2014 Team Outlook: Cleveland Browns
WR Josh Gordon, --- - Not Draft Worthy
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One of the frontrunners for the knucklehead of the year award, Gordon is likely facing a full year suspension after testing positive for marijuana this offseason as well as a DWI arrest. As a stage three offender, it is widely assumed that Gordon will be sidelined for the entire 2014 season, but his suspension hearing is set for late July. The supplemental pick from Baylor had a season for the ages in 2013 as he finished the No. 1 fantasy receiver despite missing the first two games of the year on suspension (sense a pattern here?). Over just 14 games, he amassed a league-high 1,646 yards on 87 catches and nine touchdowns (nearly doubling his rookie year production when he had 50 catches for 805 yards and five touchdowns over a full 16 game season). He's one of the true game-breakers at his position as evidenced by his career 17.9 yards per catch average. Occupying the "X" receiver role in first-year OC Kyle Shanahan's offense would have paid major dividends for Gordon as his dynasty league owners are left to think what could have been. Shanny was Houston's OC for two seasons (2008-2009) when Andre Johnson averaged 108 catches for 1,572 yards with 8.5 touchdowns. Last season in Washington, Shanahan's offense helped Pierre Garçon lead the NFL in both catches (113) and targets (184). Gordon's fantasy value will be officially nil once it becomes official he is out for the year.
Editor's note: We're working under the assumption Gordon doesn't play at all this year.
WR Chandler Jones, TB - Dynasty Only
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The undrafted rookie from San Jose State has been spending some time with the first-team WRs in OTAs and is climbing his way onto deep sleeper lists for the upcoming season. Jones is just 5-foot-9 and 180 pounds (not to be confused with the Patriots sack master by the same name). Jones ran a lightning fast forty (4.34) at his Pro Day after an impressive collegiate career. He was the first player in school history to top 50 catches in each of his four seasons and set school records for career catches (248) and receiving yards (3,087). In 2013, as a senior he had his best season -- finished with 79 catches for 1,356 yards and a school-record 15 receiving touchdowns. The 22-year-old's elite speed puts him on the dynasty league radar.
WR Miles Austin, --- - Bye Week Fill-in
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Austin signed a one-year, $2 million contract after a difficult season in Dallas. Austin battled hamstring injuries that cost him 11 games over the past three seasons. In 2013, he collected 24 catches for 244 yards. In 2012, the Monmouth alum had 66 catches for 943 yards and six touchdowns. He remains a potential PPR option since he will be a likely starter in Cleveland with Josh Gordon facing suspension. Austin is a better option in the slot with his diminishing speed and 65 catches in three of the past five seasons. Austin would be a solid addition to your fantasy bench, although he has a very low ceiling given the Browns' unreliable QB situation.
Editor's note: It's difficult to know what to expect from Austin. Even when he has played over the last few seasons, the former Monmouth alum was always dinged up or recovering from some past injury. What he can do as a No. 1 receiver again is a total mystery. What we do know is he is likely the best receiver on the roster and considering his ADP (192.67), taking a chance on him isn't that risky.
WR Nate Burleson, --- - Deep-league Only
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Burleson signed a one-year contract with Cleveland after spending four mediocre years in Detroit. Burleson enters his 12th NFL season and has topped 1,000 yards just once (back in 2004 with Minnesota). The former 2003 third-round pick out of Nevada has 457 catches for 5,630 yards and 43 touchdowns over 135 career regular season games (Minnesota, Seattle and Detroit). He'll be 33 years old when the 2014 season begins and has missed 17 games over the past two seasons. Burleson fractured his left arm in early May (the same arm he broke in a car accident last season while trying to save a pizza from sliding off of his front seat). Despite the open competition for receptions in Cleveland, Hawkins and Austin are better fantasy options.
WR Andrew Hawkins, --- - Super Sleeper (high risk/potential)
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Hawkins signed a four-year, $13.6 million contract this offseason after spending his first three seasons with the Bengals. In that time, the Toledo product totaled just 995 receiving yards (86 catches) and four touchdowns over 35 games. He is an undersized (5-foot-7, 180 lbs.) 28-year-old wideout, but could surprise with limited talent ahead of him on the depth chart. Hawkins' injury history is concerning as he has missed 13 games over his brief career. He has been starring in OTAs and that just might translate to success on Sunday. His ADP (177.10) limits him to being a late-round flier.
TE Jordan Cameron, --- - Stud (low risk)
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This USC alum had a true breakout during his third NFL season, finishing with 80 catches for 917 yards (61 YPG) and seven touchdowns. Over his first two seasons, Cameron totaled only 26 catches for 259 yards with one touchdown. He benefited greatly from the first year of the TE friendly Rob Chudzinski & Norv Turner regime (unfortunately they are no longer in Cleveland). With Josh Gordon likely in street clothes for the 2014 season, Cameron will be given tons of targets to lead the team in receiving, providing a solid chance for him to crack the Top 5 fantasy tight ends for the second straight year (finished fifth in 2013). With a monster workload on the horizon, Cameron's 50.53 ADP could present a great value due to expectations that haven't quite caught up to the benefits of his situation.
Editor's note: One small concern is that Cameron started out low in 2013 and coasted for the majority of the season. Five of his seven TDs came in the first month of the season. He also only eclipsed 100 receiving yards once after that first month. There's a lot to like about Cameron if you can find the right value during your draft.
