Jamari

Thrash

It’s a healthy scratch for second-year fifth-rounder Thrash, who has not played since Week 10. About to turn 25 years old, Thrash is looking like someone who can be cut loose from the end of deep dynasty league benches.

Njoku dealt with the knee issue last week, but played through it to the tune of zero targets in essentially a part-time role in Week 12. Also limited among the offensive skill players were RB Jerome Ford (hamstring) and WR Jamari Thrash (foot). None of these three are crucial producers for the Browns at the moment. Njoku’s absence would give more opportunities for Harold Fannin, though he is still trending to play Week 13 against the 49ers.

Browns receivers caught a combined 2-of-9 targets against the Patriots, with Thrash bringing in both receptions. Though he was technically the leading wide receiver for the day, the Browns offense with Dillon Gabriel is not good enough to bring fantasy relevance to any of their wide receivers. Malachi Corley added a carry for 31 yards, but neither Corley nor Thrash is worth starting. Thrash is only worth adding in the deepest of fantasy leagues.

Stefanski continued praising Thrash: “Very intelligent player, can line up in multiple positions which I think is valuable. And then he showed up, he’s caught the ball well and you know the quarterbacks like how he gets open. He finds a way to get open versus zone, versus man.” Thrash had three catches on seven targets last year and is competing with Diontae Johnson for the Browns’ slot receiver job. There’s a chance he earns that role, but a lower-targeted player on the Browns’ fantasy-deficient offense isn’t likely to deliver fantasy value in 2025.

Jackson notes Johnson’s experience and production as reasons for him to have the edge over Jamari Thrash. Pittsburgh traded Johnson to Carolina last offseason. The Panthers then threw in the towel on him by shipping him to Baltimore. The Ravens cut him later in the year and then the Texans picked him and cut him a few weeks down the road for good measure. That’s four teams giving up on him in a calendar year. The Browns signed him to a measly, one-year, $1.2 million deal this offseason. Even if Thrash, a fifth-round pick in 2024, didn’t show enough as a rookie to be pencilled in as a starter, we’re not willing to call it for Johnson either.

Conklin was listed as questionable after practicing in a limited capacity all week. His surgically repaired knee evidently needs more time though. Backup T James Hudson III will start in his stead. Wills Jr. (knee) and Njoku were ruled out earlier in the week. Thompson-Robinson serves as the emergency QB.

This was the best outing of the preseason for Thrash, who entered the day with six catches for 68 yards. The rookie fifth-rounder is battling for a roster spot and likely secured one with Saturday night’s performance. Thrash led all Browns receivers on the night and hauled in a beautifully thrown ball from Dorian Thompson-Robinson for a 46-yard score early in the second quarter. If the Browns’ receivers stay healthy through most of the season, Thrash’s primary contributions will likely come on special teams. However, he could be an injury away from seeing more work, depending on how the 53-man roster shapes out. If nothing else, he makes for an interesting stash on dynasty rosters.

Thrash (6’0/188) transferred to Louisville for 2023 after breaking out for 62-1123-7 in 2022 while at Georgia State. An uptick in competition didn’t do much to slow Thrash down, as he went for 62-848-6 in his final season. In his final two seasons, Thrash averaged a solid 6.8 YAC per catch while forcing a missed tackle on 26.6 percent of his receptions. He’s a bit undersized for an outside receiver but turned in a solid 4.46 40 time at the combine. His struggles with contested targets will need to improve, as he’ll likely face tighter coverage in the pros, but Thrash has playmaking abilities that could lead to teams finding ways to scheme him touches. He has an outside shot at finding his way into three-wideout sets in Cleveland.

McCoy (5'11/185) was responsible for one of the Panthers’ four touchdown receptions on the day, with his eight-yard score giving Georgia State a 27-7 lead just before halftime. The junior wide receiver ends the 2020 season with touchdowns in two straight games, and a receiving stat line of 31-447-4. With McCoy being a junior, Sam Pinckney and Cadarrius Thompson (1-25-1 vs. WKU) being sophomores and Jamari Thrash (2-24-1) just a freshman, Georgia State’s receiving corps won’t lack for talent in 2021.