Boston listed as No. 1 WR on early depth chart

It’s been an impressive few weeks of camp for Boston, who has flashed on several occasions since things got underway. The rookie second-rounder has made enough of an impression to begin working with the first-team offense ahead of the team’s first preseason game, which suggests he is well on his way to solidifying an early role in the offense. While the Browns’ quarterback situation leaves much to be desired, Boston could end up having a solid fantasy floor in his rookie season under Monken. Both he and fellow rookie KC Concepcion are intriguing later-round picks in redraft leagues this season.

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.

In other words, they’re “going to play a lot” per Jackson. It’s generally a good sign when rookies are already working with the 1s ahead of camp, even if they haven’t literally won the No. 1 role yet. Both players carry some breakout potential, though it’s hard to recommend either as more than a bench redraft league prayer in shallow leagues to open the season given Cleveland’s quarterback situation.

Cabot later writes that “the Browns really need Jeudy to return to his Pro Bowl form, and are confident he will.” We think her initial, hopeful framing is closer to the truth. Last week, Browns general manager Andrew Berry said rookie WRs KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston’s presence has “zero impact” on Jeudy. There’s an awful lot of reassurance going on here. Jeudy posted a 92/1,229/4 receiving line in 2024 before cratering to a 50/602/2 receiving line in 2025. Jeudy is under contract through 2027, but the dead money and salary cap savings are nearly even if designated as a post-June 1 cut next year. Given the Browns’ pass-catching investments over the last two drafts, and Jeudy’s poor 2025 showing, he looks like a dicey pick in fantasy for 2026.

Boston (6’4/212) spent the first two years of his collegiate career as a backup, waiting in the wings behind Rome Odunze, Jalen McMillan, and Ja’Lynn Polk. Studying behind a trio of NFL receivers proved fruitful for Boston as he racked up 834 yards and nine scores in 2024. Boston was productive as a junior, but his route-running left a lot to be desired. With another offseason under his belt, Boston looked more sudden in his final campaign, making it far easier for him to leverage his massive frame over opposing corners. In 2024, nearly a quarter of his targets were contested. That rate fell to 14 percent in 2025, but he also drastically improved his contested catch rate, bringing in a stunning 76.9 percent of his contested looks as a senior. Boston’s physical, downfield brand of football is going out of style in the modern game, and he didn’t do himself any favors at the NFL Combine. After skipping the 40-yard dash, Boston recorded an underwhelming 35” vertical jump. Without elite straight-line speed or explosion metrics, Boston will look more like a possession WR2 than a true No. 1 in the pros. He joins first-round pick KC Concepcion in what has quickly become a crowded Cleveland receiver room. Given the dreadful state of quarterback play on this roster, our hopes aren’t high for either rookie wideout this year.

Raanan posted the note in response to his own social media post from earlier today, where he said the Giants looked into moving back into the end of Round 1. He believes they “could be aggressive early here at the beginning of the second round.” The front office wants to “add a weapon” for QB Jaxson Dart.

Pelissero echoed NFL insider Jordan Schultz’s phrasing from a report issued earlier today, saying it sounds like the 49ers are “very open” to fielding trade offers for the No. 33 overall pick. Pelissero mentions Ohio State DT Kayden McDonald, Washington WR Denzel Boston, Miami QB Carson Beck and Tennessee CBs Colton Hood and Jermod McCoy as possible targets.

Miller says the Raiders’ No. 1 overall pick will be Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza. The Raiders will then use their early-season-round pick to “support” their rookie quarterback. He notes that Washington WR Denzel Boston has been “connected” to the Raiders already. Miller’s colleague, Ryan McFadden chimes in to say that reuniting Mendoza with Indiana WR Elijah Sarratt “would also be ideal.”