Tag: Odell Beckham

J.C. Tretter’s role in the NFLPA could factor into Browns, Beckham situation

If the Browns don’t waive Beckham or let him return to the team, the NFLPA could get involved which would involve Cleveland’s starting center, JC Tretter, as the NFLPA president:

The Cleveland Browns and Odell Beckham Jr. seemed destined for separation. A day after social media drama surrounding Beckham’s father reposting a video and LeBron James tweeting #FreeOBJ, the Browns had the receiver stay home from practice as the front office and his agents “discussed the next steps,” according to Kevin Stefanski.

Earlier today, our own Jeff Risdon reviewed what could be next for the Browns and Beckham. Jeff did a great job of breaking down the options including a few that could end up bringing the NFLPA into the discussion.

  • The Browns could attempt to place Beckham on the injured reserve list.

If the Browns attempt to place Beckham on IR, the NFLPA could make the case that he has played the last few weeks and hasn’t reinjured his shoulder therefore should not be eligible for the list.

  • Remain on the roster but stay inactive

While this one seems simple, the current comparison case with Deshaun Watson does not work. Watson is at the team facility and around the team. If the Browns tried to do this but keep the receiver away from the facility without the player’s consent, the NFLPA would likely fight them denying him access to training and medical staff with Watson as the current reference point.

  • Waive for conduct detrimental to the team

As Jeff notes, “The NFLPA would absolutely fight this if the Browns tried it, barring any provable circumstance that is currently not known.”

Involving the NFLPA involves another Browns player, J.C. Tretter. As the president of the association, Tretter is involved in issues involving player concerns. All offseason, we have heard from Tretter involving offseason participation, vaccine and other COVID-19 related policies.

Tretter could excuse himself from anything related to the Beckham case due to what could be considered a conflict of interest but that is far from certain. His role is about the entire membership of the NFLPA and protecting them now and in the future.

The NFLPA, like most organizations, is concerned with allowing precedents to be set. Allowing Cleveland to do any of the things listed above without fighting could set up future players for similar treatment. As the NFLPA president, Tretter’s job is not to allow that to happen. As the team’s center, he has a job to do during the week and on Sundays.

If the Beckham situation is to resolve itself with the receiver not returning to the field, it is very likely that his teammate Tretter and the NFLPA would end up involved with the process. That could make things complicated in Berea.

DFS Fantasy Football: Favorite Pro Plays – Week 4

WinDailySports’ CEO Jason Mezrahi checks in with his top Week 4 DFS fantasy football for FanDuel and DraftKings

Top-ranked daily fantasy sports pro Jason Mezrahi, founder and CEO of WinDailySports.com, breaks down his favorite DFS plays at various salary ranges for Week 4 of the NFL season. We are back for another year of DFS domination and we have some new tools to take advantage of from my team over at WinDailySports.com.
 
Our projection model, lineup optimizer, and data tools have been revamped and back tested to start the season off right. So what I will do in this article is list some of our highest projected players based off raw points and our highest point-per-dollar plays based on DraftKings.com pricing. Special Huddle Member Discount: If you would like to give our membership at Win Daily a try, take advantage of a FREE 2-week promotion where you will gain an all access gold pass to our DFS package. Use promo code “thehuddle” at checkout for 2 weeks FREE for both our DFS Gold Package. Sign up now.
 
 
These are some of the players Jason will be locking in his lineups on DraftKings and FanDuel for this weekend’s slate.

Quarterbacks

Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

$8,100 DRAFTKINGS
$8,700 FANDUEL

Mahomes will find himself in this spot a lot, so please don’t get upset at me. It’s going to be the right move almost every week and that trend will definitely continue in a Week 4 matchup versus Philadelphia. The Eagles have a bad secondary and a bad defense, in general, and that should lead to a ceiling game out of Mahomes. Averaging 29.7 DraftKings points per game seems like a very good starting point to any lineup build and something tells me that the Eagles will put up a couple points in this game to keep this game close enough for another 25-plus-point game. The Chiefs have scored 30-plus points in every game and most of those points have been funneled through Mahomes. He is the best play on the board, so feel free to lock him up in cash and tournaments. 

Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams

$7,000 DRAFTKINGS
$7,800 FANDUEL

I hope you listened to the Win Daily SiriusXM show leading up to the season, because I was screaming from the rooftops to scoop up Stafford late in season-long drafts. The dude is balling and finally has the weapons and coaching staff to show off his talent. The over/under is set to 54.5, and it should be a shootout. I think this game stays close for four quarters of fantasy goodness in a back-and-forth affair with Arizona. Stafford has thrown for 942 yards through three games, and the trend will continue in a matchup versus the Kyler Murray-led Cardinals. Take advantage of the discount, and floor, Stafford provides in a great matchup in Week 4.

Running Backs

Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans

$8,600 DRAFTKINGS
$9,700 FANDUEL

J-E-T-S … the Jets are just terrible! They scored a whopping zero points last week, and this team is going to be bad for a very long time. Henry should be running the ball down their throat all day on Sunday, and we should see a 100-yard two-touchdown game. Henry has 80 carries through three games and has racked up 353 yards. There is no doubt in my mind that Henry will get the touches, and there is nobody competing for his red zone opportunities. Find value elsewhere and lock in a sure thing with Henry in Week 4. 

Zack Moss, Buffalo Bills

$5,300 DRAFTKINGS
$6,000 FANDUEL

After being a healthy scratch in Week 1, Moss has put up consecutive good games out of the Buffalo backfield. Averaging 17.3 points per game, Moss comes in as a nice value play, which will be low-owned in Week 4. The Bills are favored here by 16.5 points, which leads me to believe the game script will rely heavily on the run and Moss should be a big beneficiary. If you’re not playing Mahomes and a passing stack from the Chiefs side, I also like Clyde Edwards-Helaire for a midrange value play in Week 4.

Wide receivers

Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers

$6,500 DRAFTKINGS
$6,900 FANDUEL

Samuel is the alpha dog in this San Fran passing attack. Averaging 20.7 DraftKings points per game, while only carrying a $6,500 price tag, he has me loving the upside that Deebo possesses at a discount. San Fran has a juicy matchup versus the Seahawks, who keep getting lit up week after week. The ‘Hawks have allowed 285 passing yards per game, and that’s averaged between matchups against Minnesota, Tennessee, and Indianapolis. San Fran is a run-first offense, but they will be forced to throw the ball to keep pace with Seattle. We have an over of 53 and game that is being slept on in regards to ownership. Samuel is solid play for tournaments to get off the chalk at the high end. 

Odell Beckham Jr., Cleveland Browns

$5,800 DRAFTKINGS
$6,600 FANDUEL

Another low-owned play will be Beckham in a matchup versus Minnesota. The Vikings secondary is getting torched for a total of 290.3 passing yards per game, and that trend should continue when QB Baker Mayfield and Beckham connect on Sunday. Beckham returned in Week 3 and caught five passes for 77 yards and didn’t have to be used late in the game due to the blowout of the Chicago Bears. The Vikings shouldn’t have that issue, and Vegas has set this game with a total of 51.5 points, so expect a high-scoring affair. I will take my chances on an elite receiver in a high-scoring game while taking a discount on salary in Beckham. 

Tight ends

Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs

$8,100 DRAFTKINGS
$8,200 FANDUEL

The kind algorithms of DraftKings and FanDuel felt the need to slide down the price of Kelce $100-$300 after his third consecutive 20-point game. Kelce will be in this top spot most weeks, and there is simply no reason to fade him in cash. Kelce is a fantasy scoring machine and the consistency of 20-plus points is a free square in lineups. The Eagles’ passing defense is terrible, and the Chiefs will feast on them. Kelce is matchup-proof and when you take into account a 54.5-point total, which Vegas has set, we should expect another 100-yard, 20-point performance in Week 4. Play Kelce in cash, and be confident that you can find discounts in tournaments to free up some money to slide in the best tight end in the game.

Noah Fant, Denver Broncos

$4,300 DRAFTKINGS
$5,700 FANDUEL

Fant had a down game in Week 3, simply because the Jets could not score one point and the Broncos had no need to pass the ball in the second half. The matchup changes in Week 4 against a Baltimore Ravens team with a bad defense and a explosive offense that can put up points. Bridgewater will have to throw the ball to keep pace, and more targets will go Fant’s way with Hamler going down. Fant is going to compete with Sutton to be the most targeted member of this offense moving forward. Expect a 10-plus-point performance, and I can easily see Fant scoring over 20 points. 

Good luck in Week 4, and if you ever have any questions, please hit me up on Twitter!

Jason Mezrahi has been a professional, top-ranked Daily Fantasy Player on FanDuel and DraftKings for more than eight years. He has won FanDuel’s $155,555 King of the Diamond competition and placed second in DraftKings’ Fantasy Basketball World Championship, earning him $300,000. He owns and operates WinDailySports.com, which supports the DFS and Sports Betting community with resources such as tools, projection models, expert chat, in-depth written analysis and podcasts, plus much more.

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Tunnel Vision of Week 3

Tunnel Vision – a look back at Sunday for fantasy free agents, injuries and notable performances.

SUNDAY SALUTES
Quarterbacks Pass-Rush TD
 Josh Allen 358-9 5
 Justin Herbert 281-16 4
 Matthew Stafford 343-(-2) 4
 Tom Brady 432-14 2
 Patrick Mahomes 260-45 3
Running Backs Yards TD
Najee Harris 14-40 rush
14-102 rcv		 0
Kareem Hunt 10-81 rush
6-74 rcv		 1
James Robinson 15-88 rush
6-46 rcv		 1
D’Andre Swift 14-47 rush
7-60 rcv		 1
Peyton Barber 23-111 rush
3-31 rcv		 1
Wide Receivers Yards TD
Mike Williams 7-122 2
Cooper Kupp 9-96 2
Justin Jefferson 9-118 1
Davante Adams 12-132 1
DK Metcalf 6-107 1
Tight Ends Yards TD
Tyler Conklin 7-70 1
Mike Gesicki 10-86 0
Travis Kelce 7-104 0
Mark Andrews 5-109 0
Tyler Higbee 5-40 1
Placekickers XP FG
Chase McLaughlin 2 4
Justin Tucker 1 4
Brandon McManus 2 4
Tyler Bass 4 3
Mason Crosby 3 3
Defense Sack-TO TD
Broncos 5 – 2 0
Cardinals 2 – 4 1
Browns 9 – 0 0
Saints 2 – 3 1
Dolphins 3 – 1 1

Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts

Nothing appeared serious with these, though a few might miss some games.

QB Justin Herbert – Hand (returned)
QB Justin Fields – Hand (returned)
RB James White – Hip
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster – Ribs
WR Sterling Shepard – Hamstring
WR Darius Slayton – Hamstring
WR AJ Brown – Hamstring
WR Elijah Moore – Concussion
TE Rob Gronkowski – Ribs (returned)

Chasing Ambulances

RB James White (NE) – Injured his hip and stayed down for a while. He was carted off the field and immediately ruled out. Bill Belichick was more communicative than usual when asked about White’s status and he replied, “We’ll see.” It appeared to be a serious injury.

The only running back with a role as a receiver was Brandin Bolden, who caught three of four targets for 23 yards. There’s no certainty about what the Patriots will do if he misses time, and there won’t likely be. With White out, Mac Jones threw more to his wideouts in the loss to the Saints.

WR AJ Brown (TEN) – Suffered a hamstring injury at the start of the game and was ruled out. He wasn’t in his uniform in the second half. His replacement was Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, who led the Titans with four receptions for 53 yards and a touchdown. He’ll stand to inherit the job if Brown’s hamstring forces him to miss any time.

Westbrook-Ikhine was signed last year as an undrafted rookie free agent from Indiana. The Titans’ next two games are on the road at the Jets and Jaguars. The need to throw likely will not be great in those matchups.

WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (PIT) – Injured his ribs and left the loss to the Bengals in the third quarter. It wasn’t apparent when he was injured, and Diontae Johnson was already missing with a knee injury. James Washington and Ray-Ray McCloud would see more work if Johnson and Smith-Schuster were to miss time. But the offense is already struggling, and both Washington (3-20) and McCloud (3-33) were marginally productive against the Bengals.

Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables

RB Zack Moss (BUF) – And we’re back to late 2020, when Moss was the better back than Devin Singletary. He gained 60 yards on 13 runs and caught three passes for 31 yards and a touchdown in the win over Washington. Singletary totaled only 26 yards on 11 rushes and gained nothing on his one catch.  While Moss benefitted from the Bills getting a big lead, they host the Texans this week.

QB Justin Fields (CHI) – His debut as a starter went about as bad as it possibly could. He completed 6-of-20 for 68 yards and only gained 12 yards on three rushes. No receiver was better than Allen Robinson’s two catches for 27 yards. The Lions are coming to town this week, but all of the Bears are  risky fantasy options until Fields shows that he can get the offense working.

WR Odell Beckham (CLE) – His 2021 debut saw him lead the Browns with five receptions for 77 yards in the easy win over the Bears. Jarvis Landry is on injured reserve, at least for now, so Beckham’s return was welcomed. But the Browns didn’t need to throw much in the game, and the next two weeks will be on the road at the Vikings and Chargers, where the rushing offense alone will not be enough to get a win. It was good to see Beckham back after his torn ACL of last year, and yet troubling that no other receivers caught  more than two passes on Sunday.

WR A.J. Green (ARI) – DeAndre Hopkins was limited with a rib injury and only caught three passes for 21 yards. But Green led the Cardinals with five catches for 112 yards in the win over the Jaguars.  Christian Kirk (7-104) also delivered. Green caught a touchdown last week, so he’s becoming more involved in the offense. The next two opponents are the Rams and 49ers, so Green’s improvement may stall for a few weeks.

RB James Robinson (JAC) – The Cardinals visited in Week 3, and Robinson finally looked like vintage-2020 when he ran for 88 yards and a score on 15 carries and caught six passes for 46 yards. Carlos Hyde ran eight times for 44 yards and never had a target.

WR Mike Williams (LAC) – Justin Herbert has a new best friend called Mike. Williams already surprised with scores in each of the first two games. He followed that up with his best effort yet – seven catches for 122 yards and two touchdowns at the Chiefs where he was an instrumental part of the upset.

RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire (KC) – Finally was more than mediocre when he ran for 100 yards and caught two passes for nine yards and a score in the loss to the Chargers.

QB Jameis Winston (NO) – The Saints beat the Patriots, and Winston threw two scores, but he only passed for 128 yards and completed 13-of-21. His last full season as a starter was when he threw for over 5,000 yards. His current pace would end with only 2,193 yards in a 17-game season.

RB Cordarrelle Patterson (ATL) – He only ran for 20 yards on seven carries, but he led the Falcons with 82 yards on six catches. He plays against the visiting Football Team and Jets before their Week 6 bye, so his role as a receiver should continue.

RB Saquon Barkley (NYG) – He was sidelined temporarily, but Barkley was closer to his old form in the loss to the Falcons. He ran for 51 yards on 16 carries and scored a one-yard touchdown. He also added six catches for 43. Considering how badly the Giants offensive line is blocking, Barkley’s getting very close to no longer having any limitation.

RB Najee Harris (PIT) – While the rookie ran for only 40 yards on 14 rushes, he led the Steelers with 14 catches for 102 yards. His increased usage coincided with the absence of Diontae Johnson.

RB Michael Carter (NYJ) – There’s nothing with fantasy value on the Jets so far, but at least Carter was given nine rushes and three targets in the loss to the  Broncos. Tevin Coleman was out, and Ty Johnson only ran the ball three times. He’ll face softer defenses in the Titans and Falcons next, but at current rate, he won’t see the volume he needs to become a fantasy option. But worth tracking these next two weeks.

TE Mike Gesicki (MIA) – Perhaps it was the switch to Jacoby Brissett, but Gesicki totaled just three catches for 41 yards after the first two games. In Week 3, he posted ten catches for 86 yards to lead the Dolphins in their overtime loss to the Raiders.

WR Jaylen Waddle (MIA) – It is comforting to know that even a quarterback change doesn’t impact how badly the Dolphins want to connect with Waddle. He only gained 58 yards but caught 12 of the team-high 13 targets. The upcoming schedule is one of the lighter ones in the league.

WR Bryan Edwards (LV) – He led the Raiders with 89 yards on three catches in the win over the Dolphins.  That included a 34-yard catch deep in overtime that kicked off the winning drive. He’s only caught three or four passes in each game, but he’s also made the critical catches to help the three-game winning streak of the Raiders. More notable, those all came against the good secondaries of the Ravens, Steelers, and Dolphins. He’s become a reliable part of the passing scheme, and the schedule continues to face better than average defenses.

RB Peyton Barber (LV) – In his second game as a Raider, Barber replaced Josh Jacobs and ran for 111 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries, plus caught three of five targets for 31 yards. Kenyan Drake remains the third-down back with just eight runs for 24 yards and three receptions for 31 yards. The Raiders paid the big bucks to bring on Drake, but they turned to Barber to be the primary running back with Jacobs out.

RB Sony Michel (LAR) – With Darrell Henderson out, the Rams relied exclusively on Michel as the primary back with 20 carries for 67 yards in the win over the Patriots. He added three catches for 12 yards while Jake Funk only handled one carry. He faces an average rush defense when the Cardinals visit this week.

RB Alexander Mattison (MIN) – And that’s why you get the handcuff. Dalvin Cook was inactive this week, and Alexander Mattison ran for 112 yards on 26 rushes and caught six passes for 59 yards in a very Cook-ish performance. If Cook remains out, the Vikings host the Browns and Lions over the next two weeks.

TE Tyler Conklin (MIN) – The Vikings only totaled six catches for 56 yards to tight ends over the first two weeks. But Conklin came around for the Seahawks, catching a career-best seven passes for 70 yards and a touchdown. It was the second score in his four years in the NFL. If the Vikings face a defense that is weak versus tight ends, Conklin is an option.

RB Trey Sermon, FB Kyle Juszczyk (SF) – The rookie had his first NFL start and ended with 31 yards and a touchdown on ten carries, plus two catches for three yards. It wasn’t nearly as impressive as Elijah Mitchell, but it also wasn’t against the Lions. Even with Mitchell out and JaMycal Hasty on injured reserve, the 49ers also relied on fullback Kyle Juszczyk for five rushes for 14 yards and four catches for 37 yards and almost the winning touchdown.

TE Dawson Knox (BUF) – Scored for the second week in a row and gained 49 yards on four catches in the win over Washington. Knox caught four passes for over 40 yards in the two home games this year, and his week host the visiting Texans, who are ranked No. 29 versus the position.

Huddle player of the week

Justin Tucker  –  He’s been the ultimate fantasy kicker for several years and was already considered one of the best kickers, if not THE best kicker, in NFL history. Wonder no more. Tucker walked off the field in Detroit after he kicked a 66-yard field goal that hit the cross bar, bounced up and then fell over for the score. What better way to break an all-time NFL record?

Salute!

Drama 101 – Somebody has to laugh, somebody has to cry

Comedy Yards TDs Tragedy Yards TDs
QB Taylor Heinicke 243 3 QB Russell Wilson 298 1
RB Peyton Barber 107 1 RB Christian McCaffrey 40 0
RB Alexander Mattison 171 0 RB David Montgomery 55 0
WR Kendrick Bourne 96 1 WR Sterling Shepard 16 0
WR DeSean Jackson 120 1 WR DeAndre Hopkins 21 0
WR Hunter Renfrow 77 1 WR Tyler Lockett 31 0
TE Tyler Conkin 70 1 TE T.J. Hockenson 10 0
PK Justin Tucker 1 XP 4 FG PK Harrison Butker  3 XP 1 FG
Huddle Fantasy Points = 129 Huddle Fantasy Points = 23

Now get back to work…

Behind Enemy Lines: Previewing Week 2 with Browns Wire

The Houston Texans take on the Cleveland Browns Sunday at 12:00 p.m. Central Time. Here is some inside information to the Week 2 opponent.

This week, Jared Mueller, managing editor for the Browns Wire, stops by to help take a look at the Week 2 encounter between the Houston Texans and the Cleveland Browns

 

TEXANS WIRE: Does Sunday’s game become a “must-win” because the implications the Browns could go 0-2?

JARED MUELLER — Sunday’s game is a must-win for the Browns for a variety of reasons starting with going 0 – 2 to start the season but the team believes this is a game they should win as the home opener. Anything less than a victory, no matter what the circumstances, will cause a huge uprising around the team (and possibly within it).

TW: Does Odell Beckham being out for Week 2 create any concern?

JM — Beckham’s absence doesn’t create a concern for Sunday. Cleveland has weapons all over the offense including rookie Anthony Schwartz who looked great in Week 1. The concern, as noted above, is if the team loses without him on the field. He is best friends with Jarvis Landry, a leader for the team, but a loss could throw the chemistry for a loop.

TW: How is Jadeveon Clowney working out for you?

JM — As Texans fans know, the key for Clowney is health and, so far, he’s been healthy in Cleveland. His strengths are not bending the edge and getting after the quarterback, never have been. Instead, he is strong, fast and quick. He did a good job pressing the pocket on Patrick Mahomes while also being able to attack Tyreek Hill on a reverse for a big tackle for a loss. So far so good because so far so healthy.

TW: Which Browns could be great in fantasy this week?

JM — I may be slightly biased given he is on my fantasy team but I think Donovan Peoples-Jones has a good week. He was the breakout star in training camp and will get many of the Beckham snaps. He was barely used in Week 1 but that may set him up for success in Week 2.

TW: Who are some underrated Browns Houston fans should keep an eye on?

JM — Besides Peoples-Jones, David Njoku is highly underrated despite being a first-round pick. In Week 1, the Browns lined him all over the field including as the lone receiver in a 3 x 1 look. He made some big plays while also showing a continued improvement as a blocker.

TW: What is your prediction?

JM — Cleveland starts off fast on offense then chews the clock. The Browns could be starting rookie James Hudson III at left tackle with Chris Hubbard out and starter Jedrick Wills questionable. The team will want to be safe after feeling comfortable with their lead because of Hudson’s struggles in pass protection. Browns 24, Texans 17

Former LSU WR headlines top 10 NFL players set to rebound in 2021

“Is there a more simultaneously overrated and underrated wideout in the NFL?”

The 2021 NFL season is right around the corner, and given the last 18+ months, the word excited would be an understatement when talking with passionate fans.

The Cleveland Browns in particular are a team many analysts are talking about, and for good reason. The Browns had a nice season last year and are looking to continue that positive momentum into 2021, and beyond.

CBS’s Cody Benjamin recently ranked his top 10 bounce-back candidates for the 2021 NFL season.

A familiar face for LSU fans has topped the list.

Is there a more simultaneously overrated and underrated wideout in the NFL? His critics say the Giants were right to deal him, that Baker Mayfield plays better without him, that he’s never fully invested, that he’s nowhere near as scary as his talent and early career suggests. What they miss is the fact he’s topped 1,000 yards every time he’s played at least 12 games (five times!), the fact he’s eclipsed 13.5 yards per catch in all but one season, and the possibility that he’ll go off in what could be his first full season under the Kevin Stefanski regime. Jarvis Landry may be Mayfield’s favorite, and the Browns’ offense starts on the ground, but if he can stay on the field, there’s no reason to think yet another 1,000-yard campaign won’t happen as Cleveland solidifies itself as a contender.

LSU fans know [autotag]Odell Beckham Jr.[/autotag] quite well, as do loyal fans of the New York Giants.

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Will Beckham truly regain his form and build a solid connection with quarterback Baker Mayfield?

That’s the question we’re all waiting on an answer on, but if Beckham is the receiver we all know him to be – the Browns offense could be pretty dangerous.

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2021 Schedule Swings: Receiving

Comparing schedule strength for fantasy football receivers – 2020 vs. 2021

The fantasy football strength of schedule is a useful tool, comparing the games for each team against what those defenses allowed the previous season. But what is even more useful is to compare that against 2020.

Simply put – you know what a player did last year. Will he face an easier or tougher schedule? Only the extremes are worth noting given how teams and players change from year to year. So, the best comparison is between what their schedule strength was last year versus this year.

Since this compares all tight end and wide receiver production each week, there are a lot of points at play and how they are distributed within an offense has obvious variation. The schedule strength has the least accuracy with receivers, so consider this as a minor tool in valuing wideouts and tight ends.

Also see:
Schedule Strength – Passing
Schedule Strength – Rushing
Schedule Strength – Receiving
Schedule Strength Swing – Passing
Schedule Strength Swing – Rushing

Best Swings

Nelson Agholor, Hunter Henry, Jonnu Smith (NE) – The Patriots’ first season without Tom Brady went against the worst schedule strength in the NFL last year, so rising to the No. 10 should yield significant improvement. Now the only issue is an all-new set of receivers catching passes from either Cam Newton or the rookie Mac Jones.

Corey Davis, Jamison Crowder, Denzel Mims (NYJ) – The Jets are another team that suffered a horrible schedule strength in 2020 and now improve for this year. Rookie quarterback Zach Wilson installs a new offensive scheme that will be a bigger success factor, and the receivers haven’t been upgraded either.

Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel, George Kittle (SF) – The 49ers’ passing game fell apart last year thanks to injuries to almost everyone. If they can stay healthy, the schedule becomes their friend in this complex passing game that may end up manned by a rookie quarterback.

Kenny Golladay, John Ross, Darius Slayton (NYG) – Daniel Jones looked significantly worse in his second season, but the No. 30 schedule hampered his mediocre set of receivers. The crew was upgraded this year and the slate of games clears up nicely for 2021.

DJ Moore, Robby Anderson (CAR) – Moore and Anderson were both productive last year even under a bad schedule. That won’t be an issue for 2021, but now they’ll rely on Sam Darnold trying to get a mulligan on his career.

Worst Swings

Odell Beckham, Jarvis Landry (CLE) – The Browns draw no favors from the schedule with a serious decline from 2020. Throw in that they prefer to run the ball, and Beckham and Landry will be challenged to improve.

Keenan Allen, Mike Williams (LAC) – Justin Herbert was the rookie of the year and his schedule helped a bit. Allen and Williams won’t have that benefit but they will have a year’s worth of experience with Herbert and the Chargers’ passing scheme doesn’t employ a lot of receivers in most plays.

A.J. Brown, Julio Jones, Josh Reynolds (TEN) – Brown broke out in the second half of the 2020 season with impressive performances, though that was mostly facing the rest of the AFC South. This year, there are still meetings with the Texans and Jaguars, but the rest of the schedule is far less inviting.

Jarvis Landry: Odell Beckham Jr. is ‘even better’ coming off torn ACL

Odell Beckham Jr. is recovering from a torn ACL, but one of his teammates believe that OBJ could be even better this coming season. 

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. is rehabbing from a torn ACL suffered last October, which ended his season. One of his teammates believes that OBJ is not only ready to go, but could be even better this coming season.

Before his Celebrity Softball Game at Classic Park, Landy resaved about his teammate and how impressed he’s been watching him:

“He’s in fantastic shape, and he’s ready to go,” he said. “He’s already doing some things that will blow your mind.”

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Last week, Beckham, Landry, and other Browns players practiced together in quarterback Baker Mayfield’s hometown of Austin, Texas.

According to Landry, Beckham looked not only sharp, but he also made a few highlight catches, too.

“He ran a post route, sticking off the same injured leg and exploding out of it, then going up, jumping off that same leg and making a catch, doing his thing… what he does with one hand.”

Landry said.

“You sit back and you’re like, ‘Wait, he’s even better than he was last year.’ So it’s going to be amazing to see as time and the further he gets away from surgery, how much better he’s going to get.”

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Beckham could play a critical role in the outcome of the Browns 2021 season.

And if Landry is right, Browns fans should be that much more excited for the 2021 NFL season.

With Odell Beckham done for the year, could the Texans trade Will Fuller to the Browns?

The Cleveland Browns will be without Odell Beckham as he tore his ACL. Should the Houston Texans send them receiver Will Fuller?

[jwplayer 3HPsgOPZ]

The Cleveland Browns will be without Pro Bowl receiver Odell Beckham for the rest of the season as he tore his ACL in the team’s 37-34 win over the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday.

The Browns are 5-2, but are in third place in a highly competitive AFC North that features the 6-0 Pittsburgh Steelers and 5-1 Baltimore Ravens. Cleveland needs to do what it must to keep pace, especially given they are four games away from posting their first winning season since 2007. Throw in the fact the NFL added an extra playoff team per conference, and the Browns could also be on the verge of their first postseason berth since 2002.

Cleveland is a team in contention.

Contrast that with the Houston Texans. At 1-6, their shot of winning the division is dwindling as the Tennessee Titans are 5-1 and already beat Houston. The Indianapolis Colts are 4-2. The Texans still have to face the Colts twice, the Titans, and Chicago Bears. Already needing a ride a wave of perfection just to get into the playoffs, the Texans’ chances of getting into the playoffs are slim.

The Browns have a need, and so do the Texans.

Because of the past regime’s moves, Houston’s first and second round picks for 2021 went to the Miami Dolphins to acquire Laremy Tunsil. As such, the Dolphins will be the big beneficiaries from Houston’s disastrous finish.

Even if the Texans do nothing at the trade deadline, they go into the offseason missing two picks in the top-100 while trying to orchestrate a soft rebuild.

Houston needs draft picks.

The former 2016 first-round pick from Notre Dame is in the final year of his contract. By sending Fuller to Cleveland for draft picks, it allows him to showcase what he can do for a team in contention and get a head start on free agency. It could also help the Texans stock the cupboard draft picks wise. Even if they get a third or lower for Fuller, they can combine that with their other picks to get back into the top-100 and start picking players who can really help the team.

With the trade deadline looming, the Texans need to be sellers and start looking at putting themselves in the best position to win 2021 as their current chances are probably shot.

Cleveland Browns vs. Cincinnati Bengals live stream, how to watch, NFL football predictions, odds, tv channel, start time

The Cleveland Browns meet the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 7 in an AFC North matchup on Sunday afternoon from Paul Brown Stadium, stream it.

The Cleveland Browns meet the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 7 in an AFC North matchup on Sunday afternoon from Paul Brown Stadium.

This will be the second meeting of the season for these two teams, the Browns won the first matchup at home 35-30 and are sitting at 4-2 on the season. Meanwhile, the Bengals have struggled this season, coming off a tough loss to the Colts last week and currently sitting at 1-4-1 on the season.

Can Joe Burrow and the Bengals give Baker and OBJ trouble again?  Tune in and find out, here is everything you need to know to stream the action!

Cleveland Browns vs. Cincinnati Bengals

  • When: Sunday, October 25
  • Time: 1:00 p.m. ET
  • TV Channel: CBS
  • Live Stream: fuboTV (watch for free)
  • Live Stream: via CBS All Access (try for free)

Prediction: The Browns will come into this game and make a statement, they deserve to be 4-2 and they’ll show the Bengals why.  Expect Baker Mayfield and Odell Beckham to have big games as they take it to the Bengals.

Bet: Cleveland Browns -3.5

How to watch the NFL this season

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NFL Football Odds and Betting Lines

NFL odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Odds last updated Sunday at 9:00 a.m. ET.

Cleveland Browns (-3.5) vs. Cincinnati Bengals 

Over/Under: 51.5 (-110)

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Tunnel Vision of Week 4

Tunnel Vision – a look back at Sunday for fantasy free agents, injuries and notable performances.

SUNDAY SALUTES
Quarterbacks Pass-Rush TD
 Dak Prescott  502-12 4
 Tom Brady 369-(-3) 5
 Teddy Bridgewater 276-32 3
 Lamar Jackson 193-53 3
 Josh Allen 288-(-1) 3
Running Backs Rush
Receive		 TD
Joe Mixon 25-151
6-30		 3
Dalvin Cook 27-130
2-16		 2
Melvin Gordon 23-107
2-11		 2
Chris Carson 16-80
3-20		 2
Ezekiel Elliot  12-54
8-71		 0
Wide Receivers Catches TD
Odell Beckham 2-73
5-81		 3
Amari Cooper 12-134 1
D.J. Chark 8-95 2
Adam Thielen 8-114 1
Mike Evans 7-122 1
Tight Ends Catches TD
Mark Andrews 3-57 2
Darren Waller 9-88 0
Dalton Schultz 4-72 1
Austin Hooper 5-34 1
George Kittle 15-183 1
Placekickers XP FG
Brandon McManus 4 3
Sam Ficken 1 5
Jason Sanders 0 5
Randy Bullock 3 4
Rodrigo Blankenship 1 4
Defense Sck-TO TD
Rams 5-1 0
Jets 0-3 1
Browns 3-3 0
Chargers 0-1 1
Bills 2-2 0

Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts

RB Austin Ekeler – Hamstring
RB Nick Chubb – Knee
RB LeSean McCoy – Ankle
TE Tyler Eifert – Concussion
TE Jordan Akins – Concussion
TE O.J. Howard – Achilles
TE Noah Fant – Ankle

RB Chris Carson – Head (returned)
WR Mike Evans – Leg (returned)
WR Devante Parker – Ankle (returned)

Chasing Ambulances

Fewer injuries, but two major fantasy running backs went down.

RB Austin Ekeler – He was fighting for extra yards when he got pulled down and he grabbed the back of his left leg. A hamstring injury was confirmed but it could be more since he could not put any weight on the leg and was carted off the field. The initial speculation is that he won’t miss the rest of the season but could be out for many weeks.  That makes the backfield into a committee with the rookie Joshua Kelley and Justin Jackson. Neither back was productive on Sunday but Kelley already totals 52 carries on the season with one score. He also lost two fumbles.

Jackson has provided backfield depth for the last three years and will be involved as well. Kelley should take the lead but continued fumbling will not help his workload. The Chargers face the Saints, Jets, and Dolphins next, so having a piece of the backfield should pay off in fantasy points.

RB Nick Chubb – While he’ll have an MRI on Monday to determine what damage there is in his knee, the early speculation is that he did not tear an ACL and just sprained it. Kareem Hunt would be the top running back and D’Ernest Johnson would take Chubb’s place. Johnson is a second-year undrafted free agent from South Florida who only ran four times last year. He rushed for 95 yards on 13 carries in Dallas with 28 yards from one run. If Chubb misses any games, Johnson has fantasy value but would play the Colts and Steelers next, so he’ll likely be much more limited than he was in Dallas.

RB LeSean McCoy – While he hasn’t done much, he left the win over the Chargers in a game that already was without Leonard Fournette. Ronald Jones remains the starter, but if McCoy misses time and especially if he and Fournette remain out, it would get some playing time for the third-round pick Ke’Shawn Vaughn. The rookie only gained four yards on three carries but he caught two passes for 22 yards and his first NFL touchdown. He may see negligible work, but at least got onto the field and showed his talent as a receiver.

TE O.J. Howard – He is believed to have torn his Achilles, which would end his season. That leaves Rob Gronkowski and Cameron Brate.  Gronk  caught six passes in Week 3 but was back to a single catch on Sunday. Cameron Brate caught a touchdown this week, but it was his only catch in the game. Gronk likely stands in line first to see more work, but that doesn’t mean it carries any fantasy value.

TE Noah Fant – Injured his ankle last Thursday but there’s been nothing official yet about his status. He is considered week-to-week which should allow the fourth-round rookie Albert Okwuegbunam to see action. The 6-5, 258-pound Missouri product scored 23 times in college and impressed in training camp. He runs a 4.49/40 which is blazing for a tight end.

Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables

WR Tim Patrick – He is replacing Courtland Sutton and already scored in Week 3. He stepped up more last Thursday when he caught six passes for 113 yards and another touchdown in the win over the Jets. Noah Fant’s injury could prompt even more work for the other receivers like Patrick.

RB Reggie Bonnafon – The No. 2 running back wasn’t clear for the Panthers and we all thought it didn’t matter anyway. Mike Davis emerged late as the backup and Bonnafon had been in the conversation. He was allowed ten runs in the win over the Cardinals and gained 53 yards. He also caught two passes for 18 yards and scored once. It doesn’t matter whenever McCaffrey returns, but for now, Bonnafon has bought some playing time.

QB Dak Prescott – He threw for 502 yards and four touchdowns in the loss to the Browns and set the NFL record with three straight games with 450 passing yards. He’s on a pace to throw for 6,760 yards and with the way the Cowboys give away points, he’ll be throwing that much in every game.

 RB D’Andre Swift –  The Lions rookie scored his first NFL touchdown when he caught four passes for 30 yards in the loss to the Saints. He also ran for 22 yards on four rushes. Notable too is that Kerryon Johnson has only been used for four touches in these last two games while Swift is up to eight touches in a game. Peterson only ran 11 times and did not make a catch.

WR Justin Jefferson – Logged four receptions for 103 yards in the Vikings win at the Texans and that makes two straight weeks over 100 yards. In an offense that was predicated on the run or just throwing to Adam Thielen. Like that? His next two opponents are the Seahawks and Falcons. Cha-ching…

RB DeeJay Dallas – The Seahawk’s fourth-round pick last April had his debut on Sunday with Carlos Hyde out. He ran for eight yards on two rushes and caught two passes for 15 yards. Travis Homer only managed  five yards on his four carries and caught one pass (though it was a touchdown). Dallas impressed this summer but the Seahawks didn’t have a spot for him until this week.

RB Devonta Freeman – This was the second week that Freeman was on the Giants and he led the backfield with eleven rushes for 33 yards – no other rusher had more than six carries. Freeman also caught four passes for 35 yards which is more likely where any fantasy value will come. Particularly with Dallas, Washington and Philadelphia up next.

WR Brandin Cooks – He logged zero catches on his three targets in the loss to the Vikings. According to Deshaun Watson, the Vikings schemed to take Cooks out of the equation and were very successful. Cooks replaced Andre Hopkins and gained 95 yards on five catches in Week 2. But then the Steelers limited him to three catches and the Vikings shut him out. The Jaguars and Titans are up next but Cooks totals just ten catches for 138 yards on the season. They schemed to take away Hopkins too…

WR Hunter Renfrow – The Raiders were without Bryan Edwards and Henry Ruggs this week – and could continue since they are week to week. In their place, Renfrow was the top wideout with eight targets for five catches and 57 yards. Nelson Agholor also started and scored on his four receptions for 44 yards. And, of course, Darren Waller (9-88) just returned to being the team target-sponge.

TE George Kittle – He returned to the lineup after a knee sprain kept him out last week. The 49ers star tight end caught 15 passes for 183 yards and one score. Only 14 receivers have ever caught more in a single game.

Huddle player of the week

Dak Prescott  –  He just set the NFL record with three straight games of 450 yards and he ended with 502  and four touchdowns in the loss to the Browns. The Cowboys defense practices social distancing from their opponents and Prescott is tasked with throwing like a madman every week. So much the better for fantasy owners.

Salute!

Drama 101 – Somebody has to laugh, somebody has to cry

Comedy Yards TDs Tragedy Yards TDs
QB Teddy Bridgewater 276-32 3 QB Jared Goff 200-(-3) 1
RB Antonio Gibson 13-46
4-82		 1 RB Austin Ekeler 2-12
1-2		 0
RB Latavius Murray 14-64
1-19		 2 RB Kenyan Drake 13-35
0-0		 0
WR Tim Patrick 6-113 1 WR Robert Woods 6-35 0
WR Tre’Quan Smith 4-54 2 WR DeAndre Hopkins 7-41 0
WR David Moore 3-95 1 WR Tyler Lockett 2-39 0
TE O.J. Howard 3-50 1 TE Mike Gesicki 1-15 0
PK Sam Ficken 5 FG PK Greg Zuerlein  2  XP
Huddle Fantasy Points =  167 Huddle Fantasy Points =  48

Now get back to work…