PFF’s 10 highest-graded Browns’ offensive players vs. Ravens

Things seem to be starting to click for this offense

It was a terrible start for the offense of the Cleveland Browns this week with the pick-six on the first series as well as struggles to finish drives with touchdowns in the first half. But as the game went on, especially in the second half quarterback Deshaun Watson and the passing offense started to click thanks to some help from Amari Cooper. Running back Jerome Ford also had his best game as the starter.

This was the first time that it felt like the offense could go and get points when they needed them with the game on the line. The offensive line was without their top three offensive tackles and yet had one of their best games overall, especially in the run game.

Hats off to Ford in this game it was by far his best as a pro, he displayed good vision, patience, and decisiveness as a runner. It gives you a lot of hope for what this team can be if the offense continues to improve.

Here are the top 10 performances from this week according to PFF.

5 Stars: Who shined for the Browns in thrilling win over the Ravens?

The Browns got standout performances across the board against the Ravens. From Geron Christian to Deshaun Watson, who stood out the most?

Now sitting at 6-3, winning four of their last five games, the Cleveland Browns have proven they are a real force this season. This time, quarterback Deshaun Watson and the Browns fought back from an early deficit to beat the Baltimore Ravens by a score of 33-31. Despite missing both of their starting offensive tackles, fielding Geron Christian and James Hudson, the Browns managed to hold their own against Baltimore’s fierce defense.

The Browns now have a real opportunity to make a huge statement if they can scratch and claw their way to another win this week against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Who contributed the most to this win? It was impossible to narrow this down to just five players, so the easy thing to do is exclude defensive end Myles Garrett since he would make the list every week.

Here are five standouts that deserve to be recognized for their efforts in the come-from-behind win over the Ravens.

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Fantasy Football: Running back starts and sits for Week 9

We look at running backs from across the league and tell fantasy owners which ones to start and which ones to leave on the bench.

Starts and sits is here to help fantasy managers make those all important last minute lineup decisions .While we won’t tell you about obvious starts such as Christian McCaffrey or Raheem Mostert, we will find players you may be waffling about and help you make a decision.

Let’s look at running backs for Week 9.

Fantasy football start ’em, sit ’em: Week 9

Check out these starts and sits for fantasy football in Week 9.

With the Thursday night game in Week 9 now behind us, it’s time to focus our attention on the vital start/sit decisions to make in fantasy football for the weekend.

Four teams will be on a bye this week including the Detroit Lions, Denver Broncos, Jacksonville Jaguars and San Francisco 49ers.

Doing start/sit articles can be a little challenging. The players featured on the list below should not be taken as “must starts” or “must sits.” Instead, these are more suggestions on what we believe managers should do with fringe players heading into the weekend. The choice is ultimately up to the manager.

Just because a player is listed as a “start” doesn’t mean he should be put in the lineup over the secure, bona fide studs. Vice versa for the “sits.” If there’s no better option on the waiver wire or the bench, a manager shouldn’t automatically sit the player. That’s why these can be tricky waters to navigate.

Feel free to ask any specific start/sit questions via X, formerly Twitter, (@KevinHickey11) or check out our start/bench list for Week 9:

Browns Injury Report: Cleveland starts Cardinals week with laundry list of injuries

The Browns got one key piece back in Deshaun Watson, but they are missing Dawand Jones as they prepare for the Cardinals

The Cleveland Browns are sitting at 4-3 on the season, looking to get back in the win column against the 1-7 Arizona Cardinals. As it sits just four days until gameday, however, the Browns have a lot of injuries to work through. While they got quarterback Deshaun Watson back to practice, they had a long list of players who missed. After exiting the game against the Seattle Seahawks, offensive tackle Dawand Jones has not yet returned to practice and is perhaps the biggest name on the list (no pun intended).

If Jones cannot go, the Browns will be forced to start their third different right tackle on the season in third-year player James Hudson III. It is a great thing to have the offensive line depth the Browns have as Hudson filled in against the Seahawks, grading out well in that game.

Here is the full list of every player who either missed practice on Wednesday or was limited by an injury.

Draw It Up: How the Browns used reverse plays to beat the Colts

How the Browns used WR reverses to beat the Indianapolis Colts

In this week’s installment of “Draw It Up,” we’ll explore the use of reverse plays by the Cleveland Browns. The Browns only ran one reverse against the Indianapolis Colts, but they incorporated the reverse motion into a handful of run plays.

Reverse plays are always controversial. When they work, the coach looks like a genius, but when the play fails, the coach is a moron with worms for brains. Last week, Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman participated in a role reversal when he grilled a reporter, the coach of the flag football team Freeman’s son plays for, on his decision to call a reverse pass that failed in the red zone.

No play is more criticized than the reverse. That’s why I want to look at the process that goes into a play that’s solely dictated by its results. Kevin Stefanski does love his reverse plays, a tendency that he receives plenty of criticism for. The goal of the reverse is to outflank an over-aggressive opponent. It’s a good way to keep defenders honest and make them defend every yard on a football field. 

Jerome Ford ‘wants and intends to play’ vs. Seahawks; Browns will test ankle pregame

Despite a sprained ankle, Jerome Ford may find his way onto the field.

Despite an ankle injury that forced him to exit in the win over the Indianapolis Colts, running back Jerome Ford is doing all he can to play. As the Browns take on the Seattle Seahawks, the running back “wants and intends to play” as Cleveland looks to advance to 5-2 on the season (according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter).

Ford busted a long run on the opening possession for the Browns to give them a 7-0 lead over the Colts. While he has been inefficient for the most part, Ford has displayed the big play ability on the ground that the Browns need. He has rushed for 344 yards, averaging 4.4 yards per carry, with two touchdowns on the ground in 2023.

If Ford cannot go, the Browns will roll with a heavy dose of Kareem Hunt, with Pierre Strong Jr. taking over the extra bulk of carries. The Browns also elevated Jordan Wilkins from the practice squad for this Week 8 matchup against the Seahawks as well.

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Browns elevate RB Jordan Wilkins and OT Ty Nsekhe from practice squad vs. Seahawks

The Cleveland Browns brought up running back Jordan Wilkins and offensive tackle Ty Nsekhe for some much-needed depth in Week 8.

The Cleveland Browns elevated two practice squad players to the active roster ahead of their Week 8 matchup with the Seattle Seahawks. Cleveland elevated running back Jordan Wilkins and offensive tackle Ty Nsekhe, the team announced Saturday, to provide some much-needed depth in the face of a few injuries on offense.

Wilkins spent time with the Browns during the preseason and was officially signed to the practice squad on Oct. 24. He previously played four games for the Indianapolis Colts in 2022 and from 2018-2020. Wilkins played one season with the Tennessee Titans in 2021. For his career, Wilkins has rushed 208 times for 1,009 yards and four touchdowns. He could see action if Jerome Ford, who’s questionable with an ankle injury, cannot suit up on Sunday. Kareem Hunt and Pierre Strong Jr. would be the other two running backs.

Similarly, Nsekhe could see action if fellow offensive tackle Jedrick Wills (ankle, foot) cannot play. Nsekhe had been activated once this season already after the Browns brought him up from the practice squad for Week 3 against the Titans. He played five special team snaps in the 27-3 win for Cleveland. The 38-year-old Nsekhe previously played for Washington Commanders, Buffalo Bills, Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams with 25 career starts.

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Browns Injury Report: Jerome Ford, Jedrick Wills questionable vs. Seahawks

The Browns enter their matchup against the Seahawks healthier than the week started!

The Cleveland Browns are looking to advance to 5-2 on the season as they take on the Seattle Seahawks in the Pacific Northwest on Sunday afternoon. However, two key players– running back Jerome Ford and left tackle Jedrick Wills– will enter the matchup as questionable to play.

Ford, of course, has surprised the Browns by how quickly he has returned to the practice field after suffering an ankle sprain in the team’s Week 7 win. This led to the team signing three different running backs to the practice squad this week.

Notable players who are not on the injury report for this game, however, are defensive ends Ogbo Okoronkwo and Alex Wright. Okoronkwo was dealing with a rib injury this week while Wright left the win against the Indianapolis Colts with concussion symptoms. Linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. also practiced in full on Friday and was not given a gameday designation.

Here is the full list of players who were limited in practice, were not able to practice, and were given a gameday designation.

Browns RB Jerome Ford ‘surprised’ team with return to practice; questionable vs. Seahawks

Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Ford is already back at practice despite dealing with a high ankle sprain.

Four days ago, the Cleveland Browns expected to be without running back Jerome Ford for at least a week. But on Friday, the second-year runner returned to practice and actually participated in position drills.

This “surprised” the team, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, and now the Browns officially listed Ford as questionable for their Week 8 match with the Seattle Seahawks.

Ford, who reportedly sustained a high ankle sprain in the Browns’ Week 8 win over the Indianapolis Colts, later said he was optimistic about his injury and hoped to be at the game no matter what, according to Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot.

He rushed 11 times for 74 yards and a touchdown in the 39-38 win. Ford has rushed 78 times for 344 yards and two touchdowns this season.

If Ford can play, he’ll go up against the third-toughest run defense in the NFL. The Seahawks have allowed just 3.6 yards per rush this season and just 87.2 total rushing yards per game.

Otherwise, some combination of Kareem Hunt (who himself is dealing with a thigh injury) and Pierre Strong Jr. could tote the load. John Kelly Jr. could see time in the backfield as well after the Browns signed him to the practice squad Friday.

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