Welcome to the league’s messiest quarterback room. Veterans
Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett (hamstring) were signed prior to
the draft to compete for the starting job, but things truly went
off the rails when the Browns exited the draft with not one, but
TWO developmental prospects. As camp kicks off, it seems like
Flacco’s job to lose. The 40-year-old has managed to keep
several offenses afloat in brief spurts (he threw for 265 yards
per game in his six starts for Indy last year.), but he’s
obviously not tagged as the long-term starter. If the team breaks
camp with all four guys, there is a chance that they will each
get a shot during the regular season, and that’s simply
a fantasy situation to avoid at all costs.
Cleveland has some fantasy viable skill position players, but
this offense is being rebuilt with inexperienced youth. They seem
like a lock to finish last in the division, and are going to skew
run heavy. There’s an outside chance the young guys (Sanders)
give the offense a shot in the arm during the year, but I wouldn’t
be leaving a draft with a Cleveland quarterback on my roster.
Facing a legal situation that threatens to derail his career
before it starts, Judkins, the teams’ 2nd round pick brings
a violent, aggressive running style the Browns haven’t seen
since Nick Chubb’s heyday. Built to be the workhorse of
the backfield, it’s essential Judkins gets into camp as
soon as possible, as the longer he remains in limbo, the less
likely he’ll have an impact early this season. If you are
drafting before his legal situation works out, he brings a load
of risk, and therefore can be nothing more than a late-round gamble.
Supremely athletic for his size, Judkins has the ability to be
a three-down back, but because of the off-field issues, and an
offense that’s going to struggle to move the ball, he might
be relegated to more of a dynasty pick, than a redraft asset.
The player with the most to gain from the absence of Judkins,
might be fellow rookie Dylan Sampson. The compact built Sampson
was ultra productive at Tennessee, breaking a conference touchdown
record that stood for almost 100 years. His vision and instincts
combine with a solid athletic profile to give the Browns a potential
sleeper hit. Surely the Browns drafted the slippery Sampson to
pair with the power of Judkins, but because of off-the-field issues,
Sampson could find himself with early season starter’s snaps.
With holdover Jerome Ford (who has missed some camp time with
injury) the only current roadblock to meaningful snaps, Sampson
could be a steal for teams drafting early. If Judkins’s situation
drags on, Samson's fantasy value will continue to rise.
After Chubb’s release, Ford becomes the elder statesman in the
Cleveland backfield. Despite showing flashes as a moderately used
backup (his 5.4 yards-per-carry average last year was a career
high), the Browns invested two draft picks at the position, pushing
Ford down the depth chart. With Quinshon Judkins dealing with
legal issues, Ford's spot on the roster, and his fantasy value
are temporarily alive. At best he’s a committee back that could
share time with the rookie Sampson. At worst, Judkins returns,
and Ford gets bumped down the depth chart. Until that happens,
Ford is probably worth a risk at the end of your draft or as a
waiver wire add.
With Amari Cooper gone, Jeudy ascends to the clear alpha receiver
in the passing game. Absolutely worthless until a blow-up game
in Week 11, Jeudy was a waiver wire add that probably propelled
more than a few teams to league championships. His 9-235-1 game
vs Denver in Week 13 was one of the most unlikely performances
of the 2024 season, and he gets to carry that late-season momentum
into 2025. Jameis Winston was willing to constantly throw caution
to the wind targeting Jeudy relentlessly from Week 9 on. With
the mercurial QB off to New York, Flacco and a bunch of unproven
young quarterbacks take up the mantle. Winston may be a boon to
fantasy receivers with his mentality, and Flacco should be able
to keep Jeudy fantasy relevant as long as he remains under center.
Jeudy has the benefit of being a target hog, but the uncertain
quarterback situation caps him out as a risky, but worth it WR3.
Tillman, the 2023 3rd rounder from Tennessee showed elite flashes
during the middle part of the season, but a scary concussion ended
his year in Week 12. Tillman also enjoys a jump up the depth chart,
and his production outlook would be much better if it weren’t
for such an unknown quarterback situation. Jameis Winston’s
gunslinging ways ignited this Cleveland passing game, and with
Flacco possessing some of the same traits, Tillman could return
some value as long as the old man remains under center. This entire
offense is going to be hard to trust no matter what happens at
quarterback, but Tillman is worth a roster spot as a back end
WR5 in certain leagues as long as Diontae Johnson doesn’t
impede his development.
Injuries tanked his overall stats, but Njoku was just as productive
as ever in the 11 games he played in last season. Perhaps Cleveland's
most trustworthy fantasy asset, Njoku has seen at floors of 80
targets and 58 receptions the last three seasons. On a per game
basis, he was top-10 at the position, and with potential free
agency looming, Njoku will be supremely motivated. 3rd round rookie
Harold Fannin Jr. is oozing with potential, but will likely be
slated for a developmental year. As a tight end, his production
is more insulated with a potential revolving door of quarterbacks.
