What We Saw: Preseason Week 2

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Giants @ Browns

Final Score: Browns 17, Giants 13

Writer: Dan Adams (@dadams0323 on Twitter)

Neither team played any starters in this game, so the fantasy takeaways are going to be pretty limited. The Browns used a really interesting offense for the first part of the game, utilizing a lot of pre-snap motion and misdirection. They were able to open a lot of rushing lanes for their running backs, which led to both D’Ernest Johnson and John Kelly ripping off a few long runs. Demetric Felton was utilized mostly as a running back, just one week after playing as a wide receiver, and was the primary player being moved around pre-snap. The Giants’ offense was more vanilla and, after Devontae Booker left the game, wasn’t very effective. Overall, this was a slow game with a lot of missed throws and short drives, as would be expected when neither team feels a need to play any offensive starters. The Browns won 17-13, tacking on a late field goal after the Giants failed on a two-point conversion that would have given them the lead.

New York Giants

Quarterback

Mike Glennon: 10/13, 86 yards

Brian Lewerke: 11/19, 108 yards, TD, INT, 2 Sacks | 3 carries 27 yards

Mike Glennon got the start for the Giants and started off pretty slow. On his first series, he missed what should have been a long completion by overthrowing his target, and then threw the ball too low on what should have been an easy third-down conversion. Once Glennon got into a rhythm he was effective, completing a stretch of nine of ten passes before exiting the game. His best throw was a ball up the seam that he fit in between the defenders.

Glennon slingin' it 💪

📺: NBC4/@NFLNetwork pic.twitter.com/YLsS7DQ6Tk

— New York Giants (@Giants) August 22, 2021

Brian Lewerke handled the rest of the game. His interception came on a last-second throw to the endzone to try and win the game, and aside from a sack that came from him holding the ball too long, he didn’t really make any mistakes. His touchdown was a nicely placed ball at the goal line that let his receiver go up and get it, and Lewerke also displayed some nice wheels on a few scrambles.

Running Backs

Devontae Booker: 6 carries, 27 yards, TD | 2 targets, 2 receptions, 13 yards

Corey Clement: 9 carries, 30 yards | 1 target

Elijah Penny: 2 carries, 16 yards | 1 target, 1 reception, 7 yards

Gary Brightwell: 3 carries, 7 yards | 5 targets, 3 receptions, 12 yards

Devontae Booker got the start and played all of the snaps with the starters. He was heavily involved in the offense as both a runner and a check-down option, and he looked solid. He was rewarded for his hard work with a goal-line carry, and he made sure he wasn’t denied on it by jumping over the pile for a touchdown.

He's in there!

📺: NBC4/@NFLNetwork pic.twitter.com/yJBT4XNKbI

— New York Giants (@Giants) August 22, 2021

Booker appears to have a clear lead to being the handcuff to Saquon Barkley, which is a very valuable role especially given that Barkley is currently questionable to even start Week 1. Corey Clement was the next running back in and looked fine, albeit less impressive than Booker. After those two left the game the Giants did not have much success running.

Giants HB snap count after 2 drives

Devontae Booker 16
Corey Clement 0

— Nathan Jahnke (@PFF_NateJahnke) August 22, 2021

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

Dante Pettis: 5 targets, 3 receptions, 25 yards | 1 carry, 4 yards

Damion Willis: 3 targets, 2 receptions, 21 yards

David Sills: 5 targets, 3 receptions, 31 yards, TD

Rysen John: 3 targets, 3 receptions, 58 yards

C.J. Board: 1 target, 1 reception, 12 yards | 1 carry, 9 yards

The Giants didn’t have much success passing the ball so there isn’t a lot to read into the performance of the receivers. C.J. Board was tackled at the 1-yard line after a great extra effort on his only catch, and also took an end-around for nine yards. David Sills caught a touchdown on a nicely timed throw at the goal-line, where he was able to put his body between the defender and the ball and make the catch look easy.

Sills comes down with it!

📺: NBC4/@NFLNetwork pic.twitter.com/iFyFFljbDg

— New York Giants (@Giants) August 22, 2021

After that touchdown, the Giants basically ran the same look for Sills on a two-point conversion. Sills drew a defensive pass interference penalty on that play, but the Giants were unable to capitalize on the improved field position. Former second-round pick and fantasy disappointment Dante Pettis saw the most opportunities of any Giants receiver and had a really nice toe-tap catch.

Nice sideline catch for Dante Pettis. pic.twitter.com/ngqWyEwOr3

— Bobby Skinner (@BobbySkinner_) August 22, 2021

Cleveland Browns

Quarterback

Case Keenum: 9/12, 74 yards, TD, INT, 2 Sacks

Kyle Lauletta: 14/23, 152 yards, Sack | 2 carries, 33 yards

Case Keenum looked pretty good to start the game. He started the game off by leading a ten-play, 81-yard drive that he capped off with a very nice throw to KhaDarel Hodge for a touchdown.

Thought this was Madden for a second 👀🎮@Browns | @ItsKhaDarel | @casekeenum

📺: #NYGvsCLE on @NFLNetwork (or check local listings)
📱: https://t.co/NGcyn9UWUm pic.twitter.com/XnNxR8LeG3

— NFL (@NFL) August 22, 2021

Keenum looked decisive and was getting the ball out on time and on target, right until he wasn’t. After another impressive drive that saw Keenum again march the Browns into the red zone, he threw an interception on a throw that really makes you question what he thought he saw.

HE TOOK THAT!

📺: NBC4/@NFLNetwork pic.twitter.com/XufUUuvMyS

— New York Giants (@Giants) August 22, 2021

His third drive ended with a three-and-out after Keenum was sacked on third down. Kyle Lauletta checked into the game and played the remaining two quarters and change. His rushing stat is very inflated by a play at the end of the first half where the Giants played prevent defense and Lauletta opted to try and run the ball rather than throw up a jump ball. As a passer, Lauletta was inconsistent. On some plays, he showed off a nice ability to extend the play while keeping his eyes down the field. On other plays, he looked to be too eager to break out of a clean pocket. He showed off his arm on a few deep throws that were just off the mark, but he also missed a lot of throws high when it looked like he was unable to change the speed he delivered the ball with.

Running Backs

D’Ernest Johnson: 4 carries, 36 yards | 5 targets, 4 receptions, 23 yards

Demetric Felton: 8 carries, 25 yards | 2 targets, 1 reception, 12 yards

John Kelly: 9 carries, 58 yards, TD | 1 target, 1 reception, 21 yards

Demetric Felton may not be fantasy-relevant this season with how crowded the Browns offense is, but he should be one day. Felton played exclusively as a wide receiver last week, but this week he returned to the backfield to take some snaps at running back. Even when he started plays as a running back Felton was being moved all over the formation using pre-snap motion. He looks comfortable running routes, and this week we got to see a few nice runs. He had one in particular where he hesitated in the backfield to let his blocking develop before cutting outside and making a defender miss in space. He also had a punt return where he made a few defenders whiff, showcasing how dangerous he can be in space. D’Ernest Johnson was the starting running back, and he also looks good enough to contribute to a team that isn’t as talented as the Browns. John Kelly had back-to-back nice runs, the second of which was for a touchdown.

5-yard run by John Kelly puts us in the lead! #nygvscle #nflpreseason
Tune in: @nflnetwork @WEWS and our mobile app! pic.twitter.com/k1lQEPF43P

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) August 22, 2021

Kelly was impressive on all of his carries, and seemingly always broke at least one tackle or dragged a defender forward for extra yards. If he doesn’t make the Browns’ roster expect him to catch on elsewhere.

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

Donovan Peoples-Jones: 1 target, 1 reception, 13 yards

KhaDarel Hodge: 4 targets, 2 receptions, 21 yards, TD

Rashard Higgins: 2 targets, 1 reception, 3 yards

Davion Davis: 4 targets, 3 receptions, 45 yards

Connor Davis: 5 targets, 4 receptions, 29 yards

Johnny Stanton: 2 targets, 2 receptions, 33 yards

Jordan Franks: 7 targets, 3 receptions, 18 yards

Donovan Peoples-Jones and Rashard Higgins are still competing to see who the third receiver will be, but neither was very involved in today’s game. KhaDarel Hodge worked as the third receiver with the starters and had the only receiving touchdown for the Browns. Jordan Franks and Connor Davis were the primary tight ends and both of them were heavily involved. Davis was the beneficiary of a rarely designed screen for a tight end, and Franks drew a 16-yard defensive pass interference that put the Browns in the red zone. Davion Davis followed up a strong game last week with another good performance, including this catch where he does a good job of going to get the ball and boxing out the defender rather than waiting for the ball to get to him.