Game Info
Kickoff: Monday, December 2, 2024, 8:15 ET
Location: Empire Field at Mile High, Denver, Colorado
Network: ESPN
Writer: Chris Helle (@ChrisHelleQBL on Twitter)
Cleveland Browns
Quarterback
Jameis Winston: Steaming Option, QB2
Jameis Winston is a true gem of a personality, and let’s not forget that he’s a former 1st overall draft pick. He’s had 2 top-10 QB finishes in his 4 games played, with the other two games being against the Chargers and the snow-bowl against Pittsburgh. Outside of the snow game, he was throwing over 26 pass attempts in each of the three games and broke 330 passing yards with 2 TDs twice. This matchup will be a tough one though, as Denver ranks 2nd in EPA/pass attempt behind only Detroit. Denver also has the 2nd highest sack rate of any defense in the league, and the Browns have allowed sacks at the 3rd highest rate in the league. Winston may be considered in two-QB formats, but this matchup is one to avoid if possible.
Running Back
Nick Chubb: FLEX Option, RB3
Jerome Ford: Sit
This Broncos defense not only poses as a tough matchup through the air but also on the ground. They’re 6th in EPA/rush attempt and have allowed the 7th fewest rushing yards in the league. Nick Chubb has returned to being the lead RB in this backfield, but he’s yet to log a game over 60 rushing yards. The two touchdowns last week landed him as the RB8 on the week, but this goes to show that his production is TD-dependent given he had 20 carries at under 3 yards/attempt. The goalline opportunities may still arise and the volume should be there, but Chubb hasn’t shown enough in his time back to label him a must-start. Jerome Ford was a low-end RB2 to FLEX level player when he was the lead RB, but Ford is far from startable now that Chubb has taken back over.
Wide Receiver
Jerry Jeudy: FLEX Option, WR3
Cedric Tillman: FLEX Option, WR4
Elijah Moore: Sit
Many thought they had found a league winner in Cedric Tillman after he placed three straight WR1 finishes between Weeks 7-9. He’s currently dealing with a concussion, but the extended time until this game may give him a chance at playing. Since Winston took over in Week 8, Tillman has yet to lead the team in targets — his production came on the back of the 3 TDs he scored. In fact, Jerry Jeudy was the team’s leading target in 3 of those 4 games and he’s consistently scored over 12 fantasy points in all 4 of those games — both of the last two games were over 12 yards per reception. The matchup is cause for concern, but the game script may lead to the Browns leaning toward airing it out more. If Tillman plays, he should only be seen as a desperation start and Jeudy can be considered for your FLEX, but Jeudy may be a decent option if Tillman doesn’t clear protocol in time for this one.
Tight End
David Njoku: Streaming Option, TE2
David Njoku might not be in TE1 territory due to better options ahead of him, but he’s seen 5 or more targets in every game since Week 6. Last week was a disappointment, partially due to the conditions but he also dropped an easy TD. We can expect some volume to be there, especially if Tillman doesn’t suit up, but the tough matchup makes him a risky option.
Denver Broncos
Quarterback
Bo Nix: Start, QB1
Bo Nix is the QB7 on the season and QB3 since Week 5. It seems like it took a few games to get under his belt to get to NFL-level speed, but he hasn’t looked back. There are some minor concerns for this matchup, as the Browns have allowed the 6th lowest completion rate to opposing QBs, and Nix’s completion rate is 22nd among the 40 QBs with 90+ pass attempts. Nix’s rushing has also taken a noticeable dip from over 6 rushes per game through the first 9 weeks to only 2 per game over the last 3, and Cleveland’s defense has allowed the 4th lowest rate of QB scrambles despite having already played Lamar Jackson, Jalen Hurts, and Trevor Lawrence. Nonetheless, these past 8 games are plenty enough track record for the rookie to have proven himself as a reliable starter in fantasy as a low-end QB1 this week.
Running Back
Jevonte Williams: FLEX Option, RB3
Audric Estime: Sit
Jaleel McLaughlin: Sit
It’s been an interesting season for this backfield, but Javonte Williams has led the snapshare and targets in every game except one, and has had the most carries in 9 of the 11 games. His 48 targets on the season are the 5th most among RBs, as is typical of a Sean Payton-led team. This does appear to be a kink in the Browns’ defense, as they rank in the middle of the pack at 17th in YAC EPA/pass attempt. The main issue with Javonte is finding the endzone, something he’s only done 3 times in the season with 2 of them being in the same game. Cleveland has also allowed the 9th highest yards/rush attempt, but Jevonte has gone three straight games with less than 10 carries despite leading the snap share. The inconsistent workload and lack of TDs land Williams as a FLEX-level player who may need to find the endzone to save his day — he’s the only RB on this team worth considering putting in your lineup.
Wide Receiver
Courtland Sutton: Start, WR1
DeVaughn Vele: FLEX Option, WR3
Lil’Jordan Humphrey: Sit
Maybe the 0-target stinkbomb in Week 7 was the best thing for Courtland Sutton. From Week 8 until now, he’s been the WR3 behind only Ja’Marr Chase and Ceedee Lamb. He’s averaging just under 10 targets and 93 yards per game in that span with 3 touchdowns in the past 3 weeks. That’s literally over twice as many targets as any other player on this offense, at a 75% reception rate for an average of nearly 13 yards per reception. With the duo between him and Nix being at its peak, there’s no reason to expect the volume and production to take a dip. Also, keep an eye out for DeVaughn Vele who saw 9 targets last week. Nix has thrown 30+ pass attempts in 9 of his 12 games, so the pie might be big enough for Vele’s smaller piece relative to Sutton’s to be viable. Defenses may also start keying in on Sutton, so he could be a sneaky option to consider grabbing off waivers and throwing in your FLEX.
Tight End
Adam Trautman: Sit
Adam Trautman is far from a fantasy asset worth holding let alone starting — he’s barely averaging over 1 target per game on the season. He had a big game against Carolina in Week 8, but there are plenty of better TEs out there for both your roster and lineup.