Cleveland Browns DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

Cleveland Browns quarterback Jameis Winston (shoulder) is considered questionable to suit up on Sunday to face the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals in Week 16. Winston was benched in the Week 15 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs after uncorking three more interceptions and is now dealing with a sore right shoulder. The Browns announced earlier this week that Dorian Thompson-Robinson will start this weekend against the Bengals, so if Winston is available, he'll serve as the backup. If he doesn't get the green light, former New England Patriots QB Bailey Zappe would be DTR's backup. The 30-year-old Winston initially gave the offense a jolt when Deshaun Watson (Achilles) went down with a season-ending injury, but in the end, his turnover-prone ways were too much to overcome. With Winston heading into free agency after the season, this will be DTR's show in the final three games.

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.

According to Kelsey Russo of the Browns, wide receiver Cedric Tillman (concussion) is listed as questionable for Sunday's match against the Cincinnati Bengals. Tillman was a limited participant throughout practice this week and could be in danger of missing his fourth-straight contest. Tillman has yet to see the field since suffering a concussion during their Week 12 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Before the injury, Tillman was beginning to find his footing after a slow start. During Weeks 7 through 12, Tillman averaged an impressive 15.4 PPR points per game while tallying 66.0 yards and 5.2 receptions per game. Fantasy managers should closely monitor his status ahead of kickoff on Sunday as he has a favorable matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals who have allowed the 13th-most PPR points to opposing wideouts this season. However, he does come with some inherent risk with Dorian Thompson-Robinson replacing Jameis Winston as the starting quarterback.

According to Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN, Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (hamstring) was seen at Friday's practice. This is a positive sign for his availability heading into the weekend as he was unable to participate at all this week. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to his status on Friday's injury report as he will likely carry an injury designation into the weekend. Njoku was unable to suit up last weekend with this hamstring injury and is in danger of missing his second-straight contest. During Weeks 11 through 14, the veteran tight end averaged a solid 15.6 PPR points per game and found the end zone three times. If Njoku is able to play on Sunday, he should be viewed as a low-end TE1 facing the Cincinnati Bengals who have allowed the most PPR points to the position. He does come with some inherent risk with Dorian Thompson-Robinson taking over starting duties under center.

Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb (foot), who suffered a season-ending broken foot in the Week 15 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, is headed for free agency in March, and The Athletic's Zac Jackson writes that it's hard to say what Chubb's future in Cleveland might be. Jerome Ford will be the team's clear lead runner over the final three games of the season, with Pierre Strong Jr. and D'Onta Foreman also being evaluated in bigger roles. Strong is a candidate to return in 2025, but Foreman is not. Chubb is a popular player in the locker room and among fans, but the Browns must determine how much they think he has left after ending each of the last two seasons on Injured Reserve due to injuries. The 28-year-old four-time Pro Bowler may never be the same after suffering a gruesome knee injury early in 2023. In just eight games in 2024, Chubb didn't look the same and averaged a career-low 3.3 yards per tote.