Cleveland Browns

Fantasy Football 2016 Preview: Cleveland Browns running backs

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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The Browns running backs are fantasy football question marks for this season, but there’s lots of upside to like if you get them for the right price.

New head coach Hue Jackson will try to make the Browns running backs worth looking at for fantasy football this season. Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Cleveland’s offense will be a fascinating one to watch this season as the Browns break in yet another new head coach. Hue Jackson ran successful a successful offense for the other Ohio team last year in Cincinnati, and he went out this offseason and brought in Robert Griffin III to be the starting QB. The passing game isn’t the only thing to keep an eye on, though, and the Browns running backs could present multiple interesting options as the season goes on.

Jackson’s offense supported the fantasy value of Jeremy Hill and Giovani Bernard the last few seasons in Cincinnati. As he tries to overhaul the Cleveland offense, he could bring similar production to the Browns running backs which is good enough to make them fantasy football considerations.

To help you get ready for the 2016 NFL season, we’ve been working our way through the NFL with a series of daily previews of each of the running back situations around the NFL. So far we have examined the Colts, Jaguars, Titans, Texans, Falcons, Saints, Buccaneers, Panthers, Patriots, Jets, Bills, Dolphins, Redskins, Cowboys, Eagles, Giants, Broncos, Raiders, Chiefs, Chargers, 49ers, Seahawks, Rams, Cardinals, Ravens, and Steelers. Today, we’ll continue to work our way through the AFC North and see what good thing can come out of Cleveland’s backfield this year.

Over the last few days of preseason, we’ll continue to examine the important fantasy options on each NFL team. While most teams just have one quarterback and tight end that are noteworthy for fantasy, every team has multiple running backs and wide receivers that you need to know heading into the season.

You can find all our coverage throughout the season on the FanSided fantasy football hub or check out the related content box. For more running back coverage, make sure to check out my top Week 1 waiver wire pickups, my top 10 breakout RB candidates, and my full RB rankings.

Stay tuned to our FanSided fantasy football hub all season where you’ll find fantasy coverage including sleepers, rankings, injury news, and overall strategy tips. Another way to get all our coverage is to follow @FansidedFantasy on Twitter where I’ll be happy to answer any questions you have. I’ll also keep you up to date on all our latest coverage, and even help you through any lineup conundrums you find yourself in as the season starts.

As we have for every team in our series, we start our look at the Browns running backs with an overview of rushing offense on the next slide, and then we’ll take a look at each player on the depth chart individually. For each player, I’ll let you know their ADP (average draft position) and what their potential will be to contribute to your fantasy team in the upcoming 2016 season.

Jun 7, 2016; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns running back Duke Johnson Jr, (29) runs a drill during minicamp at the Cleveland Browns training facility. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Browns Running Backs-Overall Outlook

Cleveland’s offense will be a whole new beast this season after the Browns brought in Hue Jackson for (another) complete rebuild. Jackson plans on calling the plays himself and serving as the team’s offensive coordinator as well as head coach. He did add former Raiders OC Al Saunders as senior offensive assistant, but look for the system to be all Jackson’s on offense.

To get an idea of what to expect, it’s worth noting that the Bengals had one of the highest rushing play percentages of any team in the NFL last season. Jackson and the Bengals ran the ball 45.80% of the time which was good enough for seventh in the NFL ahead of teams like the Bears and Bucs who many think of as run-first offenses. Cincinnati was seventh in the league in rushing attempts, 13th in rushing yards, and fourth in rushing touchdowns.

While Jackson will definitely run an offense that showcases the Browns talent at QB and WR, look for him to get the Browns running backs heavily involved throughout the season. This offseason, the Browns didn’t make any changes to their backfield personnel focusing instead on changing coaches, QBs, and receivers.

Coming into the season, it looks like a timeshare between Isaiah Crowell and Duke Johnson. There isn’t much depth behind that two-headed monster which could mean fantasy opportunity from the waiver wire later this season

Let’s take a look at each of the Browns running backs coming into the season and what I think their fantasy potential is. We’ll examine the upside of each option, where they’re currently being drafted (according to fantasypros.com ADP), and what you can expect from them this season.

Aug 26, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Cleveland Browns running back Isaiah Crowell (34) runs with the ball during the first half against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Isaiah Crowell

This offseason Crowell was in the news for all the wrong reasons, but it doesn’t look like his social media follies will cost Crowell any time. Hue Jackson has stated his support for Crowell, and it looks like he’ll be ready to be the team’s starting running back to open the year.

He worked throughout the preseason as the team’s first team early-down option and put up some pretty decent numbers. He ended up with 22 carries in his four games for 76 yards and a touchdown. His best game came in Preseason Week 3 when he averaged almost five yards a carry against a tough Tampa front seven and ended ups with 39 yards on eight carries.

Crowell is entering his 3rd season after joining the Browns as an undrafted free agent out of Alabama State. He has been durable playing in all 16 games both seasons and set career highs across the board last year. He finished with 706 yards rushing and 182 yards receiving on 19 catches. He found the end zone five times and was a serviceable starter even though he did average under four yards per carry.

This season, he is part of another timeshare and will give up at least third-down work to Duke Johnson Jr. (more on him later). I see Crowell as having a limited ceiling, but being a solid option as a backup for your fantasy team since he should have a relatively high floor due to his weekly workload.

Right now, Crowell is being drafted in the 12th round as the 41st running back off the board. That seems like about the right spot for him although I could see going with him as an RB4 if you had some high-risk starters. Crowell is a low-risk draft pick in the 12th since he has the job, but he isn’t a swing for the fences option either. Consider the rest of your running back corps, and if you need some “insurance” look to make Crowell part of your team.

Aug 26, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers strong safety Chris Conte (23) defends Cleveland Browns running back Duke Johnson (29) during the first half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Duke Johnson Jr.

Johnson is going much earlier than Crowell and leading the Browns running backs in ADP by going in the eighth round as the 28th RB off the board. You definitely don’t want to draft Johnson in a place where you’ll be forced to start him every week, but his higher ceiling does make him an intriguing option as a high RB4 or a low RB3.

Last season, Johnson missed most of camp with injury and started the year a little slowly. He did emerge as the season went on, though, and ended up being quite a weapon in the Browns passing game.

Johnson caught at least four passes in nine of his last 14 games last year including two receiving touchdowns. He ended up with 534 yards receiving on his 61 catches and also had 379 yards rushing on his 104 carries. His average yards per carry and yards per game rushing were pretty uninspiring, but he grew into enough of a weapon that his upside in a different offense with improved QB play is definitely intriguing.

To open the year, it looks like Johnson will serve in a similar role to Giovani Bernard on the Bengals last season. Johnson will rotate in on third down and other passing situations. If the Browns play from behind (as usual) that could be enough work to keep him fantasy relevant especially in PPR leagues.

At this point, Johnson has a higher ceiling than Crowell, but I’d rather him as a RB4 than an RB3 where you’ll need production from him at some point this season. He’s being slightly over-drafted based on his potential, but the potential is undeniably there for him to have a breakout season.

Aug 12, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Oakland Raiders running back George Atkinson (34) runs for a 53 yard touchdown during the second half against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

Other Browns running backs

George Atkinson III: The Browns were all over the waiver wires trying to add some much-needed depth. One of the players they jumped on was George Atkinson III who was previously running with the Raiders.

An un-drafted free agent out of Notre Dame, Atkinson is a straight-line burner who does offer some help for the Browns on special teams as well as serving as the team’s third RB on the roster. He had a huge preseason with Oakland’s reserves running for 191 yards on 19 carries. He could have some fantasy impact if he can carry over his momentum and earn some playing time. Atkinson brings big-play potential which the Browns running backs and the entire Cleveland offense is short on.

Terrell Watson: Watson is basically the team’s third running back although he’s start the season on the practice squad. He was waived after a lackluster preseason when he managed 57 yards on his 16 carries. The Browns re-signed him the next day to their practice squad, and he would probably get the call if either Johnson or Crowell went down. At that point, he could have some deep league fantasy relevance, but don’t worry about wasting a roster spot with him to start the season.