beware
Part of the offensive retooling in Cleveland is a commitment to making the running game work. Carlos Hyde was brought in to be a part of that commitment.
While it makes sense on paper, I wouldn’t count on a lot from Hyde. The 5th year pro was essentially squeezed out of Kyle Shanahan’s offense after four seasons without putting up 1,000 yards in any one year. I expect Nick Chubb and holdover Duke Johnson to be the only two relevant fantasy options at running back.
Stay Woke
Redraft: Duke Johnson just got his first mention in the sentence above, and he’ll get another mention here. Johnson has emerged as a really nice receiving option out of the backfield. He should emerge at the very least as a 3rd down back that racks up 1,000 all-purpose yards. That’s his floor. His ceiling is much higher than that. But his draft position will make him a valuable sleeper for you.
Dynasty: Earlier this off-season, I wrote about a player with the potential to become the new Tyreek Hill: Browns Rookie WR Antonio Callaway.
He’s got a little less speed, a little more size, and John Dorsey, who built that team in Kansas City is now running the Browns. Callaway is someone who will fall to the third round of a dynasty rookie draft; take him there, and wait a year or two. You might be pleasantly surprised.
Tomorrow’s preview: The Cincinnati Bengals.
Next: Fantasy Football Draft Prep: Planting My Flag
Stay tuned to Fantasy CPR each day for all your fantasy football news and analysis as we march closer to the start of the NFL season.