NFL Fantasy Preview: Cleveland Browns

Nick Chubb (Erik Drost, Wikimedia Commons)

In a 32-part series leading up to the start of the 2021 National Football League season, we will take a look at each NFL franchise from a fantasy perspective. The seventh team we will review is the Cleveland Browns.

If there is one thing NFL fans like to seem, it is progress. In 2020, the Cleveland Browns made significant progress, as they had their first winning season since 2007, and made the playoffs for the first time since 2003. After winning 11 of 16 games, Cleveland’s regular season success entered into the postseason, as they won their first postseason game since 1995, in an impressive 48-37 win over their AFC North Division rivals, Pittsburgh Steelers.

When it comes to fantasy football, you may not pick a Cleveland Browns player in the first round, but there are a ton to choose from in the second round and thereafter.

At the running back position, Cleveland is in a unique situation. Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt are both exceptional backs, and are both ranked high despite the fact of a definite timeshare. Chubb had 190 rushes for 1067 yards and 12 touchdowns, along with 16 catches for 150 yards in 2020. Hunt, the former Chiefs RB, had 198 rushes for 841 yards and six touchdowns, along with 38 catches for 304 yards and five touchdowns.

At this time, give the fantasy edge to Chubb. He is expected to play the first two downs, while Hunt will be more of a third-down back. Chubb is 10th in my fantasy football rankings, while Hunt is right behind at number 11. One must also realize that Hunt has had outstanding running back success in the past, as he had 1327 yards in 2017, which led the NFL.

When it comes to the passing game, Baker Mayfield of Austin, Texas is ranked 20th despite a formidable group of talented receivers. Last season, he completed 305 passes in 486 attempts for 3563 yards, 26 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

One area where Mayfield made significant progress was his accuracy. His eight interceptions were 13 fewer picks than the 21 he had in 2019.

Still, one major reason why Mayfield is not among the elite quarterbacks when it comes to fantasy is centered around his passing yards total. In 2020, Mayfield’s 3563 yards were only the 18th most in the NFL, and he only had two games where he exceeded 300 passing yards.

There are two Browns receivers worth taking in the middle to late rounds. Odell  Beckham Jr. did not have a very good season (319 yards and three touchdowns) before tearing his ACL against the Bengals in week seven. Still you cannot ignore his sensational time with the New York Giants to begin his career, when he was selected to the Pro Bowl three straight years from 2014 to 2016, and led the NFL with 108.8 yards per game in his rookie season of 2014.

The other Browns wideout worth pondering is Jarvis Landry, who could be valuable in fantasy leagues that award extra points for catches. Landry led the NFL with 112 receptions while with the Miami Dolphins in 2017, and has received in the triple digits in targets in each of his seven NFL seasons.

At tight end, Austin Hooper is ranked 18th. Last season he had 46 catches for 435 yards and four touchdowns in his first year in Cleveland, after four seasons in Atlanta. Finally on defense, Cleveland is ranked number 18 as well. They are led by defensive end Myles Garrett, one of the highest-paid defenders in the entire NFL, and free agent linebacker Jadeveon Clowney, who signed a one-year contract worth $10 million, after playing last year with the Tennessee Titans. 

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