In the eighth of a 32-part series, we will feature all National Football League teams with a prediction of where each team will finish within their division, key off-season acquisitions and their top fantasy stars. Today we will look at the Cleveland Browns.
Key Off Season Acquisitions
The Cleveland Browns made three key moves in 2022. They acquired controversial quarterback DeShawn Watson in a trade with the Houston Texans, wide receiver Amari Cooper in a trade with the Dallas Cowboys, and signed defensive tackle Taven Bryan from the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Cooper had 68 catches for 865 yards and eight touchdowns in Dallas in 2021. He will be joining his third NFL franchise after four seasons each with the Cowboys and Oakland Raiders. Bryan meanwhile signed a one-year contract worth $5 million. Last year in Jacksonville, he had 15 combined tackles (10 solo tackles and five assisted tackles), eight quarterback hits, four tackles for a loss and two sacks).
To back up Watson, the Browns signed quarterback Jacoby Brissett. Last season Brissett played for the Miami Dolphins and backed up Tua Tagovailoa.
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Fantasy Stars
Watson did not play at all least season and could find himself facing a lengthy suspension for inappropriate behaviour with women during massage therapy sessions. When he does start, Watson should be considered as a midseason pickup if he is on the waiver wire. At that time, Cooper should be considered too.
Prediction
Really the Cleveland Browns season at this moment is extremely unpredictable because we do not know Watson’s fate. A lengthy suspension would almost certainly be problematic in Cleveland and quite possibly take them out of playoff contention. If Watson plays half the year, it should be enough to keep the Browns out of the basement in the AFC North and ahead of the Pittsburgh Steelers. A third place spot is where I think Cleveland will finish.
