Cleveland Browns DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Cedric Tillman (concussion) has been downgraded to out for Sunday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals. James Proche II was elevated from the practice squad in a corresponding move. Tillman was initially listed as questionable on Friday after logging limiting practices during the week. The 24-year-old remains in concussion protocol and was ruled out for Week 16 on Saturday. He will miss his fourth consecutive game after suffering a concussion in the Week 12 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Tillman's next chance to suit up will be Week 17 against the Miami Dolphins. Jerry Jeudy and Elijah Moore should see an increase in target share with Tillman out. Despite the plus matchup against the Bengals, Cleveland's passing game will be downgraded as a whole with the quarterback switch from Jameis Winston (shoulder) to Dorian Thompson-Robinson.

Cleveland Browns kicker Dustin Hopkins was given the week off to clear his head in a Week 15 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs as the team tabbed Riley Patterson as their kicker for the game. Hopkins will now return to the field after a one-week absence to take on the Cincinnati Bengals on the road in Week 16. The Bengals have been decent against opposing kickers this season, allowing the 14th-fewest fantasy points per game to the position. Hopkins has struggled with his accuracy this season, making just 16 of his 25 field goals. In addition, the Browns offense could find it hard to move the ball as they will start Dorian Thompson-Robinson in place of Jameis Winston against Cincy. Those two factors combine to make Hopkins tough to trust in fantasy heading into Week 16.

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy has been a second-half MVP in fantasy leagues. He caught 11 passes for 108 yards in his most recent game, a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 15. Jeudy and the Browns now draw an excellent matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals on the road in Week 16. The Bengals have struggled against opposing passing attacks this season, allowing the 13th-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers. That being said, the Browns benched Jameis Winston earlier this week and will turn to Dorian Thompson-Robinson at quarterback, a move that significantly downgrades the entire Cleveland passing attack. Jeudy is still playable in fantasy but he settles in as more of a flex option/WR3-type as opposed to the high-end WR2 that he had been in fantasy over the past month or so.

Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Ford found the end zone on a 62-yard rush in a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 15. He will take over as the Browns' starting running back after Nick Chubb (foot) was lost for the remainder of the season with a broken foot. Ford will take on a Cincinnati defense that is allowing the 17th-fewest fantasy points per game to running backs. With the Browns slated to give quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson his first start of the season, there's a chance they could lean on the run a bit more than usual against the Bengals. That, plus his ability in the passing game, puts Ford in play as a solid RB2 in fantasy heading into Week 16.

According to Kelsey Russo of the Browns, tight end David Njoku (hamstring) is listed as questionable for Sunday's divisional tilt against the Cincinnati Bengals. Njoku opened the week as a non-participant on Wednesday and Thursday but was spotted earlier at Friday's practice. Fantasy managers should continue to pay close attention to his status over the weekend. Njoku was sidelined last weekend due to this same injury. Over his previous four games, the tight end has averaged an impressive 15.6 PPR points per game with 6.5 receptions and 46.0 yards per game. During this span he found the end zone three times. Even though Dorian Thompson-Robinson will be taking over starting duties, Njoku should still be viewed as a low-end TE1 facing the Bengals who have allowed the most PPR points to opposing tight ends this season.