X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

Fantasy Football Breakouts, Busts, and Locks - Cleveland Browns 2022 Outlook

Nick Chubb - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News, DFS Lineup Picks

2022 fantasy football team preview for the Cleveland Browns. Mitch Blatt's fantasy football sleepers, breakouts, busts, or safe picks on the Browns based on ADPs.

Welcome (back) to our fantasy football Breakouts, Busts, and Locks, a series on RotoBaller where our writers look at three key players on each NFL team.

Let's review the Cleveland Browns. When I first wrote this article, we didn't know how long Deshaun Watson would be suspended for. Now we know he's going to be missing the first 11 games of the season. That means he's only giving fantasy managers willing to have him on their team one or two games before the playoffs start--and there's the distinct possibility that he'll come back rusty for a few weeks, if his preseason Week 1 performance was any indication.

I was not high on Amari Cooper even under the best-case scenario. I think Watson's suspension for the majority of the season adds to the argument against Cooper.

Editor's Note: Steer clear of costly draft mistakes with RotoBaller’s expert Fantasy Football Bust analysis. We break down overvalued players, potential letdowns, and risky ADPs to avoid, so you can build a smarter, safer roster.

Cleveland Browns Breakout: David Njoku

David Njoku has looked like an above-average tight end his past two seasons. After being drafted #29 by the Browns in 2017, he took the position of number one tight end in 2018 and was targeted 88 times. With 639 yards, he ranked as the #8 TE in standard scoring (#9 in full and half PPR). In 2019, he suffered multiple injuries and only played in four games. Then the Browns brought in Austin Hooper and Harrison Bryant in 2020.

Although Njoku has produced top-12 efficiency numbers, with yards per route run of 1.40 and 1.52 in 2020 and 2021, he has not received enough targets to be a viable starting fantasy option. In 2021, he only averaged 30 yards per game and was the #19 TE in standard (#22 in full PPR).

Now, Hooper has left for Tennessee, and many of the team’s top wide receiving targets, including Jarvis Landry and Rashard Higgins, have left too. Amari Cooper came via trade, and David Bell came in Round 3 of the Draft. But the Browns' offense under Kevin Stefanski utilizes tight ends more than almost any other team.

The Browns used 1-3 personnel (1 RB, 3 TEs) for 17% their plays, more than twice as much as the next highest team. They used two tight ends in about 45% of their alignments, 15 percentage points more than the NFL average. In all, the Browns QBs targeted tight ends 142 times in 2021.

If those targets all went to one person, he would be the third-most targeted tight end in the NFL. Njoku won’t be getting every single target. Harrison Bryant is still on the team. He was used less infrequently but was dependable when targeted. Still, it is predictable that Njoku will get the lion’s share of the work given that the Browns signaled their trust in him with a four-year, $56.75 million deal this offseason.

 

Cleveland Browns Bust: Amari Cooper

Even if Deshaun Watson were to start all 17 games at quarterback, one could be at least slightly concerned about Amari Cooper’s 2022 prospects. Drafters were at one point taking him as the #18 WR in half PPR on Sleeper. But he only finished inside the top-18 once since 2017. For each of the past three years, he was playing for teams that ranked inside the top-seven in passing offense.

He’s joining a team with a projected Week One starting QB who averaged 210 yards per game last season. Jacoby Brissett put up those numbers while throwing the ball 37 times per game. He’s joining a team that averaged 30.6 yards per game.

Cooper was already being overhyped since the trade went down. He’s always been on the edge of the elite, never taking the next step. He has never quite lived up to his #4 overall draft capital. He makes the Pro Bowl, not the All-Pro team. He rates 90 on Madden, not on PFF.

His play drops off as a season goes along—a trend that is evident in his monthly splits: 75 yards per game in September and October versus 53 in December and January. Then after a Week 15 performance in which he only caught two of five targets for eight yards, he complained he wasn’t getting the ball enough. He wasn’t getting the ball as much because he was being outplayed by a second-year receiver.

In fact, he was getting outplayed by second-year receivers on other teams with worse QBs throwing them the ball, Darnell Mooney and Michael Pittman Jr., in 2021 too as well as rookie Amon-Ra St. Brown, all of whom are going behind him in drafts.

 

Cleveland Browns Lock: Nick Chubb

In an offense riddled with uncertainty, Nick Chubb is the one consistent elite at his position. He’s recorded over 1,000 scrimmage yards, eight rushing touchdowns, and 5.0 yards per carry every single year of his career. He’s second, behind only Derrick Henry, in rushing yards since 2018 and fourth in rushing yards per game. For each of the past three seasons, he has ranked as a top-12 RB in standard and half PPR.

Going into 2022, there is every reason to believe he’ll be a low-end RB1 once again. The Browns' offensive line is ranked as #2 by PFF and #5 by Fantasy Pros. He has upside regardless of what ends up happening at QB. If it is Jacoby Brissett all year long, the Browns will have to run the ball heavily. If Watson plays, Chubb could see increased efficiency on each run and more red zone trips.

It is unlikely Chubb will be in the running for #1 RB, however, given the Browns split backfield approach. Kareem Hunt takes about 10 carries per game when healthy, and when he missed eight games last year, D’Ernest Johnson showed he was more than capable of stepping into his role.



Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy football app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, rankings, starts/sits & more. All free!

More Fantasy Football Analysis




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Anthony Santander

Hoping to Hit Soon
Luis Robert Jr.

Returning in Short Order
Alex Bregman

Could Return Later This Week
Ketel Marte

Day-to-Day with Groin Tightness
Ty Gibbs

Finishes Second at Chicago and Advances in In-Season Challenge
Alex Bowman

Defeats Bubba Wallace in In-Season Challenge, but Not Without Controversy
Alex Bowman

Bubba Wallace Wrecked by Alex Bowman Again, Putting Playoffs in Doubt
Michael McDowell

Throttle Failure Ends Michael McDowell's Chances to Win at Chicago
Austin Hill

Earns First NASCAR Cup Series Top Ten at Chicago
Tyler Reddick

Scores a Strong Third-Place Run at Chicago
Kyle Busch

Matches his Best Career Finish At Chicago on Sunday
Denny Hamlin

Fights his Way to a Top-5 Finish at Chicago
William Byron

has his Worst Weekend of the Season at Chicago
Hunter Greene

Suffers Setback on Monday
Philadelphia 76ers

Kyle Lowry Staying With 76ers
Kyle Anderson

Lands in Utah
Kevin Love

Traded to Jazz in 3-Team Swap
Norman Powell

Traded to Miami
John Collins

Dealt to Clippers
J.J. Spaun

Finishes Tied For 14 at Travelers Championship
Xander Schauffele

Finishes Tied For 61 at Travelers Championship
Collin Morikawa

Finishes Tied For Eighth at Rocket Mortgage Classic
Robert MacIntyre

Finishes Tied For 17 at Travelers Championship
Si Woo Kim

Finishes Tied For 11 at John Deere Classic
Viktor Hovland

Withdraws From Travelers Championship
Tommy Fleetwood

Finishes Tied For Second at Travelers Championship
Brian Campbell

Wins John Deere Classic
Bronny James Jr.

Scores 10 Points
Harrison Ingram

Limited on Sunday
Golden State Warriors

Isaiah Mobley Drops 16 Points
Ryan Rollins

Staying with Bucks
T.J. Watt

Pittsburgh Still Not Close on New Contract
Terry McLaurin

Still Not Pleased with Contract Situation
Sonny Milano

on Track to Be Ready for Training Camp
Yu Darvish

to Make Season Debut on Monday
MLB

Nationals Fire Dave Martinez, Mike Rizzo
Jakub Dobes

Signs Two-Year Deal with Canadiens
KaVontae Turpin

Arrested on Two Charges
Cole Ragans

to Begin Throwing on Monday
Theo Johnson

Prioritizing his Health this Offseason
Andrés Giménez

Andres Gimenez Hits 10-Day Injured List
Jermaine Burton

Continues to Show Growth
NHL

Hendrix Lapierre Signs One-Year Deal with Capitals
Carson Hocevar

Should DFS Players Consider Carson Hocevar for Chicago Lineups?
Tye Kartye

Kraken Re-Sign Tye Kartye for Two Years
Ross Chastain

May be A Decent DFS Option for Chicago Lineups
Dmitri Voronkov

Signs Two-Year, $8.35 Million Extension with Blue Jackets
Ryan Preece

Should DFS Players Roster Ryan Preece at Chicago?
Austin Dillon

Is Too Great of A Risk to Add to Chicago Lineups
Zane Smith

Is A Value Play Worth Rostering At Chicago
Austin Hill

is A Favorable Value Option for Chicago DFS Lineups
Ty Dillon

Is Ty Dillon A Decent Driver to Add For NASCAR DFS At Chicago?
William Byron

Qualifying Crash Makes William Byron a Likely DFS Must-Have
Alex Bowman

Should Finish Well, but Probably Costs Too Much for Serious DFS Consideration
Joey Logano

Has Been Relatively Mediocre on Road Courses Lately
Ryan Blaney

Doesn't Really Fit Neatly into Optimal DFS Lineups
Austin Cindric

Remains an Overrated Road Racer
Cam Ward

"Not Expecting" to be handed Starting Job
Chase Claypool

Eager to Get Back on the Field
Wyatt Langford

Activated, Playing on Saturday
Jay Huff

on the Move to Indiana
Cam Whitmore

Wizards Acquire Cam Whitmore from the Rockets
LaJohntay Wester

Stands out on Special Teams
Clarke Schmidt

Likely to Undergo Tommy John Surgery
Nolan Arenado

Scratched from Saturday's Lineup
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Starting on Saturday
Corbin Carroll

Activated from 10-Day Injured List
Cincinnati Bengals

Shemar Stewart, Bengals Continue Contract Talks, No Progress Made
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Potential Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade may not Happen Until "August, September"
Ha-Seong Kim

Removed Early During Season Debut
ARI

Christian Fischer Retires From NHL at 28
NHL

Spencer Martin Moves to Russia
WAS

Anthony Beauvillier Re-Signs With Capitals for Two Years
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Sitting Out With Foot Issue
Isaiah Neyor

Impresses at Minicamp
Jock Landale

Waived by Rockets
Bo Bichette

Back in Blue Jays Lineup
Jonas Valančiūnas

Jonas Valanciunas Considering Returning to Europe
Miles Sanders

Works With Starters During Mandatory Minicamp
Jabari Walker

Signs Two-Way Deal With Sixers
Chimere Dike

Titans Could Move Chimere Dike Inside
Keandre Lambert-Smith

KeAndre Lambert-Smith not Guaranteed Roster Spot
Anthony Bradford

Working Hard to Win Back Starting Job
Byron Young

Still Improving?
Cody Simon

Jonathan Gannon has Been Impressed With Cody Simon
SirVocea Dennis

has Impressive Offseason
Trevor Penning

Could Still Have a Role in New Orleans
Jonathan Kuminga

Warriors Decline Recent Offer for Jonathan Kuminga
Moritz Wagner

Magic Agree to One-Year Deal
Clarke Schmidt

Placed on Injured List
José Soriano

Jose Soriano Throws Gem Against Braves
Robbie Ray

Earns Ninth Win in Complete Game
T.J. Watt

Likely to Reset the Edge-Rush Market
George Springer

Blasts Two Homers, Drives in Four
Bradley Beal

Suns Discussing Potential Buyout
Jaxson Hayes

Staying with the Lakers
NBA

Damian Lillard "Open" to Signing With a Team This Offseason
Pittsburgh Steelers

Omar Khan, Steelers Agree to Three-Year Contract
SJ

Sharks Claim Nick Leddy Off Waivers
SJ

Sharks Sign Dmitry Orlov to Two-Year, $13 Million Contract
CAR

Nikolaj Ehlers Joins Hurricanes on Six-Year Contract
Chau Smith-Wade

Having Stellar Offseason
Ace Bailey

Inks Rookie Contract With Jazz
COL

Brent Burns Inks One-Year Deal with Avalanche
STL

Blues Land Pius Suter on Two-Year Deal
Morgan Frost

Agrees to Two-Year Extension with Flames
WPG

Gustav Nyquist Moves to Winnipeg
Cody Glass

Devils Re-Sign Cody Glass to Two-Year Deal
PIT

Anthony Mantha Joins Penguins
Emil Heineman

Signs Two-Year Deal with Islanders
Simon Holmstrom

Re-Signs with Islanders for Two Years
UTA

Nate Schmidt Signs Three-Year Deal with Mammoth
UTA

Brandon Tanev Moves to Utah on Three-Year Contract
Bud Cauley

in Great Form Ahead of John Deere Classic
Christiaan Bezuidenhout

a Player to Avoid at John Deere Classic
Jake Knapp

Riding Momentum Ahead of John Deere Classic
PGA

Sungjae Im Looking for Consistency at John Deere Classic
Ryan Gerard

a Solid Option at John Deere Classic
Rickie Fowler

Looking to Rebound at John Deere Classic
Cameron Champ

a Volatile Option at John Deere Classic
Jackson Suber

Staying Below 70 is Key to Success for Jackson Suber
Kevin Roy

Playing Better Heading into John Deere Classic
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF