Fantasy Football Guide 2021: AFC sleepers, targets, busts, strategies
By Zach Cohen
Cleveland Browns Fantasy Football Guide
Baker Mayfield is a better option in best ball than in redraft. He just doesn’t have much upside thanks to limited volume. I prefer passers with higher upside in his range, or Kirk Cousins if you prefer a sneaky option.
Nick Chubb should be a first-round pick. He finished as RB11 in PPR formats despite playing just 12 games last season. Just don’t expect him to finish too high due to his lack of receiving work. Kareem Hunt finished as RB10 last season and has higher potential if Chubb missed time. Interesting stat, though: Hunt averaged .1 point fewer in PPR formats without Chubb than with Chubb. He’s still better than most options in his range.
I’m probably not drafting Odell Beckham Jr. unless he severely drops in the draft. I have questions about his productivity in a run-focused offense and about his durability after playing one full season in the last four years. His production wasn’t encouraging in his six healthy games last season, either: 5.2, 17.4, 9.9, 38.4, 11.4, 4.5. In case you can’t tell, I prefer consistency. It allows for a relatively steady floor.
I’m not a fan of Beckham, and I’m not a fan of Jarvis Landry. They’ll compete for targets in an offense that, again, is run-oriented. My strategy this year is to target a top tight end, so you won’t catch me with Austin Hooper at all. If you feel like you need a backup, look for guys with higher upside like Cole Kmet and Adam Trautman.