Browns at Colts
Game Info
Kickoff: Saturday 8/17, 4:00 PM
Location: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana
Betting Odds: IND -3 via Oddsshark
Network: NFL Network
Cleveland Browns
Photo-Op Offense
If you didn’t get a chance to see Cleveland’s last game, please do yourself a favor and go find the highlights. Baker Mayfield and Nick Chubb led them on a textbook drive. They capped it off with a beautiful touchdown pass to Rashard Higgins and Baker didn’t waste any time to snap a few pictures to celebrate. This was just a small taste of what we could be in store for this year. If this offense clicks like this, with even better playmakers, the whole league will be put on notice. For now, we wait and hope to get a few more glimpses of this beautiful offense.
Who’s The Handcuff?
Kareem Hunt is the obvious choice once he is back from suspension but the question is, who will take that role in the short-term? The trade of Duke Johnson left a hole in the rotation. Dontrell Hilliard is penciled in on the depth chart and got the first crack at the carries last week when Chubb exited. The Browns used five running backs last week and Hilliard was arguably the least effective with a 2.1 avg on nine carries. The Browns will need someone to spell Chubb and someone has to step up on this team. Perhaps D’Ernest Johnson or Trayone Gray will continue to pop in the preseason.
Indianapolis Colts
Out of Luck
It was reported this week that Andrew Luck is troubled by a variety of injuries. What those injuries are is not exactly clear. Multiple reports have come out listing everything from a calf to his ankle, to a bone issue. The Colts insist they do not fear Luck will miss week one but it is starting to sound doubtful. It’s unfortunate because this team was on track to be one of the best offenses in the league and had Super Bowl aspirations. Nevertheless, we will not see Luck this preseason. Jacoby Brissett could find himself in some great streaming potential to start the regular season.
Hinesight
Nyheim Hines only saw one yard on six carries last week and was a footnote in game one. This is a guy who the Colts love to utilize, especially in the passing game. It was interesting to see him get such little work, even without his running mate Marlon Mack. This is a player that I am keeping my eyes out for in game two. He could have tremendous late-round value and even more so in PPR leagues. I also believe this backfield will be more of a combined effort, rather than Mack being the presumed bellcow.
-Aaron Rader (@Ray_Dur)