Browns @ Raiders
Final Score: Raiders 20 – Browns 16
Writer: Zach Whetsel
The Raiders held on for the win today against the Browns in a game where neither side will head home feeling particularly good about their outlook this season. Thankfully for the victorious Raiders, their team showed some real grit in holding on today, and some of their youngest players showed tons of potential to build around. For fantasy purposes, neither offense is going to be particularly exciting while the current quarterbacks are under center, but some of the young talent shone through anyway, and both teams still have plenty to look forward to in the coming games.
Three Up
- Alexander Mattison – As a running back on a team that wants to run and doesn’t have a quarterback who can throw the ball accurately beyond 15 yards, all you really need to do is run hard and not make mistakes. Alexander Mattison officially seems to be the man for that role and I’d expect his usage to continue going up in future weeks. He plays like he wants the job and it’s wide open for the taking.
- Tre Tucker – Tre Tucker’s emergence continued today. Although last week was the one that had people excited due to the box score, he really showed that he deserves his snaps in this game. His outing today was lacking in the big-play category but he caught almost everything that came his way and looked like a well-rounded young receiver out there. Expect to see his career trajectory continue pointing up, especially if the team finds a quality quarterback for next season.
- Nick Chubb – This inclusion is a bit of a joke, of course, but boy do the Browns need a stud on offense right now. In a game where Deshaun Watson looked surprisingly solid, everyone else played like they shouldn’t be starting an NFL game. For this team, a (mostly) healthy Nick Chubb to lean on would be exactly the type of rock they need right now because nobody else is good enough to fill that role. Even at 80% of the Chubb we know, the Browns would love to have him leading the offense again.
Three Down
- Zamir White – Zeus had a terrible, horrible day, and honestly almost cost his team the game. A guy that some were convinced was a better running back than Josh Jacobs last year, Zamir White hasn’t been able to replicate anything remotely near that level of success this season. His paltry 2.9 yards per carry on the day and extremely untimely fumble will potentially relegate him to backup duties behind Mattison moving forward.
- Jerome Ford – Another running back that pundits were high on prior to the season because of his expected volume in this offense, Jerome Ford has had a fairly rough start to his season as well. Unlike last year, this offense isn’t scoring at all and the offensive line is playing some terrible football… combine that with Ford’s seemingly below-average vision and you end up with another day of mediocre results.
- Amari Cooper – Anyone who owns Cooper in fantasy football has to be cursing the NFL scriptwriters today. After a couple of bum weeks to start the year, he blew up last week, leading many to hope he and Watson were starting to click. Today, Cooper let one ball bounce off his chest for an interception, and then when he actually caught an 80-yard bomb for a touchdown, it was called back for a holding penalty that didn’t happen. With how poorly the offense is playing overall, and with Cooper looking incapable of being relied on when it’s needed, he had to be my third downer here.
Cleveland Browns
Quarterback
Deshaun Watson: 24/32, 176 yards passing, 1 TD, 1 INT, 8 carries, 32 yards
Although the final stat line is fairly underwhelming, this was the first Browns game I’ve seen this year where I came away feeling like Watson played pretty well overall. Of course, it didn’t amount to much due to both the failings of his skill positions and offensive line, but it’s still worth noting that he passed the eye test today for the first time in a while. With that being said, it just meant that the Browns had to find other ways to do their thing and lose, which they managed just fine.
Notes
- Watson showed good awareness in corralling a surprise snap late in the game today after his backup center threw the ball Watson’s way while he was trying to talk to his skill players. It felt like that type of day all around for him- he impressively seemed to keep his head on straight most of the day, but that was only ever enough to keep things from melting down. I think that even if you expect Watson to start playing like his old Texans self more often, you just have to keep in mind the inability of everyone involved in this team to get out of their own way.
Missed Opportunities
- The best play of the day for this team came on a deep bomb that Watson threw up to Cooper, which got called back due to a phantom holding penalty. It was a beauty of a throw and went a full 80 yards to the house, but of course, did not count. What a disappointing day in so many ways for the Browns- even when things worked they still couldn’t enjoy themselves.
Running Back
Jerome Ford: 10 carries, 58 yards, 7/7 receiving, 27 yards
Ford did not look particularly impressive on the day, but the offensive line’s ineptitude made it tough for the team to move the ball regardless. His vision just isn’t great, and if the offense can’t get going around him, I don’t think he’s the guy to really get that job done- even if his per-carry stats were pretty solid. While it’s not necessarily his fault that he posted another weak performance, the Browns desperately need someone to lean on, and he isn’t that guy.
Notes
- The one saving grace of Ford’s day comes in the number of catches he hauled in. Of course, this only matters much in specific fantasy formats, but the offensive line looked so rough today that Watson had dump-offs galore for Jerome Ford.
D’Onta Foreman: 4 carries, 2 yards, 1/1 receiving, 5 yards
While my main criticism of Ford is that his vision isn’t great so the team can’t lean on him, the few D’Onta Foreman truthers still out there should know that he certainly isn’t making a case to usurp Ford. Unfortunately, Foreman lacks any standout traits that would push him into a greater role and isn’t getting valuable touches in relief of Ford, since the offense can’t even manage many valuable touches for the starting unit. He did about nothing of note in a game that featured little to note from the Browns offense in general. It was a fitting day for the backup running back!
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Amari Cooper: 4/8 receiving, 35 yards
Cooper still looks just as talented as ever but he does not have a floor that I could ever feel comfortable counting on. Between a lack of chemistry with his starting quarterback, a terrible offensive line preventing passing plays from developing, and an inability to make catches consistently, stat lines like tonight’s feel much more reliable at this point than those of last week.
Notes
- Cooper is to blame for Watson’s only interception of the day. It was a nice pass that hit him in the numbers, but bounced off his chest and into the waiting hands of the defender. The interception showcased this offense’s ability to create shocking lows from what should be great highs.
Missed Opportunities
- The nicest play of the night for the whole team, and the reason you have to believe Amari is still the most talented player on that offense right now, came on the deep bomb that was called back. I’ve already mentioned it a couple of times but Cooper did his job and cashed in on the 80-yard pass for a score. Unfortunately, even when Cooper does everything right that’s within his control, the offense around him is still plenty capable of wiping it out.
Jerry Jeudy: 6/9 receiving, 72 yards
Jerry Jeudy looked fluid and impressive running routes and still managed to drop a ball. Today was arguably still his day, as Jeudy looked like the most well-equipped player out there for the Browns, but it wasn’t enough for the floundering offense. The team needs someone they can count on, and while Jeudy did well at looking competent, it feels like that’s the best he’s able to offer. The team still looks like they need Amari to be the true #1 so that Jeudy can operate as the #2. The ceiling just doesn’t feel like it’s there for the route-running maestro.
Notes
- Jeudy truly did have a good game today. It just also highlights what his ceiling probably is; he’ll get plenty of targets and catch most of the balls, but he’s not physically impressive enough to take the #1 role and dominate a game for this offense. They don’t look to rely on him when they really need to get things going and that role does not seem realistic for him to earn at this point in his career. It’s disappointing because the offense is in such dire need of a difference-maker; but even in a good game, I can’t help but feel he won’t ever ascend to that level.
Blake Whiteheart: 3/3 receiving, 13 yards
The backup tight end caught his few passes and recorded a handful of yards with them. And surprise, he looked like a backup doing it! The offense could really use David Njoku back to help create some receiving pressure for opposing defenses, and hopefully, they’ll see him back next week. In the meantime, Blake Whiteheart will continue getting starting reps and looking like a backup.
Elijah Moore: 1/1 receiving, 11 yards
This offense seems completely out on Elijah Moore at this point, as I hope most fantasy owners are too. He caught his lone target for 11 yards and I didn’t notice him out there for most of the rest of the game. His father made sure to call out the Browns and Watson online after the loss though, so he at least has one person still rooting for him!
Jordan Akins: 1/2 receiving, 10 yards
I could copy and paste the same blurb from Whiteheart here and it wouldn’t be untrue. I won’t, though, and not just because it would be lazy – Jordan Akins at least looks a little more dynamic when you watch the games. Of course, it doesn’t matter at the end of the day. He’s not worth a look in any fantasy format. Njoku is the only hope at tight end for this offense.
Las Vegas Raiders
Quarterback
Gardner Minshew: 14/24, 130 yards passing, 2 carries, -2 yards
Gardner Minshew had the most unimpressive game he could have while not throwing the game away for the Raiders today. Thankfully, that’s all he needed to do, but man does he look rough out there right now. It feels like he can’t throw the ball 15 yards or further to save his life, and it looks like the Raiders know it as well. His pocket presence was also not great all game, so his mobility isn’t even useful to him. While I don’t think Aiden O’Connell is better, I also don’t blame Raiders fans who are asking for him again. Minshew has just been disappointing.
Notes
- For how down on Minshew I am here, I also can acknowledge that he played relatively smart football. The Raiders could clearly see that their opponent was floundering, and Minshew’s job today was to take what was available and avoid turnovers or big mistakes. He did fine at that, even if he doesn’t seem capable of much more. Against a rough opponent like the Browns, that’s a fine day. We’ll see how things go against better teams, but as long as Minshew can keep discourse about him limited to “he’s unimpressive” rather than “he lost them the game”, the Raiders will let him keep starting.
Running Back
Zamir White: 17 carries, 50 yards, 1 fumble, 0/1 receiving
Zeus looks bad. Apologies up front to those who thought he would be an easy and obvious volume-based RB2 before the season started; last year’s version of Zeus, Mattison, is currently in the process of replacing him. In fact, White looks so bad that he makes Mattison look really good. Every Raiders fan I could find is now begging for his benching after today’s performance, and they’re not wrong to want it. I’m really not sure what positives he brings to the table right now, other than the good nickname. It was a very rough day for Zeus.
Notes
- I hate to be such a downer on this guy, but there’s so much wrong with his play. For a running back named Zeus, he runs with the opposite amount of power you’d expect. He has poor contact balance and doesn’t break tackles, his vision is poor, he can’t catch or run routes at all, and to top it off he seems to have a fumbling problem. It just feels like there’s no point in piling on because everything that could go wrong for White has this season. There’s truly, unfortunately, nothing positive to pull from this performance.
Missed Opportunities
- White could have ultimately cost the Raiders the game as they were trying to whittle away the clock early in the fourth quarter. On a 3rd-and-1 run, he was called upon to keep the chains moving and instead coughed it up, leading to a Cleveland defensive return for a touchdown. He got hit hard behind the line, but it was the worst outcome that possibly could have happened on the play, and it was undoubtedly White’s fault. Luckily for the Raiders, the Browns were still the Browns and couldn’t muster up another score the rest of the game, but that score easily could have been the difference for the Raiders on the night.
Alexander Mattison: 5 carries, 60 yards, 0/1 receiving
Unlike White, Mattison did his job with no issue and even flashed a bit when given the opportunity. Of course, five carries and one target is hardly enough to carve out a great night, but Mattison did his best and eclipsed White’s yardage totals with ease. Look for him to get more involved in future games if the coaching staff has any interest in getting a consistent ground game going.
Notes
- The main thing of note when comparing the performances of Mattison and White is that the offensive line is not necessarily the problem. While Vegas doesn’t have the strongest unit, they won in the trenches all night on both sides of the ball, and a solid running back has plenty to work with behind this unit. It may not be like running for the Eagles, but White’s 2.9 yards per carry are not the fault of the offensive line. Mattison’s efficiency will certainly come down with more touches but I don’t think it’s unreasonable to see him as a low-end RB2 if the volume goes up.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Jakobi Meyers: 5/10 receiving, 49 yards
The PPR king of WR2’s had an OK day today in his debut role as the Raiders WR1, even if many were hoping to see more. Although Jakobi Myers is likely suited better to a complimentary role in an offense than a lead one, his underwhelming stat line was less on him than the quarterback play. This offense is going to be extremely vertically limited as long as Minshew is at quarterback, even if he is their best option right now. Jakobi will have better games in the future, especially if the Raiders play a team that can actually score on offense, but his ceiling is what it is at this point. The Raiders aren’t creating big plays for him and Jakobi isn’t ever going to be Davante Adams out there.
Missed Opportunities
- Minshew was truly pretty inaccurate today beyond 10 yards, and Jakobi would have had a few more catches if not for that fact. However, as I said above, it wouldn’t have drastically changed his statline, it’s just worth noting that five of his 10 targets ending up incomplete was not necessarily his fault.
Tre Tucker: 5/6 receiving, 41 yards, 1 carry, 3 yards, 1 TD
Tre Tucker had a nice night for himself all told, even with limited usage. His speed is evident every time you see him run, and he seems to be a truly reliable target who might be capable of more in this offense if given the opportunity. He did his job at every turn tonight, cashing in on a reverse run from the three-yard line for one of the team’s only scores, and seems like the one who will benefit most from a potential Davante Adams trade if the current regime decides to pursue that option.
Notes
- Tucker is one of the fastest players on the field at all times, so expect bigger plays out of him if his role in this offense keeps up. Tonight the team had no need to push the ball, and Minshew was off throwing deep anyway, but (aside from Adams) Tucker will be the beneficiary of those targets when they come and will convert at a clip worthy of notice. He’s a definite stash in case the regime decides they’re comfortable giving him a shot in the future as a true WR2 in this offense.
Brock Bowers: 2/3 receiving, 19 yards, 1 carry, 12 yards
The first truly disappointing night of the season for the rookie came tonight, and even so, he looked good in the limited touches he had. I can comfortably say I’ve never watched an offense give the ball to the tight end on an end around, but they did it tonight, and somehow it looked natural and went for 12 yards. Brock Bowers is the real deal and most nights will be better than this one for him.
Missed Opportunities
- His one incomplete target came early in the game when Minshew scrambled out right and hit him in space, only for Bowers to simply drop it. He clearly was looking to make a move before he’d quite secured the football, which is something we’ve seen countless players do a few times here and there, so it’s nothing particularly concerning. However, it was unfortunate- there was lots of room for Bowers to work and it would have been a nice big gain had he just made the catch. What ends up as a disappointing night on the stat sheet could have been marginally OK had he pulled that one in.
Harrison Bryant: 2/2 receiving, 21 yards
Harrison Bryant is another guy who makes it on this list but isn’t truly worth noting for fantasy purposes. He’s a backup tight end, and plays a meaningful starting role in this offense, but shouldn’t ever be relevant in the passing game. He certainly does not look like Bowers out there and will not be getting reps on end-arounds.
DJ Turner: 0/1 receiving, 1 carry, 18 yards, 1 TD
The Raiders loved letting the pass catchers run the ball out wide today, as their second touchdown came on an end-around from the 18-yard line by DJ Turner. It was a nice play from Turner, who had to weave through some traffic and dive at the pylon to get there, but I wouldn’t expect to see meaningful usage out of him often. Tucker is the better player and already only has a solid role when Adams is out. Expect Turner to lose even the two touches he had tonight on a night when Adams is healthy. Still, the end-around was a nice play worthy of shouting out.