Greg Brainos called Cedric Tillman a "huge smash" at his current 15th-round ADP. Brainos noted Tillman finished 2023 with three straight games of 80-plus percent route participation and has, by all accounts, locked down an outside starting spot opposite Amari Cooper. Kevin Stefanski’s offense now has four viable quarterbacks (Deshaun Watson, Joe Flacco, Gardner Minshew, and rookie Spencer Rattler), giving Tillman multiple paths to competent QB play. Brainos believes even league-average quarterbacking makes Tillman a weekly best-ball contributor because of his contested-catch profile (33% career college target share on deep balls) and Cleveland’s play-action heavy scheme that pushes two or three shots downfield every game. He compared the buying opportunity to 2022 Nico Collins, saying the market is asleep on a 90-target season that can be drafted after many WR6s.

Jakob Sanderson said he is smashing the draft button on Caleb Johnson any time the rookie is on the board next to Quinshon Judkins. Sanderson expects Arthur Smith to make good on his promise of roughly 1,100 offensive snaps with "half of them runs," projecting a minimum 550 rushing attempts for Pittsburgh. He anticipates Johnson walking into a 50-percent snap share right out of the gate—despite the presence of Jalen Warren—because the third-rounder fits the early-down hammer role Pittsburgh covets. By contrast, Sanderson worries Cleveland will abandon the run early in games and could devolve into a three-man committee with Jerome Ford handling most pass-downs and fourth-round rookie Samson eating a series or two. Given Johnson graded higher than Judkins in his pre-draft talent evaluations, Sanderson says the Steeler offers both a safer weekly floor and more realistic 20-touch upside, making him the auto-pick in that sixth-round ADP pocket.

JSU called Jerome Ford a screaming value in the back half of drafts. Ford is entering a contract year, and JSU believes that "playing for his next deal" means he will gut through minor injuries and push for every snap. Although Cleveland drafted Quinshon Judkins and Jaylen Sampson, JSU views those picks as future planning rather than immediate threats. Until the rookies prove themselves, Ford projects for early-down work plus the passing-down role that produced 44 catches last season. At an ADP outside the top-170, JSU thinks Ford can deliver low-end RB2 numbers early and hold trade value when injuries inevitably strike other backfields.

JSU feels "very confident" that rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders will log a healthy chunk of starts for Cleveland in 2025 even if Joe Flacco opens Week 1. He cited steady camp reports of Sanders ripping throws and, more importantly, the inevitable public and private pressure Deion Sanders will exert once the Browns hit a rough patch. JSU’s read is that ownership brought the younger Sanders in with an eye toward upside, so the leash on Flacco will be short. Grabbing Shedeur in the final rounds gives drafters access to rushing equity and YOLO deep-ball upside once he replaces the 39-year-old veteran.

Pat Fantasy Dog Pound said Shedeur Sanders is worth a mid-round stab at pick 108 in Superflex because buzz out of camp suggests he could win the Week-1 job. Pat noted ‘a ton of positive coach speak’ around Sanders’ command of the huddle and ability to pick up the playbook quickly. Even if the rookie only locks down 10 starts, Pat believes that return on investment crushes at his current ADP, especially when drafters can pair him with a veteran bridge option. He contrasted Sanders’ arrow-up trajectory with Joe Flacco’s public stance that he wants to play, framing the battle as real competition rather than ceremonial grooming.

Pat Fantasy Dog Pound said Cedric Tillman is one of his favorite final-round clicks in single-entry because the Browns offensive coordinator keeps pumping him up. The OC called Tillman "a great threat" who brings critical size, strength and the flexibility to line up both inside and outside, and added the staff is "going to continue to develop Cedric's game and get the most out of him." Pat believes that kind of glowing coach speak usually foreshadows an expanded snap share, especially for a second-year wideout drafted on Day 2. With virtually no opportunity cost at his current ADP, Pat views Tillman as a cheap way to capture potential spike weeks and secure Week 17 bring-back options against the Bengals.

Mike Wright reacted to Zach Jackson’s Athletic report that Joe Flacco is currently favored over Kenny Pickett to open Week 1 for Cleveland and laid out why that would be a windfall for fantasy gamers. Wright stressed that Flacco is still a "professional quarterback" capable of eclipsing 4,000 passing yards—something he believes Pickett flat-out cannot do, pointing to Pickett’s career-high seven TD passes and the lowest touchdown rate ever through 25 starts. Because Flacco is willing to test tight windows downfield, Wright bumped Jerry Jeudy and David Njoku up his projections, saying each would move into every-week starter territory if Flacco is under center. He also projected the Browns to jettison whichever veteran loses the competition, meaning an even clearer path to snaps for the winner. Season-long drafters, according to Wright, should build in upside for Browns pass-catchers now and be ready to pounce on Flacco as a late-round super-flex flier if the camp reports continue trending his way.

After reading Hayden Winks’ thread detailing Marshawn Lloyd’s rookie-year gauntlet—hip, hamstring, ankle and appendix surgeries plus biomechanical testing at Wisconsin’s rehab center—Davis Mattek said he’s on the verge of deleting Lloyd from his ranks entirely. Mattek noted Lloyd is already working with the rehab group, a red flag for a player who must beat out AJ Dillon for touches behind Josh Jacobs. With Green Bay historically slow to trust rookies and Lloyd’s body ‘firing off every medical flare imaginable,’ Mattek is pivoting to undrafted hybrid Savion Williams as a cheaper hedge on Packers backfield uncertainty.

Andrew Erickson is well above consensus on Jerry Jeudy, grabbing him in the sixth because he expects Kevin Stefanski to treat the Alabama product as Cleveland’s offensive centerpiece. The Browns extended Jeudy and have publicly praised his versatility, already moving him all over the formation in early workouts. Erickson admitted Jeudy’s late-2023 surge coincided with Cedric Tillman’s injury, but noted the front office passed on Travis Hunter in the draft, reaffirming Jeudy’s alpha status. With four viable quarterback candidates on the roster, Erickson thinks even league-average QB play unlocks a 25-plus percent target share, giving Jeudy obvious runway to beat a depressed ADP and deliver consistent best-ball spike weeks.

Davis Mattek said David Njoku is the perfect TE2 for Best Ball Mania builds, calling him “140 points you can basically bank.” Mattek trusts Njoku’s weekly route participation (85% in 2023) to lock in a steady floor and argued that the Browns’ red-zone usage funnels to the tight end (23% target share inside the 20 last season). Even if Elijah Moore and Jerry Jeudy siphon between-the-20s looks, Mattek expects one or two 25-plus point spike weeks from Njoku because Kevin Stefanski loves using heavy play-action near the goal line. That combination of bankable volume plus a single blow-up game is exactly what he wants from a Round-11 tight end in best ball tournaments.

Jason Moore called Jerry Jeudy a screaming bargain after watching him slip to the back of the seventh round in their recent mock draft. Moore reminded listeners that Jeudy racked up 1,204 yards last season despite playing the first eight games with a “garbage quarterback” before Jameis Winston took over. From Week 10 on, Jeudy was the WR4 in fantasy points per game and finished the year as the overall WR15. With Amari Cooper and Elijah Moore both off the roster, Jeudy owns a 28% vacated-target share and is the unquestioned WR1. Moore argued that if Winston were officially named the starter, Jeudy would be a third-round pick—possibly late-second—given Winston’s career 8.3 aDOT and history of feeding alpha receivers. Even assuming Cleveland rotates through three quarterbacks again (the over/under the show set), Moore still projects Jeudy for 130 targets and a WR18 floor. He is drafting Jeudy everywhere in the sixth and will “smash the button” on any board that lets him fall into Round 7 or later.

Mike Wright urged drafters to stash Cedric Tillman with their final pick, arguing the third-year wide-out showed every sign of a breakout before a season-ending concussion. In Tillman’s four-game stretch as a starter—immediately after Cleveland traded Amari Cooper—he averaged 7.8 targets, 75 receiving yards and nearly a touchdown per game, matching Jerry Jeudy’s simultaneous 78-yard pace. Wright compared Tillman’s contested-catch ability and 6'3, 213-pound frame to Nico Collins, noting he thrived on back-shoulder and red-zone fades from Jameis Winston. With only Jeudy ahead of him on the depth chart and no established WR3, Wright sees a realistic path to 110+ targets if Tillman simply picks up where he left off. The obvious risk is quarterback roulette: the Browns cycled four passers last year and the hosts set the over/under at three QB changes again. Still, Wright called that volatility “baked in” when Tillman’s current ADP is effectively undrafted. He recommends pairing Tillman with a stable WR3 in season-long leagues and grabbing him in best-ball builds that need late spike-week potential.

Davis Mattek called David Njoku the ultimate "ball-knower" pick and wondered why a tight end who scored 160 fantasy points in 2022 and 116 last season goes undrafted in many rooms. Mattek argued the market is over-penalizing Njoku for Cleveland’s quarterback uncertainty, noting that the Browns threw the eighth-most passes to tight ends after Deshaun Watson went down. With Njoku’s 23% red-zone target share intact and only Amari Cooper commanding real volume, Mattek expects a stable 6–7 targets per game regardless of who wins the QB battle. At his current free price, Njoku screens as a weekly TE1 with top-five spike-week potential—an easy click in Best Ball formats that reward ceiling.

Davis Mattek called Caleb Johnson the most obvious heart-over-head pick on his board, arguing the rookie is a better prospect than most realize. Johnson piled up 1,963 scrimmage yards last season—more than Iowa’s entire passing game—and Mattek still graded him as the RB2 of the class even after a disappointing 4.58 forty. With Arthur Smith “getting his guy” in Pittsburgh, Mattek believes Johnson can immediately supplant Najee Harris and Jalen Warren, projecting a realistic 250-touch rookie season that is nowhere near baked into his current ADP.

Evan Abrams reminded bettors that divisional home underdogs in Week 1 have been a long-term winner and singled out Cleveland as the most likely candidate this year. The Browns are catching 5.5 points now, and Abrams said he will grab them if the line drifts to +6 or +6.5. His rationale: uncertainty at both quarterback spots (Cleveland still hasn’t announced a starter, while Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow is coming off wrist surgery), Trey Hendrickson’s status on the Bengals’ side is up in the air, and early-season variance often favors the home dog. Because May numbers can swing a full field goal before September, Abrams is content to wait, but he wants listeners ready to pounce once the market hits the key number.

Chris Raybon called Cleveland’s slate "Super-Bowl-level difficult" and suggested betting the Browns UNDER their posted win total. Before their Week 10 bye, Cleveland faces Tennessee, Baltimore, Green Bay, Detroit, Minnesota, Pittsburgh, Miami and New England—seven teams that finished 2023 in the top half of DVOA. Things do not ease up: out of the bye they travel to the Jets and Raiders and host Baltimore and San Francisco. Raybon questioned where the easy victories are outside of the Browns’ customary upset of Cincinnati in Week 1. Because 13 of 17 games kick at 1 p.m. ET, the schedule offers little chance to exploit rest-edge or time-slot variance, further lowering their ceiling in his projections.

Rich Cooling called Quinshon Judkins a smash pick at 1.09 in his second rookie draft of the offseason, arguing the Ole Miss back should never fall out of the mid-first. Cooling explained that Richard Young going 1.06 created an unexpected value pocket, pushing Judkins three spots below where he had already graded him a tier above the rest of the board. Because his roster is flush at quarterback (Jalen Hurts and Patrick Mahomes) and tight end in a premium format (George Kittle, David Njoku, Evan Engram), Cooling said any running back with Judkins’ size, burst and three-down ceiling immediately upgrades both his weekly lineup and trade leverage. He noted that running back scarcity is amplified in dynasty superflex, making Judkins’ projected workhorse role and pass-game chops a potential league-winning swing for a team light on proven RB production. Cooling plans to chase veteran receivers later or on the trade market, confident that locking in Judkins here maximizes value while still keeping the roster competitive this season.

Rich Cooling grabbed Quinshon Judkins at 1.07, calling him "a tier above any other player left." The draft had followed chalk, letting Judkins fall into the late first where Cooling’s roster also happened to be light at running back. He highlighted Judkins’ size, burst and receiving chops as reasons the back can immediately boost both lineup production and trade value—making him the clear best player available and a perfect intersection of need and value.

Sam Monson urged teams—and by extension fantasy drafters—to ‘kick the tires’ on Nick Chubb during training camp because the upside remains enormous. Before last year’s devastating knee injury, Chubb consistently ranked with Derrick Henry and Saquon Barkley as a top-three NFL back. Monson conceded Chubb looked sluggish in his brief 2023 return but pointed to recent workout footage showing him clearing hurdles and literally denting a ceiling tile with his head as evidence of regained explosion. Given his age and injury discount, Monson thinks Chubb could be signed (Chicago was floated as a fit) for a modest NFL contract and believes managers can scoop him at a steep ADP discount in best-ball tournaments or stash him on redraft benches. If the burst is truly back, you’re looking at a potential league-winning RB for pennies on the dollar; if not, he’s an easy cut. That asymmetric payoff makes Chubb one of Monson’s favorite speculative picks of the summer.

Pete Overzet called Isaac TeSlaa a perfectly acceptable Round-17/18 dart throw because Detroit’s offense is too efficient to ignore any cheap pass-catcher who might climb the depth chart. He pointed out that Jameson Williams continues to give off "weird vibes," leaving only Josh Reynolds and Kalif Raymond between TeSlaa and meaningful snaps. The Lions ranked top-5 in EPA per play and red-zone pass rate last year, so even a part-time role could translate into usable spike weeks. Overzet noted the team traded up to bring TeSlaa in and that the rookie’s contested-catch profile meshes with Jared Goff’s tendency to target big bodies near the goal line (David Montgomery saw 38 red-zone carries, Sam LaPorta 26 red-zone targets). Bottom line: with little blocking his path and Detroit projected for another season of offensive fireworks, TeSlaa offers asymmetric playoff upside at virtually no opportunity cost.

Pat Fantasy Dog Pound said Jerry Jeudy is an auto-click in the mid rounds because there is “really nothing else in that offense.” With virtually no new competition since last season, Pat expects Jeudy to command roughly 140 targets and sees volume outweighing worries about his efficiency. At a seventh-round ADP he’s building exposure now before the market adjusts to that workload projection.

Cody Woodman advised fading Jerome Ford after the Browns forced him to take a pay cut on his rookie deal—something he called "basically unheard of and a clear signal they’re ready to move on." Cleveland’s front office reportedly told Ford to restructure or be released, a scenario that screams lack of confidence. Cody added that Ford averaged just 0.18 missed tackles forced per carry (RB53) and ranked 48th in success rate, metrics that make it unlikely he ever pushes for a true committee role behind Nick Chubb. Unless Ford lands on a more RB-friendly depth chart, Woodman believes his current Round-15 ADP is dead money.

Pat Fantasy Dog Pound called Cedric Tillman the only league-winning upside play left once the board hits the 140s. Tillman has climbed 15 spots since late April yet still goes after a tier of low-ceiling slot receivers. Pat reminded listeners we already saw Tillman’s ceiling flashes last year before a concussion cost him five games, and nothing about the Browns depth chart says he can’t seize the WR2 job. Jerry Jeudy led the NFL with 11 drops in 2023, something Kevin Stefanski "has to hate," while Amari Cooper is now 30. If Joe Flacco (or even an upright Deshaun Watson) keeps Cleveland’s pass rate near last year’s 58%, Tillman’s 90th-percentile outcome is 110 targets and a handful of 25-point spike weeks. Pat is willing to push exposure north of 30 % and believes the ADP still has room to climb another full round.

Davis Mattek called Caleb Johnson the slam-dunk Round-7 hammer for best-ball drafters still hunting an RB2. The 220-pound Iowa product out-gained the entire Hawkeye passing game in 2024 and still finished second in the FBS with 861 breakaway rushing yards despite a disappointing forty time. Mattek thinks the fit in Pittsburgh is perfect: Arthur Smith’s offense will almost certainly rank 32nd in PROE, Mike Tomlin loves reliable grinders, and the only real competition is 208-pound change-of-pace back Jaylen Warren. With quarterback play likely shaky (Will Howard, Mason Rudolph or a Hail-Mary Rodgers trade), Smith will lean on the run, creating a plausible scenario where Johnson sees 25-plus December carries and spikes in the fantasy playoffs. Mattek compared him to ‘Brian Robinson with juice’ and believes his combination of bell-cow build, breakaway ability, and seventh-round ADP makes him a potential league-winner before summer ADP catches up.

Pat Fantasy Dog Pound advised scooping up Cedric Tillman now while his price is still palatable. Tillman has already climbed 14 spots in Underdog’s seven-day trend and Pat expects more steam because the Browns didn’t land Travis Hunter or any other high-lev­el rookie wideout. The only real newcomer is Diontae Johnson, whom Pat does not consider a major obstacle to Tillman earning a full-time outside role. With market momentum building and a shallow target tree behind Amari Cooper, Pat believes Tillman’s current late-round ADP will look like a steal once summer camp buzz starts circulating.

Wilson forecasted that Joe Flacco will open 2024 as Cleveland’s starting quarterback. He flat-out said he does not expect Deshaun Watson to ever take another snap for the Browns and doubts Kenny Pickett even makes the final roster. Cleveland drafted Dillon Gabriel in Round 3 and Shadur Sanders in Round 5, but Wilson views both picks as developmental. He believes both rookies will start at some point this season, yet Flacco’s experience and last year’s late-season form give him the inside track for Week 1. Actionable angle: in superflex and season-long leagues, stash Flacco late and fade Watson in drafts; bettors looking at Browns Week-1 lines should price Flacco in, not Watson.

Davis Mattek said Jerome Ford is only a short-term Band-Aid for Zero-RB drafters. He reminded listeners that Cleveland scored just eight rushing touchdowns last year—second-worst in the league—and projects the offense to be even shakier in 2024 with a revolving door at quarterback (Mattek would lay even money on four QBs logging snaps). Ford probably begins the year as the passing-down back, but Mattek expects the backfield to devolve into a three-man rotation by Week 11 once Nick Chubb inches back and the team sprinkles in D’Onta Foreman or a rookie. With TD equity capped and touches destined to splinter, Mattek is fading Ford outside of pure early-season points chases and is not touching depth-chart mate “Samson” at all until prices crater.

Mike Wright said Jerome Ford’s reworked deal all but guarantees him a roster spot and makes him a late-round target in season-long leagues. Ford’s salary drops but is now fully guaranteed at $1.75 million, and with Nick Chubb officially gone, Wright expects a two-man backfield featuring rookie Quinshon Judkins and Ford. The Browns drafted no other runners and kept their wide-zone scheme under new OC Ken Dorsey, a system in which Ford averaged 4.5 yards per carry last year. Wright projects a 45-to-50 percent share of the rushes for Ford and sees flex usability, especially during bye weeks or in zero-RB builds.

Hayden Winks said Cedric Tillman is one of the rare late-round wideouts who could open the year as his team’s No. 2 option. Tillman was functioning as Cleveland’s WR3 before multiple concussions shut him down, yet Winks expects him to be cleared for a full camp and jump right back into two-receiver sets opposite Jerry Jeudy now that Amari Cooper is gone. He reminded viewers that Tillman posted usable weeks in a run-first offense last season and sees a major pass-volume bump if Joe Flacco wins the starting job; Flacco’s 9.1-yard ADOT and willingness to throw 35-plus times per game created multiple 100-yard outings for Browns receivers down the stretch. At a near-free ADP, Winks believes drafters are getting a weekly spike-week lottery ticket whose role is far safer than the rookie flyers typically drafted in the same range.

Michael Leone said David Njoku remains an obvious buy despite his ADP climbing into the low-120s. Njoku was one of the few tight ends to separate from replacement level down the stretch last year—top-6 in targets per route run and top-8 in yards after catch per reception from Week 10 forward—yet drafters still lump him into the flat TE2 bucket. Leone noted he has the Browns’ tight end a full round ahead of Underdog’s market in his personal ranks and is purposely staying overweight while the field worries about quarterback uncertainty. His hedging advice was portfolio-based, not player-based: you can throttle back exposure once the price corrects, but you can never recapture the early closing-line value if Njoku’s cost spikes another 15–20 picks in July camp news.

Michael Leone said he would be "very content" taking Jerry Jeudy at the 3/4 turn if Joe Flacco ends up starting a majority of Browns games. Leone cited Flacco’s track record of peppering his top wideouts— a 50-point Amari Cooper eruption in 2023 and multiple 100-yard outings for both Michael Pittman Jr. and Josh Downs during the Colts’ stretch run. Flacco’s aggressive 9.1-yard average depth of target and willingness to throw 35-plus times per game create the exact game scripts that elevate alpha receivers. Leone admitted there’s downside if Flacco doesn’t win the job, but believes Jeudy’s current late-6th ADP already prices in that uncertainty while completely ignoring the top-15 ceiling he’d possess in a pass-heavy Flacco offense.

Michael Leone argued that the market is double-counting risk on Jerry Jeudy by assuming the entire Browns passing game is doomed. Leone reminded listeners that Jeudy and David Njoku are the only proven target earners on the roster after Amari Cooper’s departure, making them the clear 1A and 1B in a scheme that Kevin Stefanski has historically funneled toward two primary options. Even if Deshaun Watson remains league-average, Leone projects Jeudy for a 24-25% target share and roughly 125 looks— volume that would have made him a sixth-round pick on last year’s Broncos. The former first-rounder still owns top-20 separation metrics per NFL Next Gen Stats, so Leone sees real spike-week potential if Watson flashes anything close to his 2020 deep-ball efficiency. At a late-eighth ADP, Jeudy offers a cheap path to 90-catch upside and provides structural balance for early RB or elite-TE builds in Best Ball Mania.

Emory Hunt recommended taking a small, early-May flyer on Shedeur Sanders at +2500 to win Offensive Rookie of the Year. Hunt argued Sanders is the most talented passer in Cleveland’s room and, if the competition is truly merit-based, he should win the starting job "going away." He pointed to Sanders’ prolific production at Jackson State and Colorado as proof he can immediately elevate an NFL offense. A starting Sanders would likely translate into Browns victories, which voters reward. Because the market price will evaporate once a depth-chart shake-out is confirmed, Hunt likes locking in the long odds now and effectively parlaying them with the "wins the starting job" angle.

Jason la Canfora said he is passing on the +2500 Offensive Rookie of the Year ticket for Shedeur Sanders because the rookie faces an uphill battle for snaps. Cleveland already had a packed quarterback room before drafting him, then added veteran Joe Flacco late in free agency—signaling the coaching staff’s lack of urgency to hand the job to a rookie who was not even the club’s first QB selection. La Canfora added that early chatter suggests ownership (Jimmy Haslam) may have pushed the pick while the football people are lukewarm, so Sanders’ path to meaningful playing time is murky. Although JLC believes Sanders will eventually become a quality NFL starter, he does not expect enough 2024 opportunity for awards consideration and therefore will not tie up bankroll at the current price.

Pat Fantasy Dog Pound said David Njoku has quietly become a great late-round tight-end target after tumbling nearly two rounds since the Big Board. Pat hated Njoku around pick 100 in February, but now that drafters have pushed him into the 120s—despite Cleveland skipping on Travis Hunter and adding Joe Flacco, who peppers tight ends—he sees a clear buy signal. The fall is driven by systemic Browns stink and the fact that the offense is largely unstackable, not by Njoku’s actual role. Pat expects Flacco starts to create two or three 20-point spike weeks and feels comfortable stopping at two tight ends when Njoku is the second in 18-round BBM6 builds.

Billy Jones advised letting Jerome Ford continue to slide rather than guessing on Cleveland’s murky RB2 hierarchy. Ford took a pay-cut to stick on the roster, but rookies Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Samson are both legitimate threats for early-down carries. That uncertainty has already pushed Ford 15-20 picks lower since BBM6 opened, and Jones expects more downside because many of the remaining clicks come from auto-drafters blindly following stale ADP. He plans to wait for preseason coach speak before taking any shares, arguing that missing a small discount now is far better than buying before the true floor is in.

Tyler Knaeble prefers Quinshon Judkins over Caleb in every best-ball format, emphasizing that Browns coaches have already labeled the rookie a “bell-cow, versatile runner who can run through you, run by you, and run around you.” Knaeble expects Judkins to inherit the three-down workload previously handled by Nick Chubb, pointing to the back’s competent receiving chops as the tiebreaker in full-PPR scoring. Even in half-PPR Knaeble leans Judkins, because he projects a pass-down specialist will always siphon work from Caleb. He views Judkins as a Chubb-lite swing with legit league-winning upside if the depth chart breaks as the organization’s glowing comments suggest.

Billy Jones moved Cedric Tillman into his official riser column after Cleveland passed on signing Hunter Renfrow and brought back Joe Flacco to compete with Deshaun Watson. Jones noted Tillman’s ADP cratered during Big Board season on the assumption Renfrow would gobble up slot snaps, but that move never happened. With only Amari Cooper and an aging Elijah Moore ahead of him, Tillman needs to climb to a 70 % route share to pop, something Flacco helped him flirt with in last year’s December cameo. Billy now projects 95–105 targets and believes the second-year wideout’s double-digit touchdown upside is worth buying in the 14th–15th round before the market corrects.

Pat Fantasy Dog Pound said he is "loving the Njoku fall," noting the Browns tight end now regularly slips into the late-120s. Even in Cleveland’s quarterback carousel—five QBs are currently on the roster—Njoku’s steady role makes him a rare TE who can rack up 20-plus percent of team targets after the elite tier is gone. Pat added that Njoku’s 2023 earned-targets-per-route rate jumped once Joe Flacco took over, and any semi-competent passer under center should funnel check-downs his way again. With the position thinning quickly after Sam LaPorta and Mark Andrews, Pat is happily scooping Njoku a full round ahead of ADP as a TE1 on Lamar Jackson or Justin Fields builds.

Eric Luttrell called Cedric Tillman a full round underpriced at his current 140s ADP. He reminded listeners that in Tillman’s three-game healthy stretch last season the rookie actually out-targeted both Jerry Jeudy and David Njoku, flashing a 24-percent target share while running a route on 88 percent of dropbacks. At 6'3"/215 with a strong down-field profile, Tillman now enters Year 3 with only the aging Jeudy and a contract-year Njoku ahead of him, and Luttrell views Cleveland’s rookie TE selection as an organizational hint Njoku may walk in 2025—freeing even more targets. Concerns about the Browns’ muddled quarterback room don’t bother him; Luttrell noted the roster produced three separate top-24 WR weeks down the stretch with Joe Flacco under center and expects OC Ken Dorsey’s faster tempo to push pass attempts into the league’s top half. Bottom line: Tillman has a clear path to WR2 usage yet still costs an 18th-round pick in many rooms—grab the discount before inevitable August helium.

Eric Luttrell warned drafters not to touch Nick Chubb until the 15th round or later. Coming off a multiligament knee reconstruction with no team yet willing to commit, Chubb’s best-case landing spot still would not lift him past Round 12 in Underdog ADP, according to Eric. Because the market refuses to bake in meaningful upside, you are simply paying for name value right now while absorbing suspension/PUP-list risk and zero receiving floor. His recommendation: let the room chase the nostalgia and wait until the mid-teens—if he is still there and finally signs somewhere, fine, otherwise spend the pick on a healthy back who actually has a roster spot.

Jason Moore said the Browns’ one-year deal with Diontae Johnson is a direct hit to Jerry Jeudy’s ceiling. Moore expects Johnson to be a full-time starter opposite Amari Cooper and noted that Johnson already has proven chemistry with presumed starter Kenny Pickett. That pushes Jeudy to the No. 3 spot in the target pecking order, the same low-aDOT, low-TD role Elijah Moore filled last year when he averaged just 7.9 PPR points per game. With Cleveland projected to be a run-first offense and Pickett’s career 6.3 yards per attempt limiting down-field volume, Moore advised fading Jeudy outside of the double-digit rounds in season-long drafts and leaving him off shallow best-ball portfolios altogether.

Mike Wright questioned the fantasy relevance of Diontae Johnson after yet another one-year stop, this time with the Browns. Johnson has cycled through four franchises since last offseason, raising locker-room and cultural concerns. Wright argued Cleveland should focus on cohesion during its rebuild and sees Johnson projecting as, at best, the third option behind Amari Cooper and David Njoku. He prefers stashing second-year wideout Cedric Tillman, who offers size, down-field ability, and organizational continuity. In season-long leagues, Wright would leave Johnson on waivers outside of deep PPR formats and take a late-round flier on Tillman’s upside instead.

Beimfohr spotlighted Harold Fannin as a volatile but intriguing late-round pick after the Browns stunned everyone by selecting him on Day 2. He acknowledged Cleveland ran 12-personnel only 35% of the time last season—which caps most two-TE fantasies—but argued Fannin’s hybrid skill set could earn him slot snaps because the Browns’ receiver room is paper-thin behind Jerry Jeudy and Cedric Tillman. If Fannin proves he can separate, he could become Deshaun Watson’s safety valve while David Njoku handles in-line duties. The flip side is a stone-cold zero if Fannin remains a gadget player, so Beimfohr recommends keeping exposure light (think sub-10%) yet purposeful to capture the upside of a 230-pound move tight end in an offense lacking reliable pass catchers.

Erik Beimfohr warned drafters to stop treating Jerome Ford as a safe floor play now that Cleveland spent a second-round pick on Quinshon Judkins and a mid-round pick on Dylan Samson. Beimfohr believes the organization just showed its hand: Ford is insurance, not the future. He expects Judkins to seize early-down work immediately and thinks Samson could leapfrog Ford by camp, leaving Ford as a P. Ryan-style passing-down specialist at best. The veteran averaged only 3.8 YPC on 214 carries last year, so there is no production-based argument to keep him on the field. Beimfohr is drafting as if Ford will open 2025 as the Browns’ clear RB3, making him a near auto-fade in Best Ball unless late-summer depth charts flip the narrative.

Erik Beimfohr ranked the Browns backs Quinshon Judkins > Dylan Samson > Jerome Ford for Best Ball purposes and urged drafters to treat Judkins like the clear priority. Cleveland spent pick 2.04 on Judkins—real draft capital that eclipsed several higher-profile prospects—signaling they see him as more than a rotational piece. Samson received mid-round investment and projects as an explosive change-of-pace, while Ford suddenly looks like depth after logging just 3.8 YPC on 214 carries last season. With Nick Chubb still rehabbing a catastrophic knee injury and the Browns reportedly willing to lean on committee touches early, Beimfohr expects Judkins to siphon early-down work immediately and own contingent-value league-winning upside if Chubb’s recovery stalls. Grab Judkins aggressively, sprinkle Samson late, and leave Ford for everyone else.

Tyler Sullivan advised bettors to stay away from 2025 Cleveland Browns win-total or Super Bowl futures. He argued that the current five-man quarterback carousel—Deshaun Watson (still rehabbing), Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, rookie Dylan Gabriel and 5th-round pick Shador Sanders—signals the front office is punting the real QB decision to 2026. Sullivan noted that if the Browns truly believed Sanders was a franchise passer they would have drafted him on Day 2 instead of the 5th round. The organization also traded down for extra picks and spent No. 5 overall on DT Mason Graham, moves that point to a multi-year build rather than a 2025 push. Because the roster construction screams “future-oriented” and the most important position remains unsettled, Sullivan labeled Cleveland a stay-away for any 2025 over tickets or long-shot playoff bets.

Pat Kerrane called Harold Fannin one of the most undervalued tight ends in tight-end-premium formats. Cleveland spent a third-round pick on the Bowling Green star after praising his ability to block from multiple alignments, a perfect fit for Kevin Stefanski’s heavy-12 personnel looks. Kerrane noted Fannin accounted for 50% of Bowling Green’s receiving yards last season and believes the Browns will deploy him immediately as a big slot while using him as an H-back in the run game. With David Njoku hitting free agency after 2025, Fannin has a clear succession path to a full-time role and could post Aaron-Hernandez-style hybrid production if the quarterback situation stabilizes.

Theo Gremminger admitted he is backing away from Quinshon Judkins shares after watching the rookie’s post-draft steam push him into the same dynasty range as TreVeyon Henderson, Colston Loveland, and Jackson Dart—three players Theo now prefers. Gremminger was a pre-draft Judkins believer, but Henderson’s first-round capital and all-purpose skill set, Loveland’s tight-end scarcity in premium formats, and Dart’s Superflex quarterback upside make Judkins the odd man out at current prices. In short, the cost no longer reflects Judkins’ uncertainty: he still sits behind Najee Harris for touches, lacks Henderson’s receiving juice, and offers less positional leverage than Loveland or Dart. Gremminger plans to be underweight unless the market cools off.

Sean Koerner believes Quinshon Judkins is the favorite to headline Cleveland’s backfield but cautioned that the Browns’ projected 5.5-win total and likely negative game scripts will cap touchdown upside. Koerner expects Jerome Ford to siphon early goal-line carries while fourth-round rookie Dylan Samson mixes in on passing downs, creating a murky three-man committee. Although Judkins’ explosive lower-body testing reminded the front office of Nick Chubb, Koerner projects only mid-range RB2 value unless Cleveland’s offense outperforms expectations. He advised managers to monitor camp usage but not to chase Judkins aggressively in drafts given the Browns’ limited scoring environment.