This will be the easiest piece I’ve ever written, as the answer is absolutely NO!
I kid I kid. Well, maybe not, but let me at least dig in a little bit.
As with most things in life, it’s all about cost. And there have been some changes to the roster, from both trades and injuries, so there could be opportunities.
The obvious blemish for the Browns offense is the play at quarterback, as Deshaun Watson has been abhorrent. Per Next Gen Stats, Watson has produced a Total EPA of -73.3. His average yards per completion is a paltry 3.7. Since 2016, that’s the 11th-lowest number among all quarterbacks who have thrown at least 50 passes in a season.
If Jameis Winston gets the nod, then fantasy nerds across the globe will be giddy with excitement. It’s highly unlikely that change is made due to the massive Watson contract, but it’s something to keep in mind.
With Amari Cooper now in Buffalo, Jerry Jeudy, Elijah Moore and Cedric Tillman all move up the target totem pole. I don’t think any of them are viable unless Winston is chucking the ball. Jeudy had games with eight, six, seven and nine targets, but he will now be lined up against the best cornerbacks. On the season, there have only been six instances in which a Browns wide receiver scored double-digit FPTS, with Cooper posting the only 20+ FPTS game.
The tight ends haven’t been heavily utlized, with a total of 35 targets spewed to the position, but David Njoku did return from an injury and saw seven targets in Week 6. He only caught five for 31 yards, though.
Running backs Jerome Ford and D’Onta Foreman are dealing with injuries while Nick Chubb is expected to return in Week 7. He hasn’t played since September of 2023 due to a knee injury. His workload and effectiveness are in question, and he’s never been a big part of the passing game, so there is too much uncertainty to be relied upon right now. Plus, the game script won’t be in his favor most weeks.
Ford is the only Browns running back to put up double-digit FPTS. He did it three times, with a high of 18.9. He was able to get there due to his involment in the passing game, as he rushed for a high of 58 yards but caught six, seven and three passes.
Yeah, there’s no Browns player that is fantasy viable at the moment. We want Winston. We need Winston. Unfortunately, we will likely not get Wilson.
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