2026 Team Outlook: Cleveland Browns
RB Dylan Sampson, CLE - Bye Week Fill-in
Sampson spent his first two seasons at Tennessee in a part-time role, carrying 58 times for 397 yards and six touchdowns in year one, then expanding to 106 carries for 604 yards and seven touchdowns with 17 catches for 175 yards and a score in year two. The Volunteers handed him the full workload in 2024, and he delivered (1,634 combined yards, 22 touchdowns, and 20 receptions on 278 touches). He topped 100 combined yards in 11 of his first 12 starts before a hamstring injury cut his season short in the final game against Ohio State. The athleticism is legitimate. Sampson clocked a 4.42 at Tennessee's Pro Day, putting his speed in the same conversation as the top two running back prospects in this draft class. He came to the NFL at 5'8" and 200 lbs., a compact and powerful frame that suits his running style. The concerns lie in the passing game (both as a receiver and a pass protector), where expectations should remain modest given his limited college usage and questions about his ability to pick up blitzes consistently. As a runner, Sampson does his best work between the tackles, particularly near the goal line. He runs with patience, shows a natural
feel for interior spacing, and follows his blocks effectively through to the second level. What he doesn't offer is much elusiveness in open space; the wiggle and change-of-direction moves needed to consistently beat defenders in the open field weren't on display with enough regularity. He wins with legs and instincts more than power after contact, which may define his early NFL role as a short-yardage and goal-line specialist. Other than two games (12/29 with eight catches for 64 yards and 92 combined yards with a touchdown and two catches), Sampson was unplayable in 13 matchups in his rookie season. He gained only 2.7 yards per carry, with a higher-than-expected ceiling in the passing game (33/271/2 on 40 targets). In December, Sampson missed two games with a hand injury. Cleveland had him on the field for only 23.2% of their plays. Fantasy Outlook: Based on his usage and the change in coaching staff for the Browns, Sampson will only offer rotational value in 2026. His next step should push closer to eight touches per game, but he will be challenging to time if Judkins is healthy. His ADP (176) makes him a backend handcuff who will be easy to hook up with Quinshon Judkins in most leagues.
WR Jerry Jeudy, CLE - Gamble (high risk)
Jeudy closed the 2022 season on a promising note, finishing as Denver's clear top receiver over his final six games (37 catches for 523 yards and three touchdowns on 45 targets), with three standout performances (8/73/3, 6/117, and 5/154) anchoring that stretch. His full season was uneven, however, opening with four catches for 102 yards and a score before going quiet over the next five games, then battling back with a pair of strong outings before an ankle injury wiped out three weeks of production. The Russell Wilson era in Denver never clicked for Jeudy. A hamstring issue kept him out of Week 1, and minor injuries nagged him throughout the year without ever forcing extended absences. Denver rarely looked Year WRC SPT WYD YD% YC TGT TD 2025 114 0.350 1469 0.45 12.89 227 4 2024 221 0.559 2497 0.64 11.30 381 10 2023 178 0.501 2445 0.61 13.74 335 10 Cleveland Browns
his way (no more than seven targets in any single game), and he failed to crack 81 receiving yards in any matchup. He finished with three catches or fewer in 12 of his 16 starts, including seven such outings over the final seven weeks. His year-over-year decline was stark: 54 catches for 759 yards and five touchdowns on 87 targets, compared to 67 catches for 972 yards and six scores on 100 targets the season prior — in one fewer game. A move to Cleveland unlocked a different version of Jeudy. He set career highs across the board (90 catches, 1,229 yards, and 145 targets), though his touchdown total (four) left fantasy managers wanting more. The first half of the season was sluggish, with just 21 catches for 266 yards and one score on 42 targets over seven starts (7.66 FPPG). The second half was a different story entirely. Cleveland targeted him 103 times over the final 10 games, and Jeudy responded with WR1 production (69 catches for 963 yards and three touchdowns at 18.33 FPPG). A career-best outing against his former team in Denver (9/235/1) headlined the run, with three other 20-plus fantasy point performances rounding out a dominant second-half stretch. With a downgrade in quarterback play in 2025, Jeudy saw his PPR fantasy points (121.70) cut in half in one easy year. He caught only 47.2% of his 106 targets, leading to only 50 catches for 602 yards and two scores. His only playable value came in two matchups (6/78/1 on 12 targets and 3/76/1). Fantasy Outlook: Cleveland's offensive structure changed a lot after the draft, highlighted by two more talented wideouts added to its roster. Harold Fannin should be the clear-cut top receiving option, leaving Jeudy to fight for targets with KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston. The sum of the receiving corps suggests more overall chances for all options.
Despite his experience in the NFL, Jeudy has a have-not ADP (201) in the early draft season while ranking behind Conception in the National Fantasy Football Championship. My first thought is 60 catches for 750 yards and under five touchdowns.
WR KC Concepcion, CLE - Sleeper (undervalued)
Concepcion carved out a prominent role across three college seasons at NC State and Texas A&M, finishing with 185 receptions for 2,218 yards and 25 touchdowns over 38 games. His freshman year was his most prolific as a pass catcher (71 receptions and 10 touchdowns), while his receiving yard total peaked at 919 in his final season. The Wolfpack also deployed him as a legitimate ball carrier in 2024, with 41 rushes for 320 yards, and he tacked on 29 more carries for 111 yards and three scores over his final two seasons, a versatility that should translate well at the next level. As a prospect, Concepcion fits the profile of a high-floor slot receiver who makes his living creating problems close to the line of scrimmage. His quickness off the snap, clean release against press coverage, and sharp route running make him a natural chain-mover and a reliable target in short and intermediate areas. He won't separate from the field's best corners on pure speed, but his instincts and after-catch ability more than compensate. His emergence as a punt returner last season (25 returns for 456 yards and two touchdowns at 18.2 yards per return) adds another dimension to his value on an NFL roster. Expect him to earn scripted red zone opportunities and manufactured touches near the line of scrimmage early in his career. Fantasy Outlook: An expected slot opportunity suggests a potential consistent floor in Concepcion’s rookie campaign. Quarterback play and their passing window should be key components of his targets. He draws a mid-tier WR5 ADP (129) in the early draft season in the NFFC.
Last season, only Harold Fannin (72) and Jerry Juedy (50) had more than 33 catches, with Cleveland averaging 32.8 passes per game.
WR Denzel Boston, CLE - Sleeper (undervalued)
The Next Puka? - Denzel Boston mirrors Puka Nacua because both possess elite size, lack top-end speed, and face heavy concerns over their ability to separate. Despite lacking breakaway speed, both players win with extreme physical toughness and exceptional body control to dominate contested catches. One (Puka) just happens to have a future Hall of Fame QB in Stafford, while the other (Boston) does not.
Boston closed his college career at Washington with back-to-back steady seasons (63 catches for 834 yards and nine touchdowns in 2024, followed by 62 receptions for 881 yards and 10 scores in 2025). The most encouraging thread running through his college career was a consistent progression in yards per reception each season (7.5, 10.2, 13.2, and 14.2), suggesting a receiver who kept developing rather than plateauing. He delivered three standout performances in 2025 (6/107/2, 10/153/1, and 6/126/1), but his 2024 season faded down the stretch (2/35, 2/47, 3/43, and 3/27 over his final four games), with no touchdowns over his last six starts. Boston profiles as a second- and third-level pass catcher who wins through physicality, strong hands, and an ability to come down with contested jump balls that most receivers can't. He'll see scripted opportunities close to the line of scrimmage, but his target ceiling will naturally sit below the elite receivers in any given offense. At 6'4" and 210 lbs., the most fitting comparison may be an early-career Mike Evans, a big-bodied, goal-line threat with legitimate big-play ability when given a clean release. That release against press coverage is the area most in need of refinement. Once he gets past the first 10 yards off the line, however, his route running and strength become real assets that should translate well to the NFL game. Fantasy Outlook: Boston could be the missing link in the Browns' passing game. His presence invites bigger plays, with scoring upside, but Cleveland will give him low targets in most matchups. He falls in the deep sleeper category this fantasy draft season, with an ADP (202) that's nipping at Jerry Jeudy's heels and a fresher version of Cedric Tillman.
WR Cedric Tillman, CLE - Not Draft Worthy
The transition to Cleveland was rocky. As a rookie, Tillman converted just 21 of 44 targets for 224 yards, and a hip injury cost him three games in October. The opportunity he needed didn't arrive until Week 7 of 2024, when Cleveland traded Amari Cooper and handed him a starting role. He responded immediately with three productive outings (8/81, 7/99/2, and 6/75/1) before back-to-back quiet games (3/47 and 2/28), which preceded a season-ending concussion. In his third season in the NFL, Tillman caught only 21 of his 39 targets for 270 yards and two touchdowns. He opened the year with a tease showing (5/52/1), followed by an active role (seven targets but only two catches for 22 yards and a touchdown). After missing four games with a hamstring issue, Tillman caught only 10 of his final 19 targets for 164 yards and no touchdowns over nine games. Fantasy Outlook: Tillman will try his best to hold off Denzel Boston, but his fantasy window appears to be closed. He'll provide depth and experience for Cleveland with a free-agent price tag in all formats. The flashes have always been there for Tillman, but staying healthy and sustaining momentum have been the persistent obstacles throughout his young career.
