Five Biggest Questions
2. Who will start at RB?
3. Can Corey Coleman have a break-out rookie campaign?
4. Is any other WR draftable?
5. Will Gary Barnidge pick up where he left off last season?
The Browns have one 10+ win season and one playoff game since 1995. In fairness, the team didn’t exist from 1996 to 1998. But the point is, it’s been a long time since this team was a Super Bowl contender. From a fantasy perspective, this offseason Cleveland added a QB (RGIII) who might not start another NFL game after this year; drafted a backup QB (Cody Kessler) a round or two (or three?) earlier than conventional wisdom dictated; and selected arguably the top WR (Corey Coleman) in the draft. While I have no problem with the Coleman pick, having a dominant WR without a half-decent QB to throw to him is like having a state-of-the-art cell phone with a power cord that caps its battery life at 10%.
At the QB spot, the 37-year-old Josh McCown probably is the best of the bunch. I don’t trust RGIII to come close to his 2012 numbers. 2013 is the best one can expect, and that probably won’t keep him behind center all season. Neither of these guys, nor Kessler, are worth touching even in 2-QB leagues.
Many or most of you know what Isaiah Crowell did earlier this month. Long viewed as getting the first crack at the starting job, he’s now at risk of handing it to Duke Johnson. In the past 10 days his ADP has plummeted to 41, while Duke Johnson’s has jumped to 31. While this turn of events caused me to lower Crowell’s projections and elevate Duke’s, I’m stunned by how quickly industry experts and fantasy managers have abandoned Crowell. Unless he’s suspended (not likely) or eventually demoted (possible, but certainly not a given), he remains on my high-end RB3 / low-end RB2 radar. Duke is an RB4 with upside. All of this could change tomorrow. The Browns could give up on Crowell. But if that were going to happen, it should have happened already. Crowell offer incredible buy-low value.
At wide receiver, Coleman will help fill the seats. The Browns should be playing from behind most halves, and aside from Gary Barnidge, Cleveland has no other dependable option beyond five yards. Coleman is my 40th ranked WR with top 28-32 upside if QB play is better than expected. Elsewhere at this position, Andrew Hawkins, Taylor Gabriel, and Terrelle Pryor are undraftable unless Coleman gets hurt—and even then, I wouldn’t start any of them even in deep 14-team leagues. Rookie Rashard Higgins is the only non-Coleman WR worth monitoring; this year’s 172nd NFL draft pick has a little dynasty appeal if 2017 ushers in a QB upgrade.
I was late to the Barnidge party last season, continually assuming the 30-year-old would return to earth. Coming in at a TE-8 ranking, I’m not as high on him this year as many people, but will concede he’ll rack up sufficient receptions and yards on a team with few better options and facing near-constant pressure to play catch-up.