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Harold Fannin Jr: The rookie tight end had a spectacular debut, hauling in seven of nine targets for 63 yards. Fannin seemed to usurp David Njoku’s role, that of being Flacco’s favorite target. He’s looking like a late-round steal or a fantastic waiver wire pickup, with an ADP in the 250s. I expect HFJ to put up 10+ points weekly, bringing some consistency to a fantasy position that, at the moment, desperately lacks it.
Dylan Sampson: Sampson got tremendous usage in Week 1. Not only was he our lead back (doubling the amount of touches that Jerome Ford got), number 22 also saw 8 targets through the air, all of which he caught. The only downside from his first performance was a disappointing 2.4 YPC, which got him a whopping 29 ground yards on 12 rushes. How much of that is on our O-line, versus the pressure brought by a Trey Hendrickson-led defensive unit, is yet to be seen.
Browns D/ST: I’m going to keep this one simple. Ja’marr Chase, 26 yards. Chase Brown, two yards a carry. A drive with 3 straight sacks (the first two coming from DPOY Myles Garrett). And finally, seven offensive yards in the second half. If there’s one thing that never changes in the NFL, it’s that Myles Garrett OWNS Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals.
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David Njoku: Six targets in a game where Joe Flacco throws 45 times is not ideal. Nor are the three catches for 37 yards. With the emergence of Harold Fannin Jr., I’m left wondering how The Chief fits into our passing scheme. If he can establish himself as a premier redzone threat (as done in previous years), his whole fantasy landscape could change. But for now, it doesn’t look great.
Jerome Ford: six rushes for eight yards, one target and two rookie running backs. If Njoku’s role on the team is up in the air, Ford’s is nonexistent.
Whoever is our starting kicker: I don’t know why, and I don’t know how, but Cleveland is allergic to good kickers. That is all I’m going to say on the matter.
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