Kevin Szafraniec examines the state of the Cleveland Browns franchise and discusses the players who could see an uptick in fantasy value as the team shifts back to Kevin Stefanski’s offensive blueprint.
Down seasons are nothing new for the Cleveland Browns, but 2024 felt like a new low. Last season should represent the end of Cleveland’s Deshaun Watson era, with the quarterback unceremoniously ending his tenure with the team on IR. The Browns’ trade for the embroiled quarterback will likely go down as the worst transaction in the history of the NFL, and the ripple effect of his egregious contract could linger within the organization for years to come.
Unfortunately for Cleveland, Watson was only part of the problem last year. Following the QB’s injury in Week 7, the Browns only went on to win two more games the rest of the season. As the team’s defense struggled to maintain the dominance they showed a year earlier, the offense floundered while trying to execute a new pass-heavy scheme. When the season was said and done, Cleveland went from the 2023 playoffs to tying for the worst record in the league a year later. Following the Browns’ reevaluation of their approach, head coach Kevin Stefanski will reinstall the offense that helped him win Coach of the Year twice during his five years in Cleveland.
Given the significant turnover on the entire roster and one of the most complex QB rooms in recent memory, what strategies can fantasy managers employ to sift through the chaos and pinpoint players on the Browns offense who can contribute to winning fantasy championships in 2025?
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Abandon Ship!
For as exciting as 2023 was for Browns fans, 2024 was equally disappointing. Coming off a trip to the playoffs, the Browns were consistently getting blown out by opponents, finishing 2024 with the worst scoring offense in the league and the 27th-ranked scoring defense. If the Browns do not experience a quick turnaround in 2025, Stefanski could easily find himself without a job at the end of the season.
