Fantasy football 2020 AFC North depth chart breakdowns
By Bill Pivetz
QB: Baker Mayfield
RBs: Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt
WRs: Odell Beckham, Jarvis Landry, Taiwan Taylor
TEs: Austin Hooper, David Njoku
On paper, the Browns looked like they could have won the division. The hype was at an all-time high from both a real and fantasy football perspective. In real life, they disappointed but for fantasy, the stars put up solid numbers.
In his second season, Mayfield saw some regression. He threw for 3,827 yards, 22 touchdowns and 21 interceptions. He had a 27:14 TD:INT ratio in 2018. Mayfield can be a playmaker, especially with the weapons around him. He just has to protect the ball a bit more. He’s in the bottom half of my top 20. Mayfield will be good for 2QB leagues or as a backup.
Chubb had a top-10 season and will look to do it again this year. He had 298 carries, third-most in the league, with 1,494 yards second in the league, and eight touchdowns. Chubb will be the lead back for the Browns with Hunt picking up 179 and two touchdowns on 43 carries over eight games. Hunt is back for the full season, so I expect Chubb to have fewer carries and less of an impact on the passing game. He’s still a top-10 running back though.
Even with his turnovers, Mayfield was able to give the Browns two 1,000-yard receivers in Beckham and Landry on 74 and 83 receptions, respectively. I don’t see a third receiver having an impact on the offense for fantasy owners to draft, especially with the addition they made at the tight end position. Beckham is a top-15 receiver with Landry coming in at 29.
Njoku had a decent 2018 season but after his injury-riddled 2019, the Browns front office decided to sign Hooper as the highest-paid tight end. Hooper takes over the TE1 spot from Njoku. He had 75 catches for 787 yards and six touchdowns with Atlanta last year. The Browns could go with a two-tight end set like many other teams are but I’m not sure if there will be enough targets for both.