Cleveland Browns News

When the Cleveland Browns selected Taylen Green in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, he became their third quarterback taken in the last two drafts. With Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders still on the roster, and veteran Deshaun Watson currently battling Sanders for the starting job, Green will presumably have the opportunity to develop behind the scenes. Still an incredibly raw prospect who went 2-9 as a starter in his final season at Arkansas, Green possesses traits rare for his (or any) position. At 6'6" and 227 pounds, he ran a 4.36-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, and while the player and team have both insisted that his future is at quarterback, it isn't difficult to envision a specific package of plays designed to get him the ball in space. While it may take until 2027 or beyond to truly gain a sense of Green's fantasy viability, as RotoBaller's dynasty QB33, he is one of the most obvious stash candidates in the later rounds of rookie drafts, and in best ball formats, he adds potential value as a player who could feasibly be given a late-season opportunity that coincides with the fantasy playoffs.

The Athletic's Zac Jackson writes that Cleveland Browns new head coach Todd Monken would have liked to have a starter already named going into training camp in late July, but he "wants and needs to see more" from both quarterbacks Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders this summer. Ultimately, Monken said he will play "whoever gives us the best chance to score, and I won't know that until we play." He wants to see more "consistency and confidence" from both Watson and Sanders in training camp than what he saw this spring. Jackson adds that it's safe to say that Watson "looked like the same player in his return from a year and a half away that he was before his two Achilles tendon injuries." Watson is healthy and threw downfield occasionally with confidence, but he "lacked consistency and too often threw into traffic." Jackson doesn't think there is much reason to want Watson to play unless he's "clearly their best option." The 30-year-old Watson has been a Pro Bowler three times (all before he came to Cleveland), but it appears he might have to thoroughly outplay Sanders to win the starting gig going into Week 1. Either way, this QB situation is one to ignore for fantasy managers, if at all possible. Whoever wins the starting job this summer probably will have a very short leash to begin the regular season.

Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry said on 92.3 The Fan that "everything is on the table" with regards to quarterback Deshaun Watson (Achilles) this year. "Honestly, the public discourse doesn't really have a factor in terms of how we think about putting together the team or Todd in terms of putting together the best lineup...that really doesn't play a factor into it," Berry said when asked how past comments about the Watson trade play into the future. Watson, who missed all of last season with a twice-torn Achilles tendon, is competing with second-year QB Shedeur Sanders for the starting job in new head coach Todd Monken's offense. Last spring, owner Jimmy Haslam said that the trade for Watson was "a big swing and a miss." The Browns have acknowledged that the trade for the 30-year-old was a disaster after they signed him to a five-year, $230 million deal in March of 2022. Watson has played in just 19 games for the team since he joined them in 2022, but all of that is history now, and Berry isn't ruling anything out, including a potential new deal for the QB as he heads into his final year under contract with the organization. For fantasy purposes, Watson will be a low-end QB2 target in superflex leagues if he wins the job over Sanders. He hasn't played a full season since 2020 with the Houston Texans, and he's completed 61% of his passes for 3,365 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions in his 19 games with Cleveland.

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Cedric Tillman saw his production drop off across the board in 2025, as he finished the year with 21 receptions for 270 yards and two touchdowns on 39 targets. The 26-year-old suffered an early-season hamstring injury that landed him on Injured Reserve and may have ultimately derailed his campaign. However, injuries have been a persistent issue for Tillman, as he's missed 13 games over the first three years of his NFL career. As he enters the final season on his rookie contract with the Browns, Tillman may no longer be a part of the team's long-term plans. Cleveland enters 2026 with a new coaching staff in place and used a pair of top-40 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft on wide receivers KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston. A change of scenery could be what Tillman needs to get his career off the ground, but he's done little to this point to prove he's worthy of a spot on dynasty rosters.

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (hamstring) was not seen on the practice field on Thursday. When asked about his absence, head coach Todd Monken said Jeudy isn't practicing due to a hamstring injury. The team wants to be extremely cautious with it being this early in camp. Fantasy managers shouldn't have anything to worry about, as this seems like a minor issue. Jeudy is expected to be the No. 1 wide receiver on the Browns' offense heading into the 2026 season. He's looking to rebound after posting 50 receptions, 602 receiving yards, and two touchdowns with the Browns last season. Fantasy managers should stay tuned for more updates, but Jeudy should be fine going forward.

Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins (ankle) got a late start to his rookie season in 2025 and then suffered a dislocated right ankle and fractured fibula in Week 16, putting an end to his first year in the NFL. Judkins averaged just 3.6 yards per carry on his 230 rushing attempts for 827 yards and seven touchdowns in his 14 starts, also adding 26 catches for 171 yards as a pass-catcher. Per the Akron Beacon Journal's Chris Easterling, the former second-rounder (36th overall) out of Ohio State has looked more physical, confident, and aggressive during offseason workouts with his ankle/leg injury in the rearview mirror. New head coach Todd Monken said it looks like Judkins has "got his confidence back, his explosion." With a mostly new offensive line in tow in 2026, the Browns view Judkins as part of their core, and he should be their unquestioned RB1 in his sophomore campaign. Cleveland's offense is a big question mark considering their QB situation, but with better health, Judkins should continue to rise as a low-end RB2 target in fantasy drafts with upside.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson has not reached 1,200 passing yards or double-digit touchdowns in any season since 2020, and yet with the starting job in Todd Monken's new-look offense purportedly up for grabs, there may be life left in both his NFL and fantasy careers. Between Watson and Shedeur Sanders, whoever wins the starting quarterback role will find themselves somewhat insulated by the team's recent and heavy investments into the offensive infrastructure. After seeming to hit big on tight end Harold Fannin Jr. and running back Quinshon Judkins in the 2025 Draft, Cleveland spent four 2026 Day 1 or 2 picks on the offensive side of the ball and eight in total. When at his best, Watson possessed a rushing element absent from Sanders' game, and with Monken having spent the last three seasons with Lamar Jackson in Baltimore, that could become a factor in his decision to name a starter. Still stuck at RotoBaller's dynasty WR30 with a realistic chance of reclaiming the starting job, the 30-year-old Watson is a low-cost addition who could provide usable depth to a contending superflex squad.

Cleveland running back Quinshon Judkins was part of an impressive Browns 2025 rookie class, falling just two yards shy of 1,000 yards from scrimmage before a fractured fibula and dislocated ankle ended his season. While teams around the league continue to practice without pads, Judkins has reportedly looked decisive and confident in the media-accessible portions of organized team activities and minicamp, signaling that the gruesome injury from almost six months ago should not hold him back in year two. While the Browns offense is still a work in progress, new head coach Todd Monken led the league's run-heaviest offense in two of his three seasons in Baltimore, while ranking second in the third, which could help to create one of the safest floors in fantasy if Judkins can hold onto the bell cow role he looked to be establishing as a rookie. Even factoring in a gradual ramp-up period to begin the year and a Week 16 contest in which he saw only 26 total snaps before the injury, Judkins' 16.4 carries per game were the eighth-most in the league. If either Deshaun Watson or Shedeur Sanders can provide anything close to a representative level of quarterback play behind what looks to be an improved offensive line with a dynamic young group of pass catchers, Cleveland could see enough scoring opportunities to make Judkins a legitimate breakout candidate and a potential value at his current ranking of RotoBaller's dynasty RB11.

The Athletic's Zac Jackson writes that Cleveland Browns rookie wide receivers KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston are "going to play a lot as rookies." Boston has been "one of the standouts" of offseason practices, and both wideouts have "started taking full rotations" with the No. 1 and No. 2 offensive groups in the last two weeks. Second-year wideout Isaiah Bond has been impressive recently, too, and head coach Todd Monken singled him out as a player who has shown improvement this spring. Concepcion and Bond have the kind of speed that the Browns haven't had consistently in recent years at the position. Most fantasy managers in 12-team leagues aren't going to be looking to Cleveland for late-round dart throws at the position, given the uncertainty in the QB competition between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders, but don't be surprised if one or both of Concepcion or Boston become intriguing early-season waiver-wire targets if Jerry Jeudy continues to be underwhelming as the WR1 for the team. The Browns have plenty of draft capital invested in the two rookies, as Concepcion was a first-rounder, and Boston was selected in the second round in April.

Cleveland Browns long-time offensive lineman Joel Bitonio announced his retirement from the NFL on Tuesday, according to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. The 34-year-old will hang up his cleats after 12 years in the NFL, all with the Browns. He was selected with the 35th overall pick in the second round of the 2014 NFL draft out of the University of Nevada, and he turned out to be a good one, earning seven Pro Bowl selections and being named to two first-team All-Pro units. Bitonio's seven Pro Bowl selections tied with former pass-rusher Myles Garrett for the fourth-most in Browns history. He was also named the Browns' Walter Payton Man of the Year in 2022. His 178 starts are the most by any Cleveland player since the franchise returned to Cleveland in 1999, and he was the longest-tenured player on the team until his contract voided in March. The Browns will have a much different-looking offensive line in 2026 under new head coach Todd Monken.

The Athletics Zac Jackson reports that Cleveland Browns tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (undisclosed) is absent from the team's minicamp practices this week and hasn't been seen at all this spring. The Browns haven't specified the reason for Fannin's absence, but he was dealing with a groin injury at the tail end of his first year in the NFL in 2025. It doesn't sound like the 21-year-old's injury issue is all that serious, but Fannin's status is certainly worth keeping a close eye on as Cleveland enters training camp at the end of July. The former third-rounder (67th overall pick) last year out of Bowling Green led the Browns in receiving with 72 catches for 731 yards and six touchdowns on 107 targets in 16 games played in his first year in the NFL. Although Cleveland's quarterback situation still isn't exactly ideal, Fannin's pass-catching prowess has boosted him into low-end TE1 consideration as he heads into his sophomore season. He should once again be one of the focal points in the passing game for the Browns in 2026 as long as he's healthy.

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Isaiah Bond recorded 18 receptions for 338 yards and zero touchdowns on 44 targets across 16 games as a rookie in 2025. The 22-year-old wasn't exactly helped by the offensive environment around him in Cleveland, which was one of the worst in the NFL last season. Still, Bond was unable to establish himself as a consistent contributor in a Browns' passing game that was desperately searching for pass-catching talent to emerge. Entering 2026, Bond looks to be in a much worse position to secure a spot in Cleveland's long-term plans. The Browns used top-40 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft on wide receivers KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston and retained veteran wideouts Jerry Jeudy and Cedric Tillman. Bond still carries some dynasty upside, but he may also find himself completely on the outside looking in in Cleveland. RotoBaller ranks Bond as the dynasty WR113 heading into 2026.

Cleveland Browns wide receiver KC Concepcion is a versatile playmaker who has a chance to immediately command a team-leading target share in a Todd Monken offense that saw Zay Flowers finish as the fantasy WR7 in 2025. Concepcion played 69% of his collegiate snaps from the slot, but his lone season at Texas A&M showcased his ability to move across the formation, and in handling more than 65% of his snaps on the outside, he turned in his most productive season. Earning first-round capital, he is the most notable addition to a Browns offense that was led by rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr. in almost all receiving categories in 2025. While the starting quarterback job in Cleveland is still being sorted, low expectations for the offense as a whole are the biggest, but most temporary knock on Concepcion's profile, and with the ability to become an early go-to for either Deshaun Watson or Shedeur Sanders, he could provide an instantly usable weekly floor even in a bottom-half offense. Concepcion is RotoBaller's rookie WR4 and dynasty WR32.

Across 15 games as a rookie in 2025, Cleveland Browns running back Dylan Sampson recorded 446 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns on 98 touches. While fellow Browns rookie Quinshon Judkins (ankle) emerged as the team's clear lead rusher, Sampson established himself as a pass-catcher out of the backfield by hauling in 33 receptions for 271 yards and two scores on 40 targets. Cleveland did not make any notable additions to its running back room over the offseason and let veteran back Jerome Ford walk in free agency. As a result, Judkins and Sampson appear to be locked in as the Browns' top two rushers for 2026. As long as Judkins fully recovers from the ankle injury that ended his 2025 season and remains healthy in 2026, Sampson's production upside is limited. Still, Sampson carries dynasty handcuff appeal and could offer some standalone value in PPR-scoring formats if he continues to dominate passing-down work. Fantasy managers may want to consider attempting to buy low on Sampson ahead of his second NFL season.

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy led the team in 2025 with 105 targets, but inconsistency, drops, and a disconnect with all three starting quarterbacks translated to only 50 receptions, 602 yards, and two scores. The Browns have since spent first and second round picks to bolster the receiver room, adding KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston in the 2026 NFL Draft, but for at least one more season, Jeudy should still have a role in two-receiver sets in a Todd Monken offense built around putting his playmakers in the best position to succeed. As the offensive coordinator in Baltimore, Monken used space and motion to help scheme Zay Flowers to more than 1,200 yards and a WR7 fantasy finish in 2025. In Cleveland, both Jeudy and Concepcion have the versatility to adopt a similar role, and it remains to be seen if one or both will be used comparably, but with Jeudy all but written off after a down year, he's fallen to RotoBaller's WR85. With an opportunity to handle a larger-than-expected workload, he has become a low-cost dynasty depth piece who is still just 27 years old and only one season removed from a career-high 90 receptions for 1,229 yards in 2024.

The Cleveland Browns are finalizing a deal that would send two-time Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for two-time Pro Bowler Jared Verse, a 2027 first-round pick, and additional compensation that is still being negotiated, as reported by NFL Insider Adam Schefter. Garrett's 23 sacks in 2025 broke the NFL record and helped him earn his second DPOY Award in the past three seasons. He will join a Rams defense that already added Pro Bowl cornerback Trent McDuffie in exchange for a package of picks that included their 2026 first-rounder. With MVP quarterback Matthew Stafford leading the offense and two significant splashes made on defense, the Rams will undoubtedly be an early Super Bowl favorite heading into 2026.

Cleveland Browns rookie wide receiver Denzel Boston has intriguing short-term and long-term upside in dynasty fantasy football leagues. Boston projects as the Browns' No. 2 receiver of the future alongside KC Concepcion, and he could ascend into that role (while leapfrogging Jerry Jeudy on the depth chart) as early as this year. The second-round pick has shown that he's pretty close to pro-ready after catching 125 passes for 1,715 yards and 20 touchdowns over his final two years at school. The biggest question mark for Boston is the Browns' quarterback situation, with Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders in the mix to start Week 1. Neither is a terrific passer, so Boston could have trouble converting targets into catches, yards, and touchdowns right away. With that being said, his skill set made him a borderline first-round pick, and he should overcome any quarterback challenges pretty quickly. He projects as a first-round pick in 2026 rookie drafts, and he ranks as the overall WR49 in RotoBaller's latest dynasty fantasy football rankings.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders was eventually named a Pro Bowler after a rookie season in which he won three of seven starts, completed fewer than 57% of his passes, and threw three more interceptions than touchdowns. While it is an accolade he'll hold for the rest of his career, it carries no weight in his ongoing competition with 2017 first-round pick Deshaun Watson. While acknowledging that Sanders has had his moments in the spring, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler shared on Friday his belief that Watson has a "leg up" in the competition for the Browns' starting duties in 2026. Cleveland spent five of its first six picks in the 2026 NFL Draft on either offensive line or wide receiver, so whoever wins the job should find the situation more tenable than the one that churned through three different starters in 2025. While no official determination is likely until training camp, early reports haven't favored Sanders, and he's fallen to RotoBaller's dynasty QB34.

Cleveland Browns tight end Harold Fannin Jr. finished his rookie season in 2025 as the overall TE6 in fantasy football, and he's only trending up. Fannin is expected to have the tight end role in Cleveland all to himself next year after David Njoku departed in free agency. If Fannin was able to finish as the TE6 with 72 catches, 731 yards, and six touchdowns while Njoku was in the mix, he could legitimately push for 100 catches and 1,000 yards in the post-Njoku era. Fannin's dynasty stock also gets a boost from his age. He's only 21 years old, which means he could be a top fantasy tight end option for many years to come. For now, he ranks as the TE5 in RotoBaller's dynasty fantasy football rankings, but he could jump into the top three if he finishes as the TE6 or higher once again in 2026. With that trajectory, he's an intriguing trade target in dynasty leagues, but it's probably too late for managers to acquire him at any sort of discount.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Taylen Green finds himself in a very crowded position group, and he only has modest draft capital after being selected in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. However, his speed could help him carve out a role in Cleveland, despite the Browns already having Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders, and Dillon Gabriel. All of those existing quarterbacks have major question marks, and while Green won't be able to start over any of the three, his speed could get him occasional playing time in an offense led by head coach Todd Monken. Monken most recently was the offensive coordinator in Baltimore, where he worked with a similarly fast quarterback in Lamar Jackson. If Green, who ran a 4.36-second 40-yard dash, can prove that his speed holds value in Monken's system, he could earn a roster spot and compete for a backup role long-term. In turn, that would allow him to carve out some dynasty value as a potential handcuff behind whichever the Browns choose to roll with -- presumably Watson short-term and Sanders long-term. Green currently projects as a fourth-round pick in rookie drafts in single-quarterback dynasty leagues.