Browns rookie TE Harold Fannin Jr. managed just 2 catches for 24 yards in Sunday's loss to the Lions. But his six targets tied for second on the team, and Fannin played a season-high 85% of the offensive snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. That included Fannin playing one snap more than TE David Njoku for the first time and beating him by one route (also for the first time).
CBS' Jacob Gibbs: "Harold Fannin Jr. was on the field for 12 of 13 plays on the opening TD drive."
Matt Waldman of the Rookie Scouting Portfolio: "Harold Fannin Jr. is already one of the better runners after the catch among TEs."
The Browns lost WR Cedric Tillman early in Sunday's game, and you could reasonably point to that as a factor in Fannin getting a playing-time boost. But the first-drive playing time counters that. And Fannin led Njoku by two snaps at the end of the first half.
According to PFF, Fannin played a season-high 37.5% of single-TE sets on early downs and 57.1% of single-TE sets on third downs. Fannin edged Njoku in those situations for the first time this season.
Given that, it might have actually been Njoku whose playing time benefited from the Tillman injury.
Njoku drew just three targets for the game, catching two for 11 yards. Fannin and three other teammates beat his target count.
At the very least, Sunday's split makes Fannin the better play between Cleveland TEs for a Week 5 date with the Vikings -- barring word from Browns coaches this week that the usage will shift back toward the veteran.
That matchup hurts the upside for both guys, especially in a pass offense that has posted 207 passing yards or less each of the past three weeks.
We'll see whether the Week 5 usage reflects Sunday's turn.
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