Cleveland

Browns

The multi-score start was Watson’s second straight, though his yards per attempt fell precipitously for the second consecutive week. He’s now gone from 9.3 YPA in Week 1 to 7.9 to 4.8. Absolutely everything was underneath this afternoon, though we suppose the effort did come in a win. Watson found Harold Fannin for seven catches and a pair of scores after hitting the tight end seven total times between Weeks 1 and 2. The flip side was that Watson had just one completion longer than 20 yards, a 28-yard strike to Denzel Boston. Watson also missed a snap late after taking a big hit, but ended up returning ahead of what proved to be the game-winning field goal. Watson hasn’t been quite as bad as feared, but he’s hardly silencing the critics, including Browns fans who occasionally booed Sunday. The Steelers will be a tough short-week matchup this Thursday. Watson won’t be in the superflex mix for that one.

Mekhi Blackmon, who was signed off the street in late August, will again fill in for Campbell. It’s a significant downgrade, to put it mildly. Also inactive for the Browns are QB Taylen Green, LB Justin Jefferson, C Parker Brailsford and starting guard Teven Jenkins.

He did not practice at any point this week and looks to be questionable for Week 4. The Browns also listed CB Tyson Campbell (hip, ankle) and Grant Delpit (shoulder) as questionable. Browns coach Todd Monken said he’s “hopeful” Campbell and Delpit will go.

Fannin showed signs of life as Deshaun Watson played much better than he did in the season opener against the Jaguars. Running a pass route on 28 of the Browns’ 36 drop backs, Fannin was tied for second in targets among Cleveland pass catchers. Watson’s check-down tendencies — he had a 3.6 aDOT against Tampa — could keep Fannin alive for PPR purposes in Week 3 against the Panthers. He likely won’t be a top-12 option though.

After his two-catch performance in Week 1, Jeudy is off to a roaring start. Denzel Boston has established himself as Cleveland’s de facto No. 1 wideout while KC Concepcion is being force fed the ball on gadget plays near the line of scrimmage. With almost no avenue to fantasy relevance, Jeudy should remain on waiver wires.

It’s the rookie’s second touchdown grab in as many weeks. After catching an intermediate pass from Deshaun Watson, Boston spun out of a tackle and raced to the end zone for a 55-yard score — by far the biggest play of the game. Boston is cementing himself as the clear WR1 in the Cleveland offense, well ahead of KC Concepcion — who had another inefficient day on Sunday — and Jerry Jeudy, who did not catch his lone target against Tampa. Boston will have plenty of deep league fantasy appeal in Week 3 against the Panthers.

Judkins nearly scored a couple times inside the ten yard line, but couldn’t quite punch it in. The second-year back has a solid role if/when the Browns are able to hang with their opponents and produce sufficient neutral and positive game script. On Sunday against the Bucs, Judkins accounted for 12 of the Browns’ 15 running back carries and was targeted frequently out of the backfield as Deshaun Watson posted an aDOT of 3.6. Judkins should be a top-24 option in Week 3 against a middling Panthers defense.

The good news: Todd Monken is intent on getting the football into the hands of the shifty rookie wideout. The bad news: Designed plays have been borderline disastrous for Concepcion, who was buried for a six yard loss on a first quarter carry. Denzel Boston — who caught his second touchdown of the season — was the only Browns pass catcher to see more targets for Concepcion on Sunday. Concepcion’s role in the low-wattage Cleveland offense leaves little room for weekly upside. He should be rostered in deeper formats though.

Watson was far more accurate than he was in Week 1’s meltdown loss to the Jaguars. He was 6.5 percent over his expected completion rate and once again hit rookie WR Denzel Boston for a long touchdown. Watson navigated the pocket well and was passably accurate on short-area throws (his 3.6 aDOT is as low as it gets for a full game’s work). His Week 2 play all but guarantees he’ll hang on to the Browns’ starting QB gig for at least a few more weeks before Shedeur Sanders or Dillon Gabriel get another shot under center. Watson will have superflex appeal in Week 3 against a gettable Carolina defense.

Schefter said it “feels like Shedeur’s time is coming” if Watson bombs in the Browns’ Week 2 matchup with the Bucs following his Week 1 collapse against Jacksonville. Sanders, in that scenario, would be under center for the Browns’ home opener against the Panthers in Week 3. Sanders, who is slightly more accurate than Watson in the short and intermediate areas, would be an upgrade for Harold Fannin and KC Concepcion. He would likely be a downgrade for downfield air yards eater Denzel Boston.