What We Saw: Week 13

The What We Saw team recaps Week 13 of the NFL season from a fantasy perspective

Ben Brown
What We Saw 5 Months Ago
Series Navigation
Introduction
Seahawks @ Cowboys
Colts @ Titans
Chargers @ Patriots
Lions @ Saints
Falcons @ Jets
Cardinals @ Steelers
Panthers @ Buccaneers
Dolphins @ Commanders
Broncos @ Texans
Browns @ Rams
49ers @ Eagles
Chiefs @ Packers

Cleveland Browns @  Los Angeles Rams 

Final Score: Rams 36, Browns 19

Writer: Ryan Radel (@RadelFF on Twitter)

 

As a 35-year old life-long Browns fan I never, ever thought I would see Joe Flacco in a Browns jersey – but, here we are. Considering the circumstances, Flacco played admirably on the road on a short notice. He kept the game somewhat competitive, but in the end the Rams offense overpowered the Browns defense and secured a comfortable home victory. Matthew Stafford had an excellent game as he defended his home turf, throwing for over 275 yards and 3 touchdowns without a turnover or sack.

 

Three Up

  • Puka Nacua – Rams rookie season receiving yards record. Enough said.
  • Kyren Williams – 26 designed touches resulting in 110 scrimmage yards and a score? Yes, please.
  • Elijah Moore – With the quarterback change and an injury to a fellow receiver, Moore is going to keep getting targets.

Three Down

  • Amari Cooper – The quality of targets continues to decline and was concussed towards the end of the game.
  • Tyler Higbee – A total afterthought in the Rams offense.
  • Browns Defense – Lacking Denzel Ward and Myles Garrett definitely not 100%, the Rams offense marched up and down the field.

 

Cleveland Browns

 

Quarterback

 

Joe Flacco: 23/44, 254 yards, 2 touchdowns, interception, 2 sacks

 

Considering the circumstances, Joe Flacco exceeded my expectations and then some. The completion percentage needs improvement but not all of the incompletions were his fault as a few passes went through the hands of his receivers. Flacco still has a ton of zip on the ball and has always been a great decision-maker. It will be interesting to see what happens at this position for the rest of the season as Flacco looked better than a lot of other recent Browns signal-callers.

 

 

Running Back

 

Jerome Ford: 9 carries, 19 yards | 3 targets, 33 yards, touchdown

 

After ending the game-opening drive with a 24-yard touchdown reception, Jerome Ford was pretty much bottled up as the Browns played from behind for the majority of the game. His touches will come regardless.

 

 

 

Kareem Hunt: 12 carries, 48 yards | 1 target, 1 reception

While he has more carries than Jerome Ford, Kareem Hunt had several of his carries come from within the shadows of his own goalposts when the Browns needed some breathing room. Not a lot of fantasy-valuable touches.

 

Pierre Strong Jr.: 2 carries, 20 yards

 

 

Wide Receiver/Tight End

 

Elijah Moore: 12 targets, 4 receptions, 83 yards

A former teammate of Joe Flacco while a member of the Jets, Elijah Moore used that chemistry to garner 12 targets including a catch ruled in due to his butt-cheek. Unfortunately, he only caught four of them including a couple of contested drops. His potential might be higher in the following weeks pending the injury evaluation of some teammates.

 

Amari Cooper: 5 targets, 3 receptions, 34 yards

Since the quarterback carousel began in Cleveland over the last few weeks, the quality of targets Amari Cooper has received has been on the decline. Today was no different. Unfortunately, Cooper took a shot to the head after dropping a pass on a tight slant route in double coverage in the second quarter and was ruled out for the game. It was announced he was in concussion protocol after the game.

Notes

  • In concussion protocol.

 

David Njoku: 6 targets, 2 receptions, 17 yards

At this point in the season, you would hope for more out of David Njoku considering the amount of targets he has been receiving in the offense. He has struggled with the dropsies and today was more of the same. Very underwhelming day and lost some production to others in his position.

 

Harrison Bryant: 5 targets, 5 receptions, 49 yards, touchdown

Harrison Bryant has been more of a utility player this season but with the new quarterback, things might be different. Something to keep an eye on in Cleveland moving forward.

 

 

Cedric Tillman: 6 targets, 2 receptions, 20 yards

Rookie wideout Cedric Tillman continues to get more snaps but unfortunately wasn’t able to make much out of them today.

 

David Bell: 2 targets, 2 receptions, 12 yards

 

Jordan Akins: 1 target, 1 reception, 6 yards

 

 

Los Angeles Rams 

 

Quarterback

 

Matthew Stafford: 22/37, 279 yards, 3 touchdowns

What started off looking like a quarterback duel ended up with Matthew Stafford displaying why Rams head Sean McVay traded for him a few seasons ago. He may not have had a stat-sheet-stuffing performance, but he marched the Rams’ offense up and down the field all game long on the way to an incredibly efficient game.

 

 

Running Back

 

Kyren Williams: 21 carries, 88 yards, touchdown | 5 targets, 3 receptions, 24 yards

When healthy, Kyren Williams has been funneled touches in this offense. With 26 designed touches against the Browns, today was more of the same. His efficiency was anchored by an 18-yard run in the second quarter and was capped off by a late-game touchdown. It’s clear both the coaches and the quarterback trust Williams and that should continue.

 

Royce Freeman: 1 carry

 

 

Wide Receiver/Tight End

 

Cooper Kupp: 8 targets, 6 receptions, 39 yards, touchdown

 

The yards weren’t there but Cooper Kupp was still heavily utilized in the Rams offense. He’s likely still recovering from a recent ankle sprain and was the central focus of the Browns passing defense which capped his potential. He was still schemed for a fun touchdown, thankfully:

 

 

 

Puka Nacua: 7 targets, 4 receptions, 105 yards, touchdown | 2 carries, 34 yards

 

Puka Nacua left the game due to injury in the second quarter but returned after halftime and continued to let his presence be known. He set the rookie single-season receiving yards record early in the game. Not only did Puka have the longest reception of the day (GIF’d above under Stafford,) but he also had the longest rush of the day. Needless to say, this Rams offense has plans for Puka moving forward.

 

 

Demarcus Robinson: 5 targets, 4 receptions, 44 yards, touchdown

After being a mere afterthought in this offense all season, a wild Demarcus Robinson appears to bringing in four of five targets for 44 yards and his first score of the season. I didn’t see that one coming against this defense.

 

Tyler Higbee: 4 targets, 2 receptions, 35 yards

I, like many others, thought this was going to be a promising fantasy season for Tyler Higbee but that has simply not been the case.

 

Tutu Atwell: 2 targets, 1 reception, 9 yards

Ben Skowronek: 3 targets, 2 receptions, 12 yards

 

 

Thank you for reading!!!

-Ryan

Series Navigation
Introduction
Seahawks @ Cowboys
Colts @ Titans
Chargers @ Patriots
Lions @ Saints
Falcons @ Jets
Cardinals @ Steelers
Panthers @ Buccaneers
Dolphins @ Commanders
Broncos @ Texans
Browns @ Rams
49ers @ Eagles
Chiefs @ Packers

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