Cleveland Browns 2026 Overview

Schedule

Wins

Play Calling

Key Additions

• QB Taylen Green
• WR KC Concepcion
• WR Denzel Boston
• OT Spencer Fano
• OT Tytus Howard
• G Zion Johnson
• C Elgton Jenkins

Key Departures

• TE David Njoku
• OT Jack Conklin
• G Joel Bitonio
• G Wyatt Teller
• C Ethan Pocic

Notable Coaching Changes

• HC Kevin Stefanski and OC Tommy Rees out
• HC Todd Monken and OC Travis Switzer in

Deshaun Watson

A Lost 2025

Watson missed the entire 2025 season after re-rupturing his right Achilles while rehabbing in January. He underwent surgery on Jan. 9.

The first Achilles rupture ended Watson’s 2024 season on Oct. 20.

A Declining Player

Watson’s Browns Tenure Has Been A Disaster

Watson has started just 19 games and played 17 full games across four seasons in Cleveland. In those 17 full games, he’s averaged:

• 190.1 passing yards
• 1.1 TDs
• 0.65 INTs

The efficiency has been even uglier. Watson has completed 61.2% of his passes and averaged 6.0 yards per attempt as a Brown. Here’s where he ranks among 50 QBs with 500+ attempts over the last four seasons:

• 42nd in completion rate
• 48th in yards per attempt
• 45th in adjusted yards per attempt
• 42nd in QB rating

Watson has tacked on 24.5 yards and 0.18 rushing TDs per game across his 17 full outings.

But his 16.8 fantasy points per game in those contests would have ranked just 26th among QBs last year (27th in 2024, 30th in 2023).

He Used To Be Awesome

His production with the Browns has been far different from what Watson did in his first four seasons with the Texans.

Watson averaged 269 yards and 1.9 TDs per game through the air, with sparkling efficiency:

• 67.8% completion rate
• 8.3 yards per attempt
• 5.9% TD rate

Watson also averaged 31.1 yards and 0.32 TDs per game on the ground.

His finishes among QBs in fantasy points per game:

• 2017: first
• 2018: fifth
• 2019: fourth
• 2020: seventh

Injuries And Off-Field Trouble

On top of the pair of Achilles tears, Watson also:

• Tore his right ACL on November 2, 2017, costing him the final nine games of his rookie season
• Played through cracked ribs and a bruised lung in 2018
• Missed 11 games with a fractured right shoulder in 2023

And then there’s the off-field stuff. Watson sat out the entire 2021 season amid allegations of sexual misconduct from more than two dozen massage therapists. Although he was never criminally charged, the NFL determined that he violated its personal-conduct policy and suspended him for 11 games to begin the 2022 season.

2026 Opportunity & Projection

Watson The Favorite For Starting Job

Watson enters the final year of his fully guaranteed $230 million contract. He’s due $46 million, and releasing him would have cost the Browns about $131 million in dead money.

Watson is joined in the QB room by sophomores Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel and sixth-round rookie Taylen Green.

Offseason reporting has Watson and Sanders as the top candidates for the Week 1 starting job, with Watson the early favorite.

"Watson emerged from the Browns voluntary minicamp last week with an edge over Shedeur Sanders in the two-man quarterback competition -- and has the inside track to be named the Browns QB1," Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot wrote in late April.

This battle figures to continue through training camp. And unless Watson plays significantly better than he has the last few years, expect at least two Browns QBs to see the field this season.

A Revamped But Still Mediocre Supporting Cast

The Browns made significant investments on offense this offseason, most notably spending a pair of top-40 draft picks on WRs KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston. 

Concepcion (24th overall) broke out as a freshman at North Carolina State in 2023 and led Texas A&M with 61 catches, 919 yards, and 9 TDs last year. He’s position-versatile and especially dangerous after the catch.

Boston (39th overall) is your classic big-bodied outside receiver. The 6’4, 212-pounder averaged 13.7 yards per catch with 20 total TDs over his final two seasons at Washington. With WR Jerry Jeudy also back in the mix, the Browns could at least have an average WR corps this season. That’d be a big step up from last year.

At TE, Cleveland let David Njoku leave but brings back Harold Fannin Jr. off an awesome rookie season. His 72 catches were the seventh-most by a first-year TE in NFL history. Fannin was efficient, too, ranking 12th in yards per route among 38 qualifying TEs.

Cleveland also rebuilt its offensive line after a disastrous 2025. The Browns moved on from longtime starters Joel Bitonio, Wyatt Teller, Ethan Pocic, and Jack Conklin, replacing them with free agents Tytus Howard, Zion Johnson, and Elgton Jenkins, plus first-round rookie Spencer Fano.

Howard, Johnson, and Jenkins are expected to start. Here’s how they ranked at their respective positions in Pro Football Focus pass-blocking grade last year:

• Howard: 14th out of 75
• Johnson: 44th out of 71
• Jenkins: fifth out of 36

Fano is expected to push Dawand Jones out of the starting lineup. A three-year starter at Utah, Fano allowed just 5 pressures and 0 sacks last year, winning the Outland Trophy as college football's top lineman.

This offensive line should improve after ranking near the bottom of the league in most metrics last season.

Monken Brings Pass-Leaning History

The Browns canned HC Kevin Stefanski and OC Tommy Rees after the 2025 season and replaced them with HC Todd Monken and OC Travis Switzer.

Monken confirmed during his introductory press conference that he'll call the plays. This is his first NFL head-coaching gig, but he has seven seasons of OC experience (three with the Buccaneers, one with the Browns, and three with the Ravens).

Monken’s Ravens teams were run-heavy, due in large part to having QB Lamar Jackson and RB Derrick Henry. But he leaned pass prior to that, with three of his first four offenses ranking higher in pass attempts than rush attempts.

Jameis Winston quarterbacked Monken’s three Bucs offenses, finishing 18th, 14th, and 11th among QBs in fantasy points per game. 

Baker Mayfield finished QB26 as Monken’s starter with the 2019 Browns.

Paths to Ceiling

Watson would need to rediscover his Texans form to hit a ceiling this year. We’re not betting on that.

The best-case scenario includes a rebound in passing efficiency to somewhere near league average, plus above-average rushing production. That would make Watson a useful starter in 2-QB and superflex leagues, and potentially a 1-QB spot starter.

Risk Factors

Watson has been one of the least efficient passers in the league since joining the Browns. And that was before he tore his Achilles twice.

He could lose the starting job to Shedeur Sanders in training camp and be a total non-factor in fantasy this year.

Shedeur Sanders

2025 Role & Results

One Big Outing Props Ugly Production

Sanders took over for Dillon Gabriel in Week 11 last year and then started the final seven games of the season. In those starts, he averaged:

• 193.3 passing yards
• 1.0 TDs
• 1.3 INTs
• 21.9 rushing yards
• 0.14 rushing TDs

Sanders ranked 27th among QBs in fantasy points per game over that stretch, and even that got propped up by a big Week 14 that found him second among QBs in fantasy points. He finished QB18 or worse in his other six starts.

Bottom-Barrel Passing Efficiency

Sanders was one of the worst passers in the league last year. Among 42 QBs with 150+ attempts, he ranked:

• 42nd in completion rate
• 38th in completion rate over expected
• 31st in yards per attempt
• 41st in turnover-worthy play rate
• 41st in Pro Football Focus passing grade

Sanders was also a sack-taking machine. He took 21 sacks across his seven starts and finished with the seventh-highest sack rate (9.8%) among those 42 QBs.

He Didn't Get Much Help

Sanders didn’t get much help from his teammates.

Rookie TE Harold Fannin Jr. was Sanders' most reliable target. TE David Njoku missed four of Sanders’ seven starts, and Cleveland trotted out WRs Isaiah Bond, Cedric Tillman, and Gage Larvadain behind Jerry Jeudy.

The offensive line was also a mess. The Browns finished 31st in PFF pass-blocking grade and 20th in ESPN pass-block win rate. Sanders faced pressure on a league-high 51.4% of his dropbacks.

No One Wanted To Draft Sanders

Sanders plummeted to the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. He was the second QB selected by the Browns, two rounds behind Gabriel.

Sanders was an efficient passer throughout his college career, completing 69.6% of his attempts with 134 TDs vs. 27 INTs. But he has average arm strength and poor pocket presence, taking 150 sacks over his four college seasons.

2026 Opportunity & Projection

In The Mix For The Starting Job

Sanders faces new competition with Deshaun Watson back this year. Watson is entering the final year of his fully guaranteed $230 million contract and returning from his second right Achilles’ tear. He hasn’t suited up since October 2024 and hasn’t played well since he was with the Texans back in 2020. In three seasons with the Browns, Watson has completed 61.2% of his passes at 6.0 yards per attempt.

Early reporting has Watson as the favorite for the Week 1 starting job, but Sanders will have a chance to change that in training camp and preseason.

The Browns also return Gabriel and drafted QB Taylen Green in Round 6 this spring.

We’re expecting to see multiple QBs make starts for Cleveland this season.

A Revamped But Still Underwhelming Supporting Cast

The Browns made significant investments on offense this offseason, most notably spending a pair of top-40 draft picks on WRs KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston. 

Concepcion (24th overall) broke out as a freshman at North Carolina State in 2023 and led Texas A&M with 61 catches, 919 yards, and 9 TDs last year. He’s position-versatile and especially dangerous after the catch.

Boston (39th overall) is your classic big-bodied outside receiver. The 6’4, 212-pounder averaged 13.7 yards per catch with 20 TDs over his final two seasons at Washington.

They join Jerry Jeudy in what could at least be an average WR corps this season. That’d mark a big improvement over last year.

At TE, Cleveland let Njoku leave but brings back Fannin off an awesome rookie season. His 72 catches were the seventh-most by a first-year TE in NFL history. Fannin was efficient, too, ranking 12th in yards per route among 38 qualifying TEs.

Cleveland also rebuilt its offensive line after a disastrous 2025. The Browns moved on from longtime starters Joel Bitonio, Wyatt Teller, Ethan Pocic, and Jack Conklin, replacing them with free agents Tytus Howard, Zion Johnson, and Elgton Jenkins, plus first-round rookie Spencer Fano.

Howard, Johnson, and Jenkins are expected to start. Here’s how they ranked at their positions in PFF pass-blocking grade last year:

• Howard: 14th out of 75
• Johnson: 44th out of 71
• Jenkins: fifth out of 36

Fano is expected to push Dawand Jones out of the starting lineup. A three-year starter at Utah, Fano allowed just 5 pressures and 0 sacks last year, winning the Outland Trophy as college football's top lineman.

This offensive line should improve after ranking near the bottom of the league in most metrics last season. That’s significant for Sanders, who struggles with pocket presence and throwing under pressure.

New Staff Brings Passing Upside

The Browns canned HC Kevin Stefanski and OC Tommy Rees after 2025 and replaced them with HC Todd Monken and OC Travis Switzer.

Monken confirmed during his introductory press conference that he'll call offensive plays. This is his first NFL head-coaching gig, but he has seven seasons of OC experience (three with the Buccaneers, one with the Browns, and three with the Ravens).

Monken’s Ravens teams were run-heavy, due in large part to having QB Lamar Jackson and RB Derrick Henry. But he leaned pass prior to that, with three of his first four offenses ranking higher in pass attempts than rush attempts.

Jameis Winston quarterbacked Monken’s three Bucs offenses, finishing 18th, 14th, and 11th among QBs in fantasy points per game. 

Baker Mayfield finished QB26 as Monken’s starter with the 2019 Browns.

Paths to Ceiling

Improved weaponry and pass protection could boost Sanders’ passing efficiency this season. If he continues to add moderate rushing production as he did last year, he could be a useful QB2.

Risk Factors

Sanders was one of the worst passers in the league last year and seemingly heads to training camp as the underdog to Watson for the starting job.

Sanders could spend 2026 as a backup.

Quinshon Judkins

2025 Role & Results

The Rookie Produced As A Low-End RB2

Judkins ran for 827 yards and 7 TDs across 14 games last year, adding 171 yards on 26 catches. 

He finished 26th among RBs in PPR points per game and 24th in half-PPR.

If we omit Week 2, when his playing time was limited in his debut, and Week 16, when he left in the second quarter with a leg injury, Judkins climbs to 24th in PPR points per game and 23rd in half-PPR.  

Judkins was a relatively volatile weekly producer. He scored as a top-12 PPR RB four times but finished RB26 or lower eight times.

Two-Down Usage Capped The Production

Omitting Weeks 2 and 16, Judkins played 54% of Cleveland’s offensive snaps. That ranked 26th among RBs.

Judkins controlled the rushing work, averaging 17.7 carries per game on a 71.9% share. Only Jonathan Taylor and Ashton Jeanty posted higher rush-attempt shares last season.

But Judkins ceded most of the passing-down work, running a route on just 28.0% of pass plays and drawing a 6.4% target share. Those marks ranked 50th and 45th, respectively, among RBs. 

Dylan Sampson and Jerome Ford combined for a 51.3% route share and 12.7% target share in Judkins’ 12 full games.

Judkins ranked 19th among RBs in expected PPR points per game and 17th in half-PPR.

He Was Better Than The 3.6 Yards Per Carry Suggests

Judkins’ 3.6 yards per carry last year ranked 46th among 51 RBs with 90+ carries. The blocking earned a lot of the blame. Judkins’ 1.36 yards before contact per attempt ranked 48th among those 51 RBs.

He fared better in advanced rushing metrics. Among those 51 RBs, he ranked: 

• 29th in rush yards over expected per attempt
• 14th in yards after contact per attempt
• 29th in missed tackles forced per attempt

As a pass catcher, Judkins ranked 24th among 40 qualifying RBs in both yards per route and Pro Football Focus receiving grade.

Offensive Line Didn't Help

Judkins played on a bad Browns team that finished 5-12. Cleveland trailed for 54.1% of Judkins’ snaps.

The offense ranked:

• 19th in plays
• 30th in total yards
• 32nd in yards per play
• 31st in points

The Browns’ offensive line ranked near the bottom of the league in most run-blocking metrics:

• 24th in ESPN run-block win rate
• 29th in PFF run-blocking grade
• 31st in adjusted line yards

College Resume Was Mixed

Judkins was the 36th overall pick and third RB off the board in the 2025 draft.

He broke out as a true freshman at Ole Miss in 2022, running for 1,567 yards and 16 scores on 5.7 yards per carry. Judkins’ raw production (1,158 yards) and efficiency (4.3 YPC) declined in 2023, though, and then he transferred to Ohio State.

Judkins shared the backfield with TreVeyon Henderson in 2024. Judkins led in carries (194), rushing yards (1,060), and rushing TDs (14). But Henderson beat him in yards per carry (7.1 to 5.5), catches (27 to 22), and receiving yards (284 to 161).

Judkins’ 2024 advanced rushing metrics underwhelmed. Among 31 RBs invited to the Combine, he ranked:

• 31st in yards over expected per attempt
• 28th in yards after contact per attempt
• 24th in missed tackles forced per attempt

Judkins also brought an underwhelming pass-catching resume to the NFL: 59 catches and 0.76 yards per route across three college seasons.

He helped himself at the Combine with a 4.48-second 40-yard dash and 11-foot broad jump at 6’0 and 221 pounds.

Is Last Year's Injury A Concern?

Judkins’ rookie season ended in Week 16 on Dec. 21 with a dislocated ankle and fractured fibula in his right leg. He underwent surgery two days later and was reportedly given a 4-5 month return timeline.

Reports on Judkins’ recovery have been positive all offseason. GM Andrew Berry said in February that Judkins had made “really nice progress.” Then Judkins got on the field for May OTAs and looked close to 100% according to Cleveland media.

"Looked pretty good to me,” HC Todd Monken said during May OTAs. “Obviously, there’s been a couple of days he gets a little sore, which is normal, but no one works harder. And you talk about a competitive spirit, and we don’t even get to see him run. I think his rare trait is he’s a bull, like refuses to go down and we don’t even get to see that here. So, I’m excited.”

We’ll keep tabs on Judkins’ status throughout training camp and preseason. But he’s clearly on track to be out there come Week 1.

2026 Opportunity & Projection

He'll Lead In Carries, But Can He Add Pass-Catching Work?

The Browns made no major RB additions this offseason, returning Judkins, Sampson, and fellow second-year RB Raheim Sanders.

They did lose RB Jerome Ford in free agency, who led Cleveland RBs in pass routes last year and finished third in targets (31).

Judkins projects as the clear lead ball carrier here. Ford’s departure gives him a chance to pick up some extra passing-down work, but we expect Sampson to handle most of that. Sampson easily beat Judkins in yards per route and PFF receiving grade last year.

In fact, Sampson’s 1.86 yards per route ranked second to only Bijan Robinson among 40 RBs with 30+ targets last year.

Is The New-Look Offensive Line Better?

The Browns rebuilt their offensive line this offseason, moving on from longtime starters Joel Bitonio, Wyatt Teller, Ethan Pocic, and Jack Conklin and adding free agents Tytus Howard, Zion Johnson, and Elgton Jenkins, plus first-round rookie Spencer Fano.

Howard, Johnson, and Jenkins are expected to start. Here’s how they ranked at their positions in PFF run-blocking grade last year:

• Howard: 62nd out of 67
• Johnson: 51st out of 64
• Jenkins: 25th out of 33

Fano is a more exciting addition. He ranked first and then 18th among OTs in PFF run-blocking grades at Utah the past two seasons.

This offensive line should be better than last year’s, but it still projects as a below-average run-blocking unit.

The Browns also have a major question at QB. Deshaun Watson is the early favorite to start, but he’s working back from a twice-torn right Achilles. And he wasn’t good with Cleveland even before those injuries, averaging just 6.0 yards per pass attempt across 2022-2024.

The Browns also return second-year QBs Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel. Neither was good as a rookie, averaging 6.6 and 5.1 yards per attempt, respectively.

Despite the additions of rookie WRs KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston, this projects to be one of the worst offenses in the league. The Browns are favored in just one game all season and carry the lowest implied points per game (17.9).

That’s particularly bad news for Judkins, who figures to lose snaps to Sampson in passing and trailing situations. Last year, in his 12 full games, Judkins accounted for 74.6% of his backfield’s expected fantasy points when the Browns were leading but just 56.1% when trailing.

New Staff Adds Uncertainty

The Browns canned HC Kevin Stefanski and OC Tommy Rees after 2025 and replaced them with HC Todd Monken and OC Travis Switzer.

Monken confirmed during his introductory press conference that he'll call offensive plays. This is his first NFL head coaching gig, but he has seven seasons of OC experience (three with the Buccaneers, one with the Browns, and three with the Ravens).

His last three Ravens offenses were run heavy, and the last two got big production from Derrick Henry. But Monken leaned pass prior to that, with three of his first four teams ranking higher in pass attempts than rush attempts.

No RB finished better than 35th in PPR points per game on Monken’s three Bucs teams. Nick Chubb ranked 11th at the position under Monken in 2019.

Paths to Ceiling

Judkins should control carries for the Browns this season. If his efficiency improves behind a rebuilt O-line and the offense gives him more TD opportunities than expected, he could produce as a high-end RB2.

Risk Factors

Judkins’ advanced rushing metrics were just OK last season, and now he’s working back from a serious leg injury. He also projects to lose passing-down work on a bad offense that figures to be trailing often.

If efficiency and game script work against Judkins, he could finish as a RB3.

Dylan Sampson

2025 Role & Results

Receiving-Heavy Production

Sampson produced much more through the air than on the ground as a rookie, totaling 33 catches for 271 yards and two scores vs. 65 carries for 175 yards and 0 TDs in 15 games.

Sampson finished 62nd among RBs in PPR points per game and 66th in half-PPR.

He was, not surprisingly, better in three games without Quinshon Judkins, averaging:

• 11.0 carries
• 29.3 rushing yards
• 4.3 catches
• 25.3 receiving yards
• 0.3 total TDs

Sampson finished RB9, RB42, and RB40 in PPR points in those three contests.

He Didn't Play Much Behind Judkins

Sampson was a lightly used passing-down back in his 12 games with Judkins last year. He played just 21.8% of Cleveland’s offensive snaps in those outings, with 64% of those snaps being pass routes.

Sampson averaged 2.7 carries and 2.0 targets per game with Judkins, ranking 73rd among RBs in expected PPR points per game.

In those three games without Judkins, Sampson averaged 11.0 carries and 4.7 targets and ranked RB26 in expected PPR points per game.

Strong Receiving Efficiency

Sampson struggled mightily on the ground last year, mustering just 2.7 yards per carry. His offensive line didn’t help much, leading to a dead-last ranking among 65 qualifying RBs in yards before contact per attempt. 

Sampson was respectable in blocking-independent metrics. Among those 65 RBs, he ranked:

• 32nd in yards after contact per attempt
• 35th in missed tackles forced per attempt

He was awesome in the passing game. Sampson ranked second in yards per route and eighth in Pro Football Focus receiving grade among 40 RBs with 30+ targets. He easily beat Judkins in both metrics.

In fact, Sampson was the only RB in the NFL to lead his team in yards per route last year. (Which, admittedly, says just as much about Cleveland’s 2025 pass-catching corps as Sampson.)

Cleveland Was Not Fertile Ground

Sampson played on a bad Browns team that finished 5-12. The offense ranked:

• 19th in plays
• 30th in total yards
• 32nd in yards per play
• 31st in points

The Browns’ offensive line finished near the bottom of the league in most run-blocking metrics:

• 24th in ESPN run block win rate
• 29th in Pro Football Focus run-blocking grade
• 31st in adjusted line yards

Sampson Fell To Round 4, Despite Big 2024

Sampson improved his production across three college seasons at Tennessee, culminating in a 2024 breakout. He ran 258 times for 1,491 yards and 22 TDs, ranking top-8 nationally in all three categories.

Sampson proved a bit less impressive in advanced metrics, though. Among 160 RBs with 100+ carries, he ranked:

• 39th in missed tackles forced per attempt
• 51st in yards after contact per attempt

Sampson totaled 40 catches for 342 yards (8.6 yards per catch) and 1 TD across his three college seasons, topping out at 20 grabs in 2024.

The Browns selected Sampson in the fourth round in 2025. He was one of the youngest players in that class and turns just 22 this September.

Relatively Light Injury History

Sampson missed Weeks 15 and 16 last year with hand and calf injuries.

A late-season hamstring injury limited him to just 2 carries in his final college game, a playoff loss to Ohio State.

2026 Opportunity & Projection

Likely To Play Similar Role This Year

Sampson figures to return to a similar pass-catching role this season but could pick up some more work.

The Browns made no major RB additions this offseason, returning Sampson, Judkins, and fellow second-year RB Raheim Sanders. But they let RB Jerome Ford leave in free agency. He led the backfield in pass routes last year and finished third in targets (31). Sampson should soak up a lot of that action.

Judkins projects to control early-down and rushing work, as long as the dislocated ankle and fractured fibula he suffered last December doesn’t get in the way. But Sampson should play plenty on what will likely be a bad Browns team. Cleveland is favored in just one game this season.

Browns Offense Remains Unexciting

The Browns face major QB questions in 2026. Deshaun Watson is the early favorite to start, but he’s working back from a second tear of his right Achilles. And he wasn’t good with Cleveland even before those injuries, averaging just 6.0 yards per pass attempt across 2022-2024.

The Browns also return second-year QBs Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel. Neither was good as a rookie, averaging 6.6 and 5.1 yards per attempt, respectively.

Cleveland did bolster the WR corps with rookies KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston. They join WR Jerry Jeudy and TE Harold Fannin Jr. to give this team a respectable pass-catching corps. It’s tougher target competition than Sampson faced last year.

The Browns also rebuilt their offensive line this offseason, moving on from longtime starters Joel Bitonio, Wyatt Teller, Ethan Pocic, and Jack Conklin and adding free agents Tytus Howard, Zion Johnson, and Elgton Jenkins, plus first-round rookie Spencer Fano.

Howard, Johnson, and Jenkins are expected to start. Here’s how they ranked at their positions in Pro Football Focus run-blocking grade last year:

• Howard: 62nd out of 67
• Johnson: 51st out of 64
• Jenkins: 25th out of 33

Fano is a more exciting addition. He ranked 1st and then 18th among OTs in PFF run-blocking grades at Utah the past two seasons.

This offensive line should be better this year than last, but it still projects as a below-average run-blocking unit.

Monken Likes His Passing-Down Backs

The Browns canned HC Kevin Stefanski and OC Tommy Rees after the 2025 season and replaced them with HC Todd Monken and OC Travis Switzer.

Monken confirmed during his introductory press conference that he'll call offensive plays. This is his first NFL head coaching gig, but he has seven seasons of OC experience (three with the Buccaneers, one with the Browns, and three with the Ravens).

His last three Ravens offenses were run heavy, but Monken leaned pass prior to that, with three of his first four teams ranking higher in pass attempts than rush attempts.

Monken has utilized a passing-down back on all of his offenses: Justice Hill in Baltimore, Kareem Hunt in Cleveland, and Charles Sims and Jacquizz Rodgers in Tampa Bay. 

Paths to Ceiling

Sampson will need a Judkins injury to raise his ceiling this year. Even then, it’s unclear if the 200-pounder would control rushing work. He averaged 11.0 carries across three games without Judkins last year.

Outside of a Judkins absence, Sampson will hope to compile enough targets to have some RB3 or flex value in PPR leagues.

Risk Factors

Judkins, who got Round 2 draft capital last year, could take on a bigger passing-down role this season. That’d drop Sampson completely off the fantasy radar.

KC Concepcion

An Up-And-Down College Career

Concepcion Breaks Out As A Freshman

A four-star recruit out of Charlotte, Concepcion stayed close to home at North Carolina State and made an immediate impact. He led the Wolfpack in all major receiving categories as a true freshman, posting big market shares:

• 29.0% of the targets
• 31.6% of the catches
• 33.2% of the receiving yards
• 52.6% of the receiving TDs

Concepcion’s 2.32 yards per route ranked 65th among 287 FBS WRs with 50+ targets.

He also ranked second on the team with 320 rushing yards on a big 7.8 yards per carry.

Year 2? Not So Great

Concepcion’s production took a big step back in 2024: 53 catches for 460 yards and 6 TDs. He still led the team in catches and receiving TDs, but TE Justin Joly and WR Noah Rogers beat him in receiving yards.

The market shares were way down from 2023:

• 24.3% of the targets
• 22.5% of the catches
• 16.4% of the receiving yards
• 33.3% of the receiving TDs

Concepcion also slipped to 1.29 yards per route, ranking fifth among N.C. State WRs and behind Joly.

It’s worth noting that starting QB Grayson McCall made only four appearances due to injury. Per CBS’ Chip Patterson, Concepcion also played through “minor injury issues.”

Transfer Leads To Big Bounce Back

Concepcion transferred to Texas A&M for his 2025 junior campaign and quickly emerged as his new team’s top receiver. He led the Aggies with 61 catches, 919 yards, and 9 TDs.

His market shares didn’t rise to the level of his freshman season, but they proved strong enough:

• 26.4% target share
• 24.5% reception share
• 27.2% receiving yards share
• 34.6% receiving TD share

Concepcion’s 2.46 yards per route were a career-best and ranked 43rd among 270 FBS WRs with 50+ targets.

He also added versatility at A&M. After running more than 80% of his routes from the slot at North Carolina State, Concepcion ran 65.3% of his routes out wide in 2025. He also worked farther downfield, posting a 12.3-yard average target depth after being below 9.0 in each of the previous two seasons.

What Does The Tape Say?

A Natural Separator

Concepcion wins with a blend of route-running savvy, playmaking ability, and versatility. He consistently finds soft spots in zone coverage, using sharp cuts and strong spatial awareness to create throwing windows for his quarterback.

At His Best With The Ball In His Hands

The most exciting part of Concepcion’s game is what happens after the catch. He's a dynamic open-field runner with excellent vision, acceleration, and tackle-breaking ability. Whether on screens, quick hitters, or underneath routes, he quickly identifies running lanes and can slip through contact without losing speed. Concepcion averaged a strong 6.6 yards after catch per reception across his three college seasons.

Rushing Should Add Fantasy Value

Concepcion's versatility extends beyond the passing game. He’s dangerous on jet sweeps and end-arounds, displaying the lateral agility, footwork, and vision to make defenders miss and maximize rushing opportunities. He should add some fantasy value as a runner at the next level.

He logged 70 carries for 431 yards (6.2 per rush) and 3 TDs across his three college seasons. That included a 41-320-0 rushing line (7.8 per rush) in his true-freshman campaign.

2026 Opportunity & Projection

A Clear Path To Playing Time

The Browns made Concepcion the fourth WR off the board in this spring’s draft, selecting him 24th overall. He joins a WR corps with fellow rookie (and 39th overall pick) Denzel Boston and 27-year-old Jerry Jeudy.

Concepcion wins with quicks and versatility, whereas Boston is more of a prototypical “X” receiver at 6’4, 212 pounds. The rookies will be competing for targets but won’t be working the same areas of the field typically.

Jeudy is closer to Concepcion in play style and deployment. He has run 42% of his career routes from the slot, although that sank to 19% last season. Jeudy posted 1,229 yards in 2024 but is coming off a disappointing 50-602-2 line in 17 games last year.

Cleveland also returns TE Harold Fannin Jr., who’s coming off a 107-target, 72-catch rookie season.

TE David Njoku was the only significant departure from last year’s pass-catching corps. He averaged 4.0 targets across his 12 games last season.

Concepcion’s talent and draft capital make him a good bet to play a big role right away, with the potential to lead the WR corps in targets.

QB Play Is A Roadblock

The 2025 Browns finished bottom-3 in all major passing categories, and QB play remains a big concern.

Deshaun Watson is the early favorite to start, but he’s working back from a twice-torn Achilles. He wasn’t good with Cleveland even before those injuries, averaging just 6.0 yards per pass attempt across 2022-2024.

The Browns also return second-year QBs Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel. Neither was good as a rookie, averaging 6.6 and 5.1 yards per attempt, respectively.

Cleveland is favored in just one game this season and implied for 17.9 points per game, the lowest in the league.

Monken Brings Pass-Leaning History

The Browns canned HC Kevin Stefanski and OC Tommy Rees after the 2025 season and replaced them with HC Todd Monken and OC Travis Switzer.

Monken confirmed during his introductory press conference that he'll call offensive plays. This is his first NFL head coaching gig, but he has seven seasons of OC experience (three with the Buccaneers, one with the Browns, and three with the Ravens).

Monken’s Ravens teams were run-heavy, due in large part to having QB Lamar Jackson and RB Derrick Henry. But he leaned pass prior to that, with three of his first four offenses ranking higher in pass attempts than rush attempts.

Here’s where Monken’s offenses have finished in total WR PPR points:

• 2016: 10th
• 2017: fifth
• 2018: first
• 2019: 19th
• 2023: 23rd
• 2024: 26th
• 2025: 26th

Paths to Ceiling

Concepcion is a dynamic and versatile receiver who can also add fantasy value with rushing production.

He joins a relatively weak Browns WR corps and could immediately lead in targets.

If he gets better-than-expected QB play, Concepcion could emerge as a WR3 option for fantasy teams.

Risk Factors

The Browns are projected to be one of the worst offenses and passing games in the league, denting Concepcion’s 2026 outlook.

There’s also a chance that the team views him as a slot-first receiver and limits him to 3-WR sets.

Denzel Boston

Patience Pays Off at Washington

Crowded Depth Chart Delays Emergence

Boston totaled just 7 catches for 66 yards across his first two seasons at Washington. He had trouble finding the field amid a loaded WR corps led by Rome Odunze, Jalen McMillan, Ja’Lynn Polk, and Germie Bernard.

With all four guys gone in 2024 (Bernard transferred to Alabama), Boston stepped into a full-time role and delivered a 63-834-9 line. He trailed fifth-year senior WR Giles Jackson in catches and receiving yards but led the team in receiving scores.

Boston’s market shares:

• 25.1% of the targets
• 20.8% of the receptions
• 24.5% of the receiving yards
• 40.9% of the receiving TDs

Boston’s 1.86 yards per route ranked second on the team behind Jackson’s 2.07 and 148th among 260 FBS WRs with 50+ targets.

2025 Brings New Career Highs

Boston set numerous personal bests this past season. With Jackson gone, he easily led Washington with 62 catches, 881 yards, and 11 TDs.

The market shares grew from 2024:

• 27.6% of the targets
• 24.2% of catches
• 27.8% of receiving yards
• 42% of the receiving TDs

Boston also averaged a career-high 2.44 yards per route, 47th among 270 FBS WRs with 50+ targets.

What Does The Tape Say?

Size and Ball Skills Stand Out

Boston's combination of size, athleticism, and ball-tracking ability makes him a dangerous downfield and red-zone weapon. He consistently adjusts to the football in the air and uses his frame to win at the catch point, particularly on contested throws near the end zone. Those traits helped him compile 20 TDs over the last two seasons and should translate well to the NFL.

More Than Just a Jump-Ball Receiver

Although Boston's size grabs attention, he also shows the route-running ability to create separation. He navigates traffic well, sells double moves effectively, and flashes the flexibility to win on underneath routes and intermediate patterns. His ability to separate and track the ball at all levels of the field give him the profile of a complete receiver rather than a pure contested-catch specialist.

Limited After-Catch Production

After-catch ability is the biggest hole in Boston’s game. Despite his size, he rarely breaks tackles or creates significant yardage on his own. He often goes down on first contact and lacks the elusiveness or tackle-breaking ability of the NFL's most dangerous playmakers. Boston's receiving skills should make him productive, but limited run-after-catch ability could cap his fantasy ceiling.

2026 Opportunity & Projection

He Should Play, But Will He Get Enough Targets?

The Browns made Boston the 39th overall pick and seventh WR off the board in this spring’s draft. He joins a WR corps with fellow rookie (and 24th pick) KC Concepcion and 27-year-old Jerry Jeudy.

Boston is a good bet for a full-time role right away as the purest “X” receiver of the trio. Concepcion and Jeudy are both sub-200 pounds and project to run a fair amount of routes from the slot.

That doesn’t mean Boston will be a great target bet, though. He drew a target on 23.2% of his college routes, trailing both Concepcion (26.8%) and Jeudy (24.1%).

Boston’s size and ball skills could make him the preferred target near the end zone, though.

Cleveland also returns TE Harold Fannin Jr., who’s coming off a 107-target, 72-catch rookie season.

TE David Njoku was the only significant departure from last year’s pass-catching corps. He averaged 4.0 targets across his 12 games last season.

QB Play Is A Problem

The 2025 Browns finished bottom-3 in all major passing categories, and QB play remains a big concern.

Deshaun Watson is the early favorite to start, but he’s working back from a twice-torn Achilles. He wasn’t good with Cleveland even before those injuries, averaging just 6.0 yards per pass attempt across 2022-2024.

The Browns also return second-year QBs Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel. Neither was good as a rookie, averaging 6.6 and 5.1 yards per attempt, respectively.

Cleveland is favored in just one game this season and implied for 17.9 points per game, the lowest in the league.

Monken Brings Pass-Leaning History

The Browns canned HC Kevin Stefanski and OC Tommy Rees after the 2025 season and replaced them with HC Todd Monken and OC Travis Switzer.

Monken confirmed during his introductory press conference that he'll call offensive plays. This is his first NFL head coaching gig, but he has seven seasons of OC experience (three with the Buccaneers, one with the Browns, and three with the Ravens).

Monken’s Ravens teams were run-heavy, due in large part to having QB Lamar Jackson and RB Derrick Henry. But he leaned pass prior to that, with three of his first four offenses ranking higher in pass attempts than rush attempts.

Here’s where Monken’s offenses have finished in total WR PPR points:

• 2016: 10th
• 2017: fifth
• 2018: first
• 2019: 19th
• 2023: 23rd
• 2024: 26th
• 2025: 26th

Paths to Ceiling

Boston got nice draft capital and joins a relatively weak Browns WR corps. He should play plenty right away.

If he gets better-than-expected QB play, Boston could flirt with WR3 production fueled by strong downfield and red-zone usage.

Risk Factors

Boston brings a just-OK production profile and joins a Browns offense that projects as one of the worst in the league.

He could wind up as the No. 4 target on a bad passing game and be a non-factor in fantasy football.

Jerry Jeudy

2025 Role & Results

He Was Useless For Fantasy Teams

Jeudy caught 50 balls for 602 yards and 2 TDs across 17 games last year, finishing 69th among WRs in PPR points per game.

Jeudy scored as a top-12 PPR receiver just once, cracked the top 24 only twice, and ranked outside the top 36 WRs in 12 of 17 games.

Volume Wasn't The Problem ...

Jeudy led the Browns in routes (86.4%) and ranked second on the team behind TE Harold Fannin Jr. in targets (106).

Those 106 targets tied for 23rd among all WRs. Jeudy’s 18.6% target share ranked 36th.

He finished 40th among WRs in expected PPR points per game.

... The Efficiency Was

Jeudy was the biggest underachiever at WR in the NFL, scoring 3.6 fewer PPR points than expected.

Among 76 WRs with 50+ targets last year, Jeudy ranked:

• 75th in catch rate
• 47th in yards per catch
• 73rd in yards per target
• 66th in yards per route

Jeudy didn’t get much help from his QBs. Just 64.4% of his targets were deemed catchable, fifth-lowest among those 76 WRs.

But Jeudy didn’t fare well in film-based metrics. Among those 76 WRs, he ranked:

• 69th in Pro Football Focus receiving grade
• 74th in ESPN receiver score
• 39th in Fantasy Points separation score

The Browns Offense Stunk

The 2025 Browns ranked:

• 19th in plays
• 30th in total yards
• 32nd in yards per play
• 31st in points

The passing game was one of the worst in the league, finishing:

• 32nd in completion rate
• 31st in yards
• 31st in yards per attempt
• 30th in TDs

Jeudy and Fannin were the only Browns to reach 600 receiving yards last year. WR Isaiah Bond finished third on the team with 338 yards.

Two Top-30 Finishes Among Six Seasons

Jeudy’s ugly 2025 followed a career-best 2024 in his first season with the Browns. He racked up 90 catches for 1,229 yards and 4 TDs, finishing 28th among WRs in PPR points per game.

That came on a Browns team that led the league in pass attempts, although it ranked just 22nd in passing yards and 28th in TDs.

Jeudy posted middling efficiency marks in 2024. Among 84 WRs with 50+ targets, he finished:

• 34th in yards per target
• 41st in yards per route

Jeudy was generally underwhelming across four seasons in Denver to open his career. His finishes among WRs in PPR points per game:

• 2020: 64th
• 2021: 76th
• 2022: 22nd
• 2023: 59th

A Trio Of Injuries

Jeudy has missed nine games with injury across his six seasons:

• six with a high-ankle sprain in 2021
• two with a strained muscle behind his left ankle in 2022
• one with a hamstring injury in 2023

2026 Opportunity & Projection

Rookies Add Target Competition

The Browns spent top-40 picks on WRs KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston this spring.

Concepcion (24th overall) broke out as a freshman at North Carolina State in 2023 and led Texas A&M with 61 catches, 919 yards, and 9 TDs last year. He’s position-versatile and especially dangerous after the catch.

Boston (39th overall) is your classic big-bodied outside receiver. The 6’4, 212-pounder averaged 13.7 yards per catch with 20 total TDs over his final two seasons at Washington.

Cleveland also returns TE Harold Fannin Jr., who’s coming off a 107-target, 72-catch rookie season.

TE David Njoku was the only significant departure from last year’s pass-catching corps. He averaged 4.0 targets across his 12 games last season.

Jeudy should remain a top-3 WR on this team and could even still lead the WRs in targets. But he’s undoubtedly facing tougher competition than last season.

QB Play Probably Won't Be Better This Year

QB play remains a big concern.

Deshaun Watson is the early favorite to start, but he’s working back from a twice-torn Achilles. And he wasn’t good with Cleveland even before those injuries, averaging just 6.0 yards per pass attempt across 2022-2024.

The Browns also return second-year QBs Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel. Neither was good as a rookie, averaging 6.6 and 5.1 yards per attempt, respectively.

Cleveland is favored in just one game this season and implied for 17.9 points per game, the lowest in the league.

Monken Brings Pass-Leaning History

The Browns canned HC Kevin Stefanski and OC Tommy Rees after the 2025 season and replaced them with HC Todd Monken and OC Travis Switzer.

Monken confirmed during his introductory press conference that he'll call offensive plays. This is his first NFL head coaching gig, but he has seven seasons of OC experience (three with the Buccaneers, one with the Browns, and three with the Ravens).

Monken’s Ravens teams were run-heavy, due in large part to having QB Lamar Jackson and RB Derrick Henry. But he leaned pass prior to that, with three of his first four offenses ranking higher in pass attempts than rush attempts.

Here’s where Monken’s offenses have finished in total WR PPR points:

• 2016: 10th
• 2017: fifth
• 2018: first
• 2019: 19th
• 2023: 23rd
• 2024: 26th
• 2025: 26th

Paths to Ceiling

Jeudy has a pair of top-30 PPR seasons on his resume and remains in his prime at 27. If he can fend off rookies Concepcion and Boston for the No. 1 WR job and gets better-than-expected QB play, Jeudy could score as a WR3 this season.

Risk Factors

The Browns are projected to be one of the worst offenses and passing games in the league. Jeudy also faces much tougher target competition this year than last.

He could finish as low as fourth on the team in targets and be a total non-factor in fantasy football.

Harold Fannin

2025 Role & Results

One Of The Best Rookie Seasons Ever

Fannin averaged the eighth-most PPR points per game by a rookie TE in NFL history last year.

He tallied 72 catches for 731 yards and 6 TDs across 16 games. All three marks led the Browns and ranked top-8 among TEs.

Fannin finished eighth at the position in PPR and half-PPR points per game despite splitting time with David Njoku for most of the season.

In four full games that Njoku missed all or most of, Fannin averaged:

• 5.8 catches
• 58.0 yards
• 0.5 TDs

His 16.1 PPR points per game in those contests would have ranked second among TEs on the season.

Playing Time Was Limited Before Njoku Injury

Omitting the Week 17 game he left early, Fannin ran a route on 67.9% of Cleveland’s pass plays. That ranked 19th among TEs.

Fannin was an elite target earner, though, posting 0.26 targets per route. That trailed only Dalton Kincaid among TEs with at least 100 routes. Fannin’s 19.9% target share ranked fifth at the position.

In those four games without Njoku, Fannin:

• ran a route on 82.6% of pass plays
• posted a 0.28 targets per route
• and drew 27.2% of Browns targets.

Those marks would have ranked fourth, first, and first among TEs on the season.

He Shined In Yards Per Route

Fannin hauled in 67.3% of his targets and averaged 10.2 yards per catch last year. His 6.8 yards per target ranked 29th among 38 TEs with 40+ targets.

Fannin was significantly better in terms of yards per route, ranking 12th among those 38 TEs. And his 1.68 yards per route looks even more impressive when you consider that all other Browns WRs and TEs combined for just 0.90.

Fannin’s rankings in film-based metrics were mixed. Among those 38 TEs, he finished:

• 13th in Pro Football Focus receiving grade
• 30th in ESPN receiver score
• 23rd in Fantasy Points separation score
• 11th in Fantasy Points win rate

Bad Offense ... But Weak Target Competition

Fannin played on a bad Browns offense that ranked:

• 30th in total yards
• 32nd in yards per play
• 31st in points

The passing game was one of the worst in the league, finishing:

• 32nd in completion rate
• 31st in yards
• 31st in yards per attempt
• 30th in TDs

Fannin did benefit from weak target competition, though. Njoku missed five games and didn’t play particularly well in the other 12. Jerry Jeudy was an imposter as the team’s No. 1 WR. The rest of the WR corps: Isaiah Bond, Cedric Tillman, Jamari Thrash, Malachi Corley, and Gage Larvadain.

He's A Stat-Piling Machine

Fannin has been putting up impressive numbers for a few seasons now. He broke out as a true sophomore at Bowling Green in 2023, leading that team with 623 receiving yards and 6 TDs.

Then came a record-setting 2024. Fannin’s 117 catches and 1,555 yards were the most from a TE in FBS history. He accounted for an absurd 60.0% of his team’s receiving yards and TDs, the second-highest mark among all TEs with 20+ targets since 2004, behind only Trey McBride’s 2021 at Colorado State.

Fannin feasted on a lot of bad defenses in the MAC, but he also torched Penn State for 11 catches, 137 yards, and a TD, and Texas A&M for 8 catches, 145 yards, and a score.

A Light Injury History

Fannin suffered a groin injury in practice on Dec. 26 last year and then aggravated the injury a couple of days later in Week 17 vs. the Steelers. He missed the season finale.

Fannin didn’t suffer any significant injuries in college.

2026 Opportunity & Projection

Njoku's Departure Clears Path For Full-Time Role

The Browns opted not to re-sign Njoku this offseason, which should put Fannin in a full-time role.

He’ll face tougher target competition, though, after Cleveland spent a top-40 picks on WRs KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston.

Concepcion (24th overall) broke out as a freshman at North Carolina State in 2023 and led Texas A&M with 61 catches, 919 yards, and 9 TDs last year. He’s position-versatile and especially dangerous after the catch.

Boston (39th overall) is your classic big-bodied outside receiver. The 6’4, 212-pounder averaged 13.7 yards per catch with 20 total TDs over his final two seasons at Washington.

They join Jeudy in what could at least be an average WR corps this season. That’d mark a big improvement over last year.

Can He Survive Bad QB Play Again?

QB play remains a big concern.

Deshaun Watson is the early favorite to start, but he’s working back from a twice-torn Achilles. And he wasn’t good with Cleveland even before those injuries, averaging just 6.0 yards per pass attempt across 2022-2024.

The Browns also return second-year QBs Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel. Neither was good as a rookie, averaging 6.6 and 5.1 yards per attempt, respectively.

Cleveland is favored in just one game this season and implied for 17.9 points per game, the lowest in the league.

Monken Brings Promising TE History

The Browns canned HC Kevin Stefanski and OC Tommy Rees after the 2025 season and replaced them with HC Todd Monken and OC Travis Switzer.

Monken confirmed during his introductory press conference that he'll call offensive plays. This is his first NFL head coaching gig, but he has seven seasons of OC experience (three with the Buccaneers, one with the Browns, and three with the Ravens).

Monken’s Ravens teams were run-heavy, due in large part to having QB Lamar Jackson and RB Derrick Henry. But he leaned pass prior to that, with three of his first four offenses ranking higher in pass attempts than rush attempts.

TEs have typically been a significant part of Monken’s passing games, accounting for 20+% of targets in five of his seven offenses, including 22+% in each of the last three in Baltimore. (The league-wide average is around 20.5%.)

Here’s where Monken’s top TEs have finished in PPR points per game:

Monken gave Fannin some big praise this offseason, comparing him to Brock Bowers, who Monken coached at Georgia in 2021 and 2022.

"He's a little like Brock Bowers in the fact that his body type is more of an 'H' and 'F,' run-after-catch more than length,” Monken said in April. “So you love his athleticism, you like his ability to run after catch, his ball skills like Brock, very similar in that regard."

Paths to Ceiling

Fannin hogged 27% of Browns targets and scored at a TE2 pace in four games without Njoku last year. Njoku is gone now. 

The Cleveland WR corps has improved, but Fannin could still dominate targets and push for a top-4 fantasy finish.

Risk Factors

Fannin could lose significant volume to rookie WRs Concepcion and Boston. And this Browns offense has the downside to be the worst in the league.

If the volume and efficiency sink, Fannin could score as a low-end TE1 with limited fantasy impact.