2021 NFL Betting and Fantasy Team Preview: Cleveland Browns
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Cleveland Browns Team Betting Preview
Win Total (over):10.5 (-105)
Games Favored:14
Games as a TD Favorite:5
Games as a TD Underdog:1
Coming off an 11-5 season Cleveland’s 2021 win total is set at a similar 10.5 wins. While the Browns didn’t make many off-season changes the team should benefit from a healthier receiving corps. The Browns will also look to take advantage of the NFL’s third-softest schedule based on opponent win totals and as you can see in the above graphic, look-ahead lines have them favored in 14-of-17 games. I am in favor of betting Cleveland to win over 10.5 games.
Cleveland Browns Team Projections Preview
Projected Offense Rank:10
Projected Rush Offense Rating: Elite
Projected Pass Offense Rating: Average
Projected Points Earned:444 (Rank 6)
Rushing Opponents:
Projected Difficult Rush Defenses Faced:8
Projected Soft Rush Defenses Faced:5
Passing Opponents:
Projected Difficult Pass Defenses Faced:4
Projected Soft Pass Defenses Faced:8
Team Defense Rank:9
Projected Rush Defense Rating:Strong
Projected Pass Defense Rating:Very Strong
Projected Points Allowed:365.5 (Rank 31)
As their roster went largely unchanged, I am expecting a similar approach for Cleveland this season as they look to ride a strong defense and elite rushing attack to wins. Despite their elite rushing attack, it’s difficult to invest too heavily into Nick Chubb or Kareem Hunt as they cannibalize each other’s fantasy value. While Cleveland’s passing attack is unlikely to see heavy volume, it should be efficient enough to make Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham fantasy relevant.
Cleveland Browns Fantasy Football Preview
Noteworthy Depth Chart
QB: Baker Mayfield – Underdog Rank: QB17 (ADP QB20)
RB: Nick Chubb – Underdog Rank: RB12 (ADP RB10)
RB: Kareem Hunt – Underdog Rank: RB29 (ADP RB26)
WR: Odell Beckham – Underdog Rank: WR28 (ADP WR28)
WR: Jarvis Landry – Underdog Rank: WR50 (ADP WR46)
WR: Donovan Peoples-Jones – Underdog Rank: WR85 (ADP WR102)
TE: Austin Hooper – Underdog Rank: TE23 (ADP TE24)
What’s New?: Healthy weapons. OBJ suited up for just seven games last season while Jarvis Landry played the entire season never fully recovered from a previous hip injury. A healthy OBJ and Landry should give this offense enough balance to be a threat both through the air and on the ground.
What’s Uncertain?: Passing Volume. While Cleveland is unlikely to change from a run-first team any time soon, we could see a slight uptick in volume for Baker Mayfield and his healthier pass weapons. If that happens to be the case, Baker, OBJ, and Landry make for decent mid-to-late round options in best-ball drafts.
Top Fantasy Play(s): Nick Chubb, Baker Mayfield, Odell Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landry