Cleveland Browns Fantasy Football News | Shark Bites

The Browns have ruled Edge Myles Garrett out for Sunday's game against the Bengals. He did sit out Friday's practice and is officially listed with shoulder and hamstring issues. But Garrett's sitting because Cleveland doesn't need this game. Beware of other Browns starting defenders in this game for that reason. Missing Garrett also makes Cleveland a worse team-defense play.

Cleveland.com's Mary Kay Cabot reports that Browns S Grant Delpit might land on IR this week for a groin injury that's expected to cost him multiple games. Going on IR, of course, would cost him at least the final four contests of the regular season. If the Browns elect not to place Delpit on IR, it'll indicate they want to leave open the possibility of him returning. Either way, his 2023 season looks done for redraft IDP rosters. If you're playing for a fantasy championship in Week 17, will you want to start Delpit in his potential first game back from a two-week groin injury? (Same question if you play into Week 18.) Ronnie Hickman was Cleveland's only full-time safety for Sunday's win over the Jaguars, filling in after Juan Thornhill got ruled out pregame with a calf injury. D'Anthony Bell filled in after Delpit left. Hickman, an undrafted rookie, tallied just 2 tackles and a pass breakup. Bell -- a 27-year old with 20 career tackles -- collected 3 solos. It's certainly possible either guy finds numbers this Sunday against the Bears. But this isn't the time of year to take a chance on near-complete unknowns in your fantasy football lineup. Look for a more-proven replacement if you're losing Delpit.

Update: The Browns placed Delpit on IR on Wednesday.

Monday's MRI revealed no structural damage in Browns Edge Myles Garrett's injured left shoulder, according to multiple reports. HC Kevin Stefanski called Garrett day-to-day and indicated he's optimistic for Garrett's chances of playing Sunday against the Rams. We'll watch Garrett's status throughout the week, and you should make sure to have an insurance option. But it sounds like we'll have Garrett for IDP lineups.

Browns Edge Myles Garrett injured his left shoulder in Sunday's loss to the Broncos. He said afterward that he felt something pop, according to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Garrett did re-enter the game late but left the stadium with his arm in a sling. We'll see what his Monday MRI says. Losing Garrett for any time would obviously be a big blow to one of fantasy's -- and real life's -- best defenses.

Browns LB Anthony Walker Jr. (hamstring) is inactive for today's game against the Broncos. S Juan Thornhill (calf) is active. We've had Walker out of our Week 12 IDP rankings since early in the week. Thornhill is merely a low-level option.

Browns LB Anthony Walker (hamstring) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Broncos. He missed the first two days of practices before returning for a limited Friday. Walker looks like a weak bet for IDP lineups this week even if active. This injury knocked him out of last week's game after just 8 snaps. And even when healthy, Walker has exceeded 3 solo tackles only once this season. The team has ruled CB Denzel Ward (shoulder) out for the game. S Juan Thornhill (calf) is questionable. We'll check on Walker and Thornhill when inactives come out, but you shouldn't be planning to use either player.

Browns LB Anthony Walker left Sunday's win over the Steelers with a hamstring injury. We'll watch for more on his outlook this week, but he seems like a solid bet to miss at least a game. If Walker does sit out Week 12, we'd likely to looking at close to full playing time for LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. He'll be worth a waiver-wire look ahead of a Week 12 clash with the Broncos.

Browns LB Anthony Walker (concussion) is off the final injury report after a full Friday practice. That means he'll lose no further game time after leaving the Week 6 win over the 49ers with a concussion. We had assumed Walker would miss at least a game, but you can now find him low in LB3 territory in our Week 7 LB rankings.

Browns Edge Myles Garrett looks ready to go for Sunday's game against the 49ers. He opened the week by sitting out Wednesday's practice with the foot issue that put him in a walking boot after the Week 4 loss to Baltimore. But Garrett returned to a limited practice Thursday and then went full on Friday. Cleveland left him off the final injury report.

Browns Edge Myles Garrett had a walking boot on his left foot after hurting it in Sunday's loss to the Ravens. He told reporters afterward that he'll be ready for the next game after the Week 5 bye. We'll certainly be watching to confirm that's true.

The Browns have acquired Edge Za'Darius Smith from the Vikings for a mere swap of draft picks. Minnesota has been expected to move on from Smith this offseason to save salary cap. The 30-year-old rebounded from losing nearly all of 2021 to injury, racking up 80 total pressures in his lone Vikings season, according to Pro Football Focus. That marked the second-largest total of his career, and Smith has earned elite-level pass-rushing grades from PFF in each of his last three healthy campaigns. He should play lead snaps opposite Myles Garrett in Cleveland, though free-agent addition Ogbonnia Okoronkwo will factor into the rotation as well.

The Browns are agreed to a three-year deal with former Texans EDGE Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The pact could be worth as much as $22 million. A fifth-round pick of the Rams back in 2018, Okoronkwo finally got the first eight starts of his career last year in Houston. He supplied 5 sacks, 9 tackles for loss and 11 QB hits while playing 44% of the snaps. Cleveland clearly believes there's more coming in Okoronkwo's age-28 season (and beyond). The money indicates he's expected to start opposite EDGE Myles Garrett, which can't hurt. Still Okoronkwo sports just a 45th-percentile speed score for the position and might have a limited playing-time ceiling because of his size (just 253 pounds). He's a potential late-round IDP option for 2023 fantasy football drafts. But we're not overly excited about his upside.

The Browns are hiring longtime NFL coach Jim Schwartz to run their defense. Cleveland fired DC Joe Woods after a season in which they fell from 5th in yards allowed, 13th in scoring defense and 11th in Football Outsiders DVOA to 14th, 20th and 23rd, respectively. Schwartz last coordinated the Eagles' defense from 2016-20. Overall, he has spent 19 years as DC (Titans, Bills and Eagles) or HC (Lions) in the NFL. Schwartz's defenses have tended to rank better against the run than the pass and have not proved especially helpful to LB tackle totals. He has generally focused on generating pressure with his front 4, often lining up edge players in a "wide 9" formation, well outside the OTs. We'll see about his specific plans for a Cleveland defense with some intriguing talent.

Browns S John Johnson III (thigh) is active for today's game against the Saints. Use him as planned in your IDP lineups.

Browns S John Johnson III (thigh) is questionable for Saturday's game against the Saints. Johnson played through the injury for a portion of last week's win over the Ravens, but he managed just 1 limited practice this week. We'll check his status Saturday morning. EDGE Jadeveon Clowney (concussion) is out for the game.

Browns S John Johnson suffered thigh contusion in Saturday's win over the Ravens. He played through it for a portion of the game but sat out the entire 4th quarter. We'll see about Johnson's outlook for Week 16.

Browns LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is awaiting further testing results on the left foot he injured in Sunday's loss to the Bengals. Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports, however, that there's a chance the 2nd-year LB lands on IR. Deion Jones led Browns LBs in playing time against Cincinnati and should be the favorite to do so for however long JOK might be out. Cleveland just lost starter Sione Takitaki to an ACL tear in Week 13. Tony Fields II looks like the next man up behind Jones but played just 16% of snaps vs. the Bengals. We wouldn't be looking to start him in Week 15 IDP lineups.

Browns LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah hurt his left leg late in Sunday's loss to the Bengals. He's getting an MRI today. "I'll be OK," the LB told Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer after the game -- adding "we'll see" after mentioning the MRI.

Browns LB Sione Takitaki suffered a torn ACL in Sunday's win over the Texans. Cleveland on Wednesday placed him on IR and signed veteran LB Reggie Ragland. Tony Fields and Deion Jones worked 3rd and 4th among Cleveland LBs at Houston, trailing Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and Takitaki. JOK looks like the only 1 worth considering for IDP lineups right now.