Cleveland Browns 2021 Fantasy Football

Cleveland Browns 2021 Fantasy Football

Intro 00:05
You’re listening to the good old boys fantasy football podcast. Now here’s your host, Kevin, Derek and Alex

Derek 00:11
Alrighty. Welcome and ladies and gentlemen to another episode of the good old boys fantasy football Podcast. I am Derek and I’m joined as always by your co host, Kevin, Alex is unfortunately not going to be able to make it with us tonight. We’ve got a great episode for you. We’re going to talk Cleveland Browns football. Before we get there, though, make sure that you hit the like, subscribe, follow button, wherever you’re hearing this one at you’ll make sure you hit up that YouTube channel. good old boys fetish football podcast YouTube channel, hit the subscribe button. very much appreciated. But guys, let’s go ahead and head on over into the Cleveland Browns who had a much better bounce back this year under the new coach Kevin Stefanski. And we’re going to go ahead and start where we always do that’s in the running back room. So Nick Chubb last year finished as running back number nine 190 rush attempts. 1067 yards 12 rushing touchdown 16 receptions on 18 targets for an additional 150 through there your thoughts on Nick Chubb.

Nick Chubb RB Cleveland Browns 2021 Fantasy Football

Kevin 01:14
Nick Chubb finished in the top 10 missing four and a half games last year. It guys he absolutely is a top eight back and I say eight only because he does give way to Kareem Hunt so much at times depending on that but when both those guys are healthy, if you look at how the Browns run that offense, Nick is Nick Chubb is clearly the lead dog like it is not a running back by committee. It is Nick Chubb is Batman. Kareem Hunt is Robin and sometimes Robin has to step up when Batman goes down. And that’s what we saw. But But Nick Chubb, he’s the guy. He is absolutely one cut ability. He still has breakaway speed. He breaks tons of tackles. He has a nose for the end zone. Yeah, you’d like to see him catch a few more balls out of the backfield, kind of like what he did towards the tail end of last season. So I think see in season totality, he’ll probably get there but on a week to week basis, that might be a little frustrating. But overall, if Chubb staying healthy, he’s a guy that’s borderline top five, and he’s the guy that you can be confident starting against any matchup for whatever reason he loves to feast on the Baltimore Ravens who generally do a very good job against running backs. So you can start them against, you know, the Steelers and the Ravens, which is key being in that division. You have to be able to play those guys. So I love Nick Chubb. He’s a dog. I mean, you know, I will always have a soft spot for Nick Chubb. But just looking purely at it, his ability to make guys miss is still absolute elite. And he has that breakaway speed once he gets into space, that it’s really hard for guys to bring him down you will see him bust off a couple really long runs throughout the season. On top of the fact that this is a run first offense, the volume is there he will see targets and attempts week over week over week you’re not gonna see a down week from Nick Chubb barring injury to one that is was that was that number one or two? Well, I technically it was two because when I came back on to start telling you why I got kicked off. I was muted, but for the sake of the show, we can say it was one.

Derek 03:43
Okay. So now you’re right, Nick Chubb is it’s just really dynamic when it when you boil it down, no matter how you look at it, dynamic playmaker, who? Yeah, I was a little little disappointed last year because I actually had him slated to win the rushing title when I was going through all the projections. And obviously, he had he had banged up there a little bit you saw Derrick Henry, absolutely explode. So it wasn’t to be but this year could be the year. Cleveland’s offense when it comes to it is incredibly efficient on the ground. And we saw that, you know, Kevin Stefanski come in and implement his system and bring that thing to life there are they they spent a ton of capital, they did a lot of things upgrading the line going into last season, that line still looks incredibly good. And there’s no reason to think that that line isn’t going to be as as efficient this coming year as what it was for 2020. Now, I don’t necessarily know that Nick Chubb is going to get to a 5.6 yards per attempt type of carries on that that’s just insanely high efficiency. But even if he drops down to 4.7, or 4.8, which is still very much in the realm of possibility, you’re going to see a guy that’s going to get 300 plus touches and be very good when he gets those things and the Browns are going to feed him the ball, roughly about 20 attempts a game, whether it’s 20 opportunities, you know, with a little bit of pass sprinkled in, but mostly a lot of rushing attempts going through it. So I see him having another similar season to it, and is a guy that I actually love sitting there in the back half of the of most of these drafts looking at it because people will stay away from him a little bit because he doesn’t have that past catching upside. But a guy that I love the value of where you can typically get him off of the board and most of these drafts so I guy that I will be putting on a lot of rosters going through this coming season. Let’s go ahead and look at Kareem Hunt who finishes running back number 10. Last year 198 attempts, 841 yards, six rushing touchdowns, 38 receptions on 51 targets for 304 and five through the air your thoughts on Kareem Hunt.

Kareem Hunt RB Cleveland Browns 2021 Fantasy Football

Kevin 06:11
Kareem Hunt had a really good season. Last year. Part of it was because of those four and a half games that Nick Chubb missed. But if you if you go back through and you do those breakdowns, Kareem hunts snap usage went through the roof right he went from averaging about 43% of snaps to averaging about 71 72% of snaps. So obviously the usage went up. And he did a good job with it. Kareem hunts. Production when they’re both on the field really comes in the fourth quarter. Like Nick Chubb, they use Nick Chubb to really wear defenses down. And after defenses are gassed, that’s where they start sprinklin and Kareem Hunt more and more. So you got to be a little bit patient, like he’s the guy that you’re kind of on the edge of your seat with with Kareem Hunt is you’re going to get it done and you’re going to get it done and all of a sudden, the fourth quarter hits, and hey, look, they’re they’re passing him the ball, he fell into the endzone like you can get, you know, 1012 points out of Kareem Hunt in one drive in the fourth quarter, but it does genuinely take that long to get it. So do I think top 10s in the cards again? No, I do not. I do think he could be I do think he could be RB two I he could have finished and top 24. I think a lot of that’s just based off of how the Browns run their offense. Obviously in PPR leagues. You get the you know, those cheat points, or those extra points, if you will, because they use him so much in the passing game. But that’s really where Kareem Hunt kind of separates himself from the rest of the pack in in where he’s being drafted is he’s on a run first team that does like to throw him the ball and they do have special packages designed for him because, yes, he shares the backfield with Nick Chubb. But Kareem Hunt in his own right, is an extremely good talent like this guy’s no slouch. So I like Kareem Hunt. I had him on my roster last year for a good part of the season at least before I kind of packaged everything up and sent him away but I was very pleased with the production I got out of him. And overall, you know is ADP going in the fifth or sixth round? is probably about right for what you’re getting there guys like it seems high. I thought it was really high last year. We talked about that when we covered the Browns he was going in the fifth route. And I was saying that was that was high that was high that was high. turned out not to be high because Nick Chubb went down. So you know that’s fine That one’s on me. This year I am changed my tune a little bit after seeing this offense with both of them in it and each one kind of individually while the other one you know was was nicked up the fifth of six rounds, right guys? If you expect to get Kareem Hunt you’re expecting to get him and then play him as a flex every single week. Even though he shares the backfield with Nick Chubb.

Derek 09:07
Yeah, well and even when he shares the backfield with him, he’s he’s incredibly efficient tissues and does does a lot of what you just talked about there, and that so it was one of those kind of tale of two Browns running backs type of thing. Between you and I last year in our in our home league. I had Nick Chubb on one side, you had Kareem Hunt on the other side. And there was a couple of games where we were texting back and forth and it was a I’m texting God, you know, dang it. They’re they’re using using Kareem Hunt this entire fourth quarter. And you realize it’s about time so just very interesting when it when it all comes down to it because of the how they use them. And it’s interesting because of the fact that they’re able to roll out there. They don’t necessarily cap each other’s upside time. Both of them still have the ability to deliver you a week winning type of week. Yeah, and you saw that play through a couple of times where you know, one of them was the running back three on the week and the other one was running back five, or you’re talking running back four and six and they have the ability to go out there and deliver both of them deliver you a week winning week on the same week coming out of the backfield because of how the Browns utilize them. And cream once again, it’s still going to get 15 opportunities a game it may not be in the traditional sense of how you typically see a running back us but they are going to find a way for them for him to touch the ball and get the opportunities and it’s going to come in the tune of about 15 opportunities a game which for a running back in the fifth or sixth round that’s that typically is not where you see that type of usage. You that’s typically the usage you find on a on a late third round or fourth round type of running back so there’s there is some potential value of picking them up in the fifth and sixth.

Kevin 11:00
Yeah, absolutely. And I think one thing that helps is the Browns defense to his he did yeah, they’re they’re pretty good, they’re able to get off the field. So it’s creating more opportunities and the more the Browns run the football, the better Baker Mayfield is because he doesn’t have to go off script as much. That’s not quite working for him as well in the pro game as it did in college at times. So by a by the Browns being able to run the ball, Nick Chubb Kareem Hunt or use the short passing game, the screen game, mainly with hunt, but chub gets sprinkled in there as well. It helps that entire offense flow, it makes Baker more efficient. It helps keep that defense fresh, so that way they can in turn, go out, get after the quarterback and get the ball back. And it sucks up the safeties again, guys, and it helps create single coverage matchups where Baker is much more efficient than trying to thread the needle against double coverage or squeeze it into tight zone windows at times.

Derek 12:02
Yep. But any desire to talk about any of the other running backs that they’ve got on this Cleveland Browns team.

Kevin 12:09
Not at this time. And it’s not that deerness Johnson who had one week last week where he kind of flashed and he was a waiver wire darling. Right? And then no amount of ABS spent on that gentleman. Right. And then Felton who they just drafted I think he’s going to be used mostly on special teams this year, he’s really gonna have to work his way up to any sort of meaningful playing time both for the browns and for fantasy purposes. So right now it’s it’s, it’s one a and one B. And the rest of the guys are just kind of fighting for whatever scraps get left behind.

Derek 12:46
Yep, actually, that brings up an interesting question for you. I know it’s one that we’ll get asked and so we’ll just address it here. Um, you know, we talk a lot about you know, potential handcuffs, things like that. Is there a world in which you’re going through and handcuffing, Nick Chubb with Kareem Hunt.

Kevin 13:06
I, you know, I’m sure there is a world where that does happen. And also a world where that works. I generally, when I’m drafting don’t pay attention to by weeks. But if I were really looking if I drafted Nick Chubb at the end of the first, like what you’re talking about, I would really be starting to look at by weeks to see if I had another running back on my team already, to make sure that all three of those guys didn’t get hit. Because, yes, it’s only one week, but depending on how your scoring format goes, like if you’re against the median, all the different things that you can do in fantasy football scoring, at least gives me it’ll make me take pause. I think you can make it work. I mean, last year was really proof of it even when they were both healthy, right? You can make that work, you can have one in your RV spot, you kind of just play the other one as a flex. And, and, and just kind of make it work for you. I, I may, I claim, you know, my thought is that Kareem hunts gonna finish as an RB two so ADP wise. I mean, where I where I see them finishing? Yeah, I mean, if you have the chance to you’d almost be silly not to based off of what we’ve been talking about. It’s, it’s truly the one team in the NFL, that I think you could do that with and probably be safe, as far as, you know, one in one and the other. Because Kareem Hunt is not just a handcuff like he is completely independent, to Nick Chubb, even though they’re on the same team. So I don’t see hunt as your traditional handcuff. I see him as a, you know, a guy who’s being drafted, you know, yes, as a running back to and as a late running back to and can fulfill That ADP like, I don’t know that you’re going to get Rb 10 out of that again. So you may not get a ton of extra value there. But I don’t think his floor is really any lower than that. So I do think you have a safe floor. So there’s nothing wrong with that it’s a safe pick at that point to have two guys with guaranteed volume. You can go for upside and big plays elsewhere.

Derek 15:22
Gotcha. Yeah, for me, I just, that’s one of those that I know what you’re talking about makes sense when you when you go through it. And especially, you know, putting the logic behind it. I yeah, it’s almost a hard thing for me to rationalize that when I when I go through it simply simply from the standpoint that when I do that and I put two of those players on the on the same roster like that i’m i’m in essence limiting my my upside that I can have there in a lot of cases I’m eliminating the ceiling on that because of the fact that if the Browns have a bad game or they get they get shut out or they the opposing defense is able to establish their will in that thing. You are severely limited on what you can do there and what you can expect but I had a it’s one of those that it would have to be kind of a perfect storm for me. Where volumes Yeah, just definitely

Kevin 16:21
positions and don’t think about right we always talk about the stack. Right What happens you know, if that stack doesn’t play out, you’re getting you’re getting dinged twice right so it’s it’s similar but different right because they’re in the same positional group and really at a at a position group and fantasy football that everyone is going after and you’re doing everything you can to have some depth and a leg up and and try and separate yourself from the pack. But we do that a lot of time it just in Jefferson if the Vikings go out and Kirk Cousins shit the bed. Then Adam Thielen Justin Jefferson, Herb Smith, all those guys could be affected. Now. The running back is kind of separate, but he’s tied in there as well right? Dalvin Cook‘s passing numbers might be down, but maybe he breaks you know, he could break a long one off now. 50 yard touchdown run and it makes up the entire day. If Kirk Cousins only throws 13 passes like he did in week three, they then yeah, your tire skill position set that’s dependent on cousins to feed in the ball gets hammered. So it does sound dirty. It does sound dirty, and I knew that’s where you’re going. I was thinking about that as we were talking about Chubb, but based off how the offense is running, and how Stefanski likes that team to to move and operate. This is the safest one to punch in fantasy football. It’s not Zeke and Tony Pollard. It’s not Dalvin Cook and Alexander Madison. It’s not Jacobs and Drake or Connor and Edwards. It is hunt and chub like this is the safest one to punch in fantasy football. And so if there’s the opportunity there, you know what, see what else is on the board. If you like something else, then by all means, but if you’re looking for running back depth, just because they’re on the same team don’t shoot away. You can get running back depth by having both them on your roster.

Derek 18:35
Alrighty, well, let’s go ahead and head on over into the wide receiver room. And we’ll start with Odell Beckham Jr. who injury shortened year last year 23 receptions 43 targets for 319 and three, your thoughts on Odell?

Odell Beckham Jr WR Cleveland Browns 2021 Fantasy Football

Kevin 18:53
I want Odell to be so good. I love watching Odell play football. He’s, he’s just fun. Yes, he’s a little arrogant. Yes, he’s you know, he’s kind of a crybaby and gets in fights with goalposts and then you know, the kickers net and then proposes to it two weeks later, and you know, all the antics but he makes fantasy football fun. And Odell is is that caliber of receiver still that he can change the entire course of your fantasy teams week? by himself. We haven’t seen it lately. So by me saying that’s like Well, yeah, but I don’t know that there’s a but there. Let’s get past the injuries. You know, with the way this running tat running attack is and everybody’s a little bit more familiar with the offense. That the play action attack that the Browns can implement, will lead to more opportunities for Odell Beckham Jr. And there’s enough other positions or skill position. Help on that field between Austin Hooper Jarvis Landry. Higgins and then David Njoku there’s enough other guys out there that he can’t be doubled up all again long. Like he doesn’t quite, he doesn’t require that anymore. So you’re gonna see some more opportunities and as long as Baker doesn’t continue to force him the ball when it’s not there like he did in 2018, which caused so much fresher 2019 excuse me, which caused so much frustration. You know, if you’re getting them in the seventh round, basically, like Odell Beckham, Jr. in the seventh round is, is in most cases, your third receiver, most cases not all. If he’s my third receiver, I’m comfortable with that. That means I have two other guys whether it’s Terry Maclaurin Davante Adams Tyree kill Stefon Diggs name your guy, it doesn’t really matter, whatever that looks like. But if he’s your third wide receiver, I’m okay with taking a gamble. If you want to take a piece of that. There might be some other guys on the board that you’d like more again, that’s fine. Like, you don’t have to draft him there. But there are worse, there are definitely worse options that you could go with as your third wide receiver. And it exposes you to something maybe a little bit different being that it’s your third receiver, but he’s still the number one target on that team. And sometimes that’s hard to come by, is Yeah, he’s my third receiver. And he’s the second receiver on this team. And maybe they throw the ball a lot. Maybe they don’t know, the Browns don’t throw the ball a ton, but he’s still the number one guy in that receiving room. So that gives me I guess, at least incentive to go out and put them on a roster too. And let’s see how it shakes out.

Derek 21:50
right one? Yes, there’s there’s some definite value with where he’s being taken now. And the upside could be there. The it’s one of those to that. Man, I look at it from a standpoint of what you’ve seen over the last couple of years. Right. And when you see him and Baker out on the field together, it doesn’t necessarily look like they mesh overly well together because of the fact that you sit there and start seeing Baker start forcing the ball in there and and start doing that and it was one of those that last year when we’re going through some of those things. Yeah, he went he went down the Browns came out of having those those just awful weather games. And then you saw a baker kind of take off and that that back part of the season, and have some pretty phenomenal games in it. And I believe when I was when I said that I sent that to both you and Alec saying Yeah, it really does look like Baker’s a better quarterback without Odell on the field. And I think a lot of that has to do with the fact that Odell Yeah, I don’t know if it’s Baker feels like he needs to force the ball in there if that’s the way that it’s scripted. And, and all of that because they’re they’re trying to get the playmaker the ball, but for whatever reason, those two seem to have a difficult time getting on the same page when you see them out there and playing together and so, Odell definitely has value on there and I think that if nothing else, you’ve got a you’ve got name value there later on if you’re looking to try and make a trade you know some of those types of things down the road, but it’s not a guy that I’m I’m just overly eager to go out and put on my roster.

Kevin 23:33
Okay, let’s play a game. We like this game. Alright. Oh, Dell, or that’s what we’re calling this game. Okay, or Dell or HP or Dell or Deontay Johnson. I’ll take deontae Okay, Brandon, I push. Okay. I excu an eight spots ahead Odell t Higgins. I’ll take t Hagen’s got these go on one spot after Adele will folder. I’ll take well fuller crew, Chase Claypool. Ah that I’ll probably switch and that’s probably where I’m looking at it Odell. Okay. DJ Chark. Hmm. I should take the shark. Interesting. Okay. Boyd Juju debo Robbie Anderson.

Derek 24:29
Robbie Anderson’s the only one that I would look at potentially taking that out of out of those over Odell.

Kevin 24:34
So from t Higgins so Odell and T Higgins basically have the same ADP there’s point five different 65th overall, and 65.7 overall. So t Higgins is kind of the break so Higgins, all the way down through Robbie Anderson. That’s your next round and a half. So that’s 67 all the way through 85th overall is So, there’s still a mix there, right? Like guys are being drafted after that you don’t like maybe it’s the guy who do Courtland Sutton is being drafted over or after Odell. I like certain more than Oh, definitely take Sutton Yeah. Right. So So there there’s exceptions to every rule. But Brandon cooks, Brandon cooks is being drafted 11 spots after Odell I don’t want any part of Brandon cooks right now because I don’t know who the damn quarterback is going to be. Like Brandon cook scares the crap out of me. So it’s just it’s just there. I don’t like Brandon. I Uke. So that is what it is. So I guess my thing is, I feel like he’s properly placed. I like 95% of the guys going before Odell more than Odell. I don’t like that much. Deontay Johnson. I want to like, damn it. That Pittsburgh offensive line scares the crap out of me and I’m not sure that they’re going to be able to drop back and throw the ball that much. But then you get after it. T Higgins. Yeah, like t Higgins. I like to use and the upside the fact that hasn’t been injury prone, like the last few seasons, so I like that play pool. No thanks. He’s a deep threat. He’s a basketball candidate. Not a season long guy. DJ Chark. I got burned by him last year in too many leaks. I’m not touching DJ Chark Tyler Boyd. Is he the second or third option in Cincinnati? That’s, that’s why I’m on Tyler. And so that scares the crap out of me, Juju? Is he the second or third option out on Juju as well. So it is that Trumps? I think like he’s properly I think that’s why Adele’s properly placed there, right. There’s some that you like, there’s some that you don’t buyer’s choice dealer’s choice, if you will, however, you want to phrase that. So that’s why I don’t see the issue with him going in the seventh round. Whatever, like, I could do worse. I’ll probably go running back. Like I’ll probably punt and see if there’s a running back there that I like, and see if I can get one of those other receivers that I like, the next round is probably what I would end up doing.

Derek 27:08
Actually in the seventh I’m probably taking my first quarterback in a single or a my second quarterback and a super flex is probably about how I would play that one. So But no, I definitely get your point. And I think you’re right, I think he is properly placed. I just, I have a hard time. Yeah, buying in on that one just where you are with DJ Chark I was with Odell last year got burned by that one just a little bit. And so I I’m looking to go other options there and see what that looks like. So the let’s go ahead and talk about the number two wide receiver on that team Jarvis Landry, who finished at wide receiver 3672 receptions 101 targets at 140 and three, your thoughts on Jarvis Landry.

Jarvis Landry WR Cleveland Browns 2021 Fantasy Football

Kevin 27:59
I would like Landry more if I knew his touchdown numbers. Were going to go back up like that. That’s the one thing about Jarvis. I like him. I like the value there. You can get him at the back end of the back end of the eighth to the middle of the ninth depending on where you’re going. So if you don’t like Odell and maybe you just like the Browns or you want a piece that offense, a little bit of receiving depth. You can go there but there’s a lot of people around Jarvis Landry as far as ATP goes that I like more. Jerry Judy Michael Pittman Levesque is Shin Nolte and Tonio brown Curtis Samuel, all those guys are going around Jarvis Landry. And I like all those guys a little bit more. So that is why I probably won’t have a whole lot of Jarvis Landry. It’s not that he can’t get the job done. Jarvis Landry still has some of the best hands on football. He runs great routes. He’s a good locker room guy. For the most part, He’s Mr. consistent. He got peppered with so many stinking targets in Miami, that, you know, he can play. But he’s the second option on a team. That’s a run first team. And there’s going to be other guys in that category that I think are just a little bit better. like Michael Pittman. Like I said earlier, I think Michael Pittman is going to far, far outdo his draft position. So if I’m in the back of the eighth, I’m not going to wait until the ninth the draft, Michael Pittman, if you sitting right there, I’m going to go ahead and grab him in the back of the eighth and be happy about that, because I think he’s going to end up so much ahead of where I’m drafting him. The value is going to be there. It doesn’t matter if I reached six or seven picks for him, like who cares at that point, go get your guy. So Landry has his upsides. Like he is good. He, he does what he can to come down with the ball, right like and I say that meaning he doesn’t get alligator arms. And when I say I think everybody understands that right? Look how alligator arms are so short and stubby and they don’t want to they don’t want to reach outside their shoulders and catch the ball. Landry’s not that guy, he will fully extend to try and do that he does try and help us quarterback out he will sacrifice his body. But it’s not a passing first team. He’s not the first option on that team. And he’s a little bit longer in the tooth. So I would most likely punt and go somewhere else.

Derek 30:22
Fair enough, when you when you’re reading that through on those adps. I was just going Yep, I’d rather do that one. That one. That one, that one. You didn’t name a guy on there that I’m going I’m taking him over Jarvis. But Jarvis does have some very, very, very just safe floor about him. Right. And in the eighth round, you’re putting them on, there’s a third or fourth type of wide receiver. So definitely some value there and definitely some things to play out but not loving the ceiling on that one. Because I don’t know this ceiling gets above wide receiver to territory. Right. And I don’t even know. I don’t I don’t see him anywhere. I can’t project a world where I see him at wide receiver 24 better.

Kevin 31:07
Yes. And I guess when I’m looking at that average draft position around Jarvis. All of those guys, I know aren’t going to fall. There’s a lot of buzz around all these guys. Jarvis Landry has been he’s been quiet, right? So you can like Jarvis. But he’s probably a healthy, responsible gamble to pick up around later than what you actually think you should draft him. You may not get him. That’s always possible. So you want to make sure you have a plan and your draft board and everything else. But all those other guys that I drafted I don’t want to take the gamble that I’m going to be around too late on any of those guys. I will take the gamble that I could be around too late on Jarvis by waiting one more turn. And if he’s not there, then guess what I can turn around and I can pick up a you know, Michael Gallup or a T Y Hilton, or something in that neighborhood if I’m desperate for receiver and get guys who are going to have a little bit more volume headed their way.

Derek 32:10
Fair enough. Any desire to talk about Rashad Hagen’s or any of the other wide receivers in this? Cleveland Browns wide receiver room?

Rashard Higgins WR Cleveland Browns 2021 Fantasy Football

Kevin 32:17
Higgins seems to be good for about a game or two each season, right? Like he’s not consistent enough to be on my fantasy radar. He might be a super late pick in a basketball league, depending on how deep it is and how many teams are in. But Higgins Higgins is a guy Yes, they brought him back. They obviously liked what he’s doing. But again, it’s a run first team. I’m not looking at their third and fourth and fifth receiving options on a run first team that doesn’t do anything for me. When I’m building a fantasy roster. I’d rather go for, you know, youth and see what’s out there. So if I’m passing on Rashard Higgins, you know, maybe I’m going Allen Lazard. If Aaron Rodgers comes back. If I’m passing on. Higgins, that’s probably because I already took a Russell Gage or a Paris Campbell so I already have that young guy with upside who’s gonna see a higher snap count and usage come his way. So not my cup of tea.

Derek 33:16
And then talking sports with Manny is green, the Jarvis is a safe play. And then he also had a question for us with D p. j. A good stash or no. Donovan people Jones, what are your thoughts on him?

Kevin 33:33
Yeah, I mean, he’s certainly coming into a second season. I think he got a little bit of run last year, right with Odell being down. And they were kind of flexing through some of that. So I mean, especially if you’re taxi squad, I’m assuming you’re talking dynasty, Manny. So if you’re stashing them, and your taxi squad allows you to keep guys into their second year, and you’re not filling it up with with guys that you like more? Yeah, sure. There’s nothing wrong seeing how you develops there’s a good chance of Dells not going to be with the browns, maybe even through this season, right. There’s already talks about them trading Odell. So if that’s the case, then he immediately gets upgraded. and kind of see where he fits in. I don’t know if he’s gonna play the Z or the X. But I think x is I think x is the most likely spot for him. Given his size and stature. Jarvis Landry is more that z receiver who can go play the slot and then slide outside when he asked to. So I don’t think there’s anything wrong with stashing him. But as always use springs eternal with dynasty football. And there are there are some guys you know. And now I can’t think of his name because up until today, I was liking him a lot for the Titans Fitzpatrick the wide receiver that they drafted this year cuz they didn’t really have anybody else. Well, now he’s my stash because Julio is there so I got to stash him and bury him for a little bit. So there’s nothing wrong with Donovan people Jones, he had some buzz around him coming out. And if they don’t keep Odell through this season, he’s going to be fighting for potential starting spot. And that’s always a good thing to have.

Derek 35:18
Yep. And he did say that it is a dynasty league. So yep, I think that is a question well answered. And my answer would be very similar to that one as well, especially if you’ve got deep benches, you know, taxi squad that let you do some of that type of stuff. And Manny saying that he also drafted Dez. Fitzpatrick everywhere else, too. So you are on a similar wavelength there, it sounds like

Kevin 35:44
I was really liking him up until today, I was like, sweet man, this guy has a clear path to at least contend for, you know, playing opposite of AJ Brown. And then the Julio thing finally went through, I’m going well, you know, dammit in one hand, but you’re picking them up in the third or fourth round of rookie drafts. And some you’ve even be able to pick them up off the fridge and after the draft is done if you’re playing with guys who aren’t as familiar with the wide receiver depth there. So it is what it is that you never know when some of these guys are going to pop, right? We know about these first, second, third round guys, you know, coming out of the draft, but these guys picked up in the fourth and fifth round make good careers in the NFL, we just don’t have as easy of a time predicting when they’re going to pop onto the scene.

Derek 36:32
Absolutely. Well, let’s go ahead and move on over into some tight ends and they’ve got a few of them over there in in Cleveland, as you can imagine being a run first team. Austin Hooper finished at Titan number 21. Last year 46 receptions 70 targets 435 and four through the air your thoughts on Austin Hooper.

Austin Hooper TE Cleveland Browns 2021 Fantasy Football

Kevin 36:58
I’m sure Austin Hooper sleeps very well at night counting has millions of dollars that Cleveland threw his way. But I don’t understand why Cleveland through him so much money. Like he’s a decent run blocker. He’s not a great run blocker. You know, he he’s a good pass catcher, but he runs a lot of those deep seam routes. Well, do you really need him to run deep seam routes? like yeah, after the play action games working? You want him to get behind the linebackers in front of the safeties right there. And quite frankly, that’s what he did love his damage with but he’s just you want them to be better. He probably is a better player than what fantasy relevance is showing. But he’s the guy he’s gonna be maybe if he’s lucky, back into Titan one most likely he’s tied into the season guys like he’s the guy that you can, you know, look for matchups, play the waiver wire, pick him up drop him five different times throughout the season, depending on what’s going on with your team. Because it gets down to this point where you’re only seeing 43 feeds only seeing 43 catches throughout the season. He’s a diamond doesn’t like there’s six other guys that have the exact same statline he does. So I’m not going to get married to Austin Hooper by any means.

Derek 38:14
Right. And the fact that you see David and Joe ku coming back here as well. Another very athletic type of tight end, I see these guys gonna compete with that you’re compete for touches on that one. And I don’t see the opportunity being high enough for either one of those guys that I’m eagerly adding either one of these guys on to my roster. Austin Hooper definitely played that very well though, having a very good year in 2019 it with Atlanta, and then signing as a free agent with the Cleveland Browns and getting that big contract and it was a move last year I remember him signing that we’re kind of scratching our heads a little bit going I don’t see how this is really gonna fit in and work because of how we thought Kevin Stefanski was going to run that offense and what we thought was gonna happen ended up happening. So I don’t necessarily see much more upside then than kind of that middle tied into type of range for him myself. Let’s go ahead and talk about David Njoku. And David Njoku had a very injury shortened year last year, only 19 receptions 29 targets for 213 and two, your thoughts on David Njoku.

David Njoku TE Cleveland Browns 2021 Fantasy Football

Kevin 39:31
I this guy’s a really good athlete. He really is. He’s and he’s expressed a couple different times how he wants out of Cleveland. Cleveland has yet to grant his request and allow him to seek a trade so it’ll be interesting to see how that kind of develops through this offseason because the tight end behind in joku Harrison Bryant is the guy I I like a lot actually. I think he’s probably Probably the best tight end on the roster, just raw talent wise he needs to develop a little bit more. But here’s some Brian i think is going to be a very, very good player in the NFL. So in joku I don’t even know much like Odell if he’s going to be with the team halfway through the season at the beginning of the season, and depending on where he goes, I can really like his landing spot like if he were to go to Tennessee, and yes, they just got Julio and everything else. But if the first Fisker start Pritzker is a he’s great because he’s the Titan one but David and Joker’s better than he is, and he would instantly step into there and be that guy and who knows where injuries are going to kind of lead and kind of go go through some things. The Jets. Chris Herndon is always hurt, right. Ryan Griffin is 34 3036 years old, I believe. So they could use a little bit good youth at tight end, David and Joe COVID actually really good with the jets to work with Zach Wilson. Like that’d be a pairing that I’d be happy with. While he’s with the browns, he does nothing for me guys. Like I he’s a great athlete. He’s He’s definitely popped in a couple of different moments. But this team, this system that he plays in, he does nothing for me. I’m not even looking at him on draft.

Derek 41:24
He Yeah, he’s a guy that maybe maybe take as a flyer on a string type of thing. But no, I’m right there with you. Let’s go ahead and move on over to unless you want to talk about the rookie that they just drafted there.

Harrison Bryant TE Cleveland Browns 2021 Fantasy Football

Kevin 41:38
I mean, we don’t have to spend a whole hell of a lot of time on him. Just because I know that third string tight ends are not necessarily fun to talk about. But Harrison Bryant, you want to talk about taxi squad stashes like Jonathan people Jones, this is a guy I’d rather have stashed. Personally just because Titans are kind of, they’re harder to develop, they take a little bit more time. But he’s, he’s that next evolution, like he’s 65 to 40. I think he ran a 450 ran a 458 I believe. So he’s got some pretty good speed for a tight end. Obviously, he he’s a guy who’s buried on the depth chart, he’s gonna see some run though. He was playing a decent amount of snaps last year because he’s the best run blocker on the team. So that’s his one downside. As far as fantasy production, he’s the best run blocker as far as tight ends go that they have on the team. So he’s gonna see you’re gonna see a snap count up really, really high. But what you want to look at his percentage of routes run. And that’s where he’s going to fall a little bit short right now. Because in joku, and Hooper both are more past catching Titans. Harrison Bryant is a pass catching tight end, but he also blocks really well. So when I run first offense, guess what he’s gonna do? He’s gonna block. So that’s where his hang up is. But I have them in a lot of different leagues. And I have him stashed for the day that they do get rid of in joku. If Hooper goes down, because this guy’s kind of the next man up, so that’s why I have him stashed on a lot of different taxi squads throughout, you know, 30 different dynasty teams right now.

Derek 43:18
Fair enough. Let’s go ahead and move on over to the quarterback room and Baker Mayfield is their finishing qb 17 305, completions, 486 attempts, 3563 yards, 26 touchdowns and eight interceptions. You thought on Baker Mayfield

Baker Mayfield QB Cleveland Browns 2021 Fantasy Football

Kevin 43:39
I really like the fact that he only threw eight interceptions. Like in all seriousness, I really liked that the fact that he’s not giving the ball to the other team. But he’s a guy. I mean, he didn’t drop back for 30 passes once last year. Not once did they have him drop back for 30 passes. So he is going to be kept a little bit. Yes, he had what was a week seven he had the five touchdown game against Cincinnati. You might see one of those a season and it may not be five, it might be four, but you’re not going to consistently see that you’re looking at one, maybe two touchdowns. But then you’re also going to have a couple of weeks where they lean so heavily on the run game where Baker’s basically going to be a ghost. And that’s going to be a struggle. So depending on his evolution at quarterback and what new wrinkles they put in this offense. It’s possible he throws the ball a little bit more, if anything, I’m hoping for just continued efficiency out of out of the Oh and I misspoke guys. I’m sorry. In week 14, he did drop back 47 times I apologize. I was I was not correctly reading my statline so he did drop back a little bit. But yeah, there were a couple of weeks but yeah, he’s not a wild guy. Right like He’s He’s your third quarterback, like on a super flex. He’s your third quarterback the bye week fill in that guy like he’s, he’s not. He’s not a guy I’m drafting in my top 24 even though I know he’s gonna finish inside the top 24, if that makes sense, just because there’s no, there’s no consistency. And there’s no way of telling which week he’s going to play well, in which week, the run game might just supersede any plans they had for passing.

Derek 45:29
Yeah, and for the most part last year, when he did drop back and throw a lot of passes, it didn’t result in your phenomenal fantasy weeks outside of week 13 and week 14, where he threw 37 or 33 attempts in week 13. A week 14 was 47. But you look at week one when he had 39 qB 30. On the week. You look again at week 16 were dropped back 53 times finishes qb 34. That’s two.

Kevin 46:02
So I was trying not to talk over you as I started into that. So week one, like what you’re just talking drop back. 39 times, right. Yeah. 21, completions. 189 yards,

Derek 46:11
right. Like, like a weight guy when he’s dropping back? It does not equate to

Kevin 46:16
No. Yeah. So that’s part of what I was getting at. Sorry, good.

Derek 46:23
No, you’re, you’re good. Um, but no, you’re you’re 100% right there that he’s a guy that I I wouldn’t necessarily mind putting him on as my second QB in a super flex, just from the standpoint that he’s typically going to be around a little bit later on that, but not a guy that I’m overly anticipating, you know, starting week in week out on that thing. He’s a guy that Yeah, I was gonna be more of a matchup dependent type of thing for my super flex, is how I would look to draft him and play him. But and that’s, that’s painful to save from the, from the standpoint of we all know how big of an Oklahoma fan I am, and watching Baker play back there. But he is definitely found a system in which he can thrive in the NFL. You know, it’s one of those that he does very well, in a run first type of offense. That’s how Oklahoma runs their offenses is a run first type of deal where he can then pick apart defenses because of the fact that they’ve got to play the run game so heavily. And that’s though putting him in those situations is where he’ll thrive. But when you’re going to have to have him load up and throw the ball 3040 times, that does not going to mean that he’s that’s not going to equal fantasy success for him. Nor is it gonna equal on on the field success for the Browns most of the time.

Kevin 47:47
Yes, and this is where I think Odell can help is because of his run after the catch ability is to take some of these five yard slants and turn them into 25 yard gains and help chunk it out. Baker had six games last year, where he scored less than 11 Fantasy points. Five Games last year where he scored less than eight. Like, this is part of my

Derek 48:17
pal Kevin seven some more technical difficulties there. But we’ll see him hop back in here soon, I bet but looking at it, right like where the point that he was going through where you’re talking about Ken Baker having less than eight fantasy points, or weeks six, you also saw him have a poor showing in week eight, poor showing in weeks, 10 and 11. Now, those particular weeks, though, if when you go back and you looked at the weather report, you saw the the weather was downright awful in for those home games that they had in Cleveland, where when you when you watch the thing, the flag inside the end zone was doing some of this and circling around the field goalpost so it made it to the point where it was very difficult to throw the ball. But again, you if Baker has to drop back and throw the ball a ton the Browns are not going to be winning, winning many ballgames there, because of how that they’ve got this team constructed. They’ve got to rely on the defense to do what they do. And the offense to run the ball and kill the clock. And they’re perfectly fine winning some ugly football games and winning those games. You have 20 to 17, you know, 14 to 10 type of games. Well, Kevin, any final thoughts on either Baker Mayfield or the Cleveland Browns?

Kevin 49:45
No, I think I think it’s a fun. It’s a fun fantasy team, right? They have relevant pieces that the fact that they got in the playoffs last year, which was great for them to kind of get off that schnide I know that meant a lot for not only the organization but the community. So we’ll see it They can repeat and get back to the playoffs. I know that that divisions tough guys, like with Baltimore and Pittsburgh, and the bangles are still kind of are trailing up the back end of that. But offensively they’re improved. So we’ll see what the bangles are able to continue to do. So they’re definitely they’re definitely a team that you know, you’re not shying away from right, you can grab a Nick Chubb you can grab Kareem Hunt or one of the receivers if you’re just looking for a piece of it, and you’re okay. It may not be league winning material as far as the receiving room goes. But they can add nice depth pieces.

Derek 50:50
True. Very, very true. Well, Kevin, I think that’s going to take us down to the end of it to any final thoughts for the listeners

Kevin 51:00
know, stay tuned. We’re we got to finish up some rankings and get those put on the website. I know we’ve been talking about that. So we got to get that done. As we go through these mandatory mini camps, you know, we’ll see who else decides to possibly hold out and create a buzz. And as always, rookie drafts are still going on and fresh drafts, whether they’re redraft leagues or startup dynasties, so feel free to hit us up. Ask us any question you have. We’re more than happy to talk shop with with anybody over any question they have, and hopefully help you guys set yourselves up for success.

Derek 51:38
Absolutely. I’m loving this time of year because this is the time of year that best ball seems to be all the rage. And I’m not gonna lie. I really liked the I think my favorite part of going through fantasy football. And some of this is is the draft and being able to draft these things and construct your roster. And it’s nice in some points where you’re able to kind of set it and forget it, you draft them and the computer will take care of some of that kind of stuff. So a lot of fun there and doing a few of those right now. So yeah, absolutely having a ball. But I do believe that that is going to wrap up yet another episode of the good old boys fantasy football podcast. Make sure you’re hitting us up on the socials Twitter, Instagram, twitch Facebook, at good old boys. FF, go over to the YouTube channel. Hit the subscribe button, the good old boys fantasy football podcast YouTube channel, and you can check out a lot of the ranking things like that that we’re have coming out shortly on the good old boys website. goodoldboysff.com. For Kevin, I’m Derek. We’ll see Alex back very soon. Have a good one. Be safe.