Monken: Boston to begin working with first-team

Concepcion caught three passes for 27 yards in the Browns’ preseason opener and also ran in a 14-yard touchdown on a jet sweep. The rookie first-rounder drew high praise from Monken on Monday, who said, "(Concepcion) is explosive, he’s tough, he’s got great contact balance,” to the media. There have been multiple reports this offseason about the Browns trying to get Concepcion the ball in as many ways as possible. We’ll still want to see how his usage shakes out once we get to real games, but Concepcion sounds like a great later-round target who could yield early results for fantasy managers.

Concepcion did a little bit of everything in this one, with his most notable play coming on a 14-yard rushing touchdown on a jet sweep. The rookie first-rounder also had an impressive 31-yard punt return that would have gone for more if not for a shoestring tackle by Hayden Large. Concepcion played on 24 offensive snaps, with all four of his targets coming from Deshaun Watson. It was a strong debut for the explosive rookie, who is among the more intriguing sleepers in fantasy drafts this season.

Boston, who ESPN’s Benjamin Solak compared to Sam LaPorta after viewing Browns training camp, looks to have a locked in role with the Browns early. We wouldn’t necessarily say that Boston is a lock to be fantasy-useful, but Todd Monken has been well-regarded as an offensive mind and Jerry Jeudy didn’t exactly light it up last year. It’s certainly in the range of outcomes that Boston puts up a WR3/WR4 type of year as a rookie.

Concepcion landed hard on his right shoulder near the end of Monday’s practice and was in visible pain while making his way to the sideline. Despite the initial scare, it doesn’t appear this is anything too serious. The rookie receiver has made a strong early impression in training camp and is one of the more intriguing late-round dart throws in fantasy drafts this season.

Browns beat writer Mary Kay Cabot posted a video to her X account on Monday, where Concepcion can be seen walking to the sideline with a trainer while holding his right shoulder. We don’t know much beyond what we saw on Cabot’s video, so this will be one to keep an eye on. Concepcion has enjoyed a strong camp with the Browns through the first week and is expected to be a focal point in the offense in his rookie year under Todd Monken.

Oyefusi says the plays to Concepcion varied from “deep shots to screens to run plays,” as the versatile receiver has seemingly been all over the place early this offseason. It was reported earlier this month that head coach Todd Monken planned to design touches for Concepcion, who many believed to be one of the best overall playmakers in this year’s draft. It still remains to be seen how he will be deployed in his rookie season, but Concepcion could have a chance to be the most productive receiver in the Browns’ passing game this season, given his ability to operate in the short areas of the field and in the quick passing game. He is a player who will be worth a close watch in training camp, as any reports of significant usage could hint at a quick return in value for fantasy managers who drafted him.

Per Jackson, organized team activities and mandatory minicamp “offered clues” about Monken’s use of motion and how he plans to “hunt mismatches in the quick passing game and use misdirection to create space and passing lanes for the quarterback.” That said, Jackson also believes that either TE Harold Fannin or fellow rookie WR Denzel Boston will be the “leading receiver.” It remains to be seen whether Monken will actually dial up a high target volume for an X-receiver like Boston. He featured WR Zay Flowers, who Concepcion has been likened to, as the top target-earning wide receiver with the Ravens. If Concepcion only gets a few designed looks per game, it will be tough for him to produce reliably in fantasy. If he can be more than that, even while earning targets behind Fannin while Boston stretches the field, Concepcion can return FLEX value in his first season.

Cleveland’s Mary Kay Cabot reports that Jeudy “felt something in his hamstring today,” so he sat out. Coach Todd Monken made clear that he does not give veterans rest days right now, so if a player sits, it’s because they are being cautious with an injury. Today was the Browns’ final mandatory minicamp practice. They will now go on break until training camp begins in July. Early in May, Cabot reported that the team is hoping Jeudy reclaims his WR1 role this season. Browns rookie WRs KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston have been taking full rotations with both the No. 1 and No. 2 offensive groups. Yesterday, ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi reported Boston “has been one of the Browns’ standouts this summer.” Get well soon, Jeudy. The youngsters look promising.

Boston (6'4/210) was viewed as a classic, downfield X-receiver pre-draft, possessing the “ability to make tough catches downfield.” Boston successfully high-pointed a pass from QB Deshaun Watson today, producing what Oyefusi referred to as the top highlight at Wednesday’s practice. Boston has also “been a reliable pass catcher on short and intermediate routes” thus far. If he can keep it up, he has a chance to earn a starting role early in his career.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport adds that Concepcion’s fully guaranteed rookie contract is worth roughly $20 million. Earlier today, we got word that Concepcion and fellow rookie WR Denzel Boston are already taking full rotations with both the No. 1 and No. 2 offensive groups, which is good news. Browns WR Jerry Jeudy currently occupies the No. 1 spot, but that could change if one of the two rookies pens a strong case this summer.