Cleveland Browns DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

The Cleveland Browns announced on Wednesday that they have officially placed running back Nick Chubb (foot) on season-ending Injured Reserve. Tight end Brenden Bates was signed to the active 53-man roster in a corresponding move. Chubb suffered a broken left foot in the Week 15 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs and will close out his season for the second straight year on IR due to injury. The good news is the 28-year-old will not require surgery, but it's the second straight offseason he will be rehabbing an injury after tearing multiple ligaments in his knee during a gruesome injury early in 2023. The four-time Pro Bowler will be an unrestricted free agent next March, so he could have already played his last down in Cleveland. Coming off his major knee surgery, Chubb looked sluggish this year, averaging a career-low 3.3 yards per carry in eight games. It's fair to wonder how much he has left after these injuries.

After being benched in the Week 15 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday following three interceptions, Cleveland Browns quarterback Jameis Winston will lose the starting job to Dorian Thompson-Robinson for the upcoming Week 16 contest against the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. Winston gave the Browns offense a notable jolt after Deshaun Watson (Achilles) went down with a season-ending injury in Week 8. The 30-year-old veteran signal-caller threw for 2,038 yards and 12 touchdowns in his seven starts, but he also added 12 picks and two fumbles. Winston will be a free agent after the season, and the Browns understandably prefer to get a look at the younger Thompson-Robinson for the final three games of the year. With a great matchup against Cincy, DTR will be in play as a QB2 for those desperate in superflex leagues this week.

The Cleveland Browns are making a change at quarterback heading into their Week 16 divisional contest against the Cincinnati Bengals and will go with Dorian Thompson-Robinson after benching Jameis Winston in the Week 15 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, according to league source. The Browns benched Winston after more turnover issues, as he tossed three interceptions and was pulled in the fourth quarter. Thompson-Robinson also threw a pick of his own against a tough Chiefs defense and finished 4-for-9 for 18 yards passing late in the game. The Browns will hope DTR can take better care of the football in a plus-plus matchup against a soft Bengals defense this weekend. It will be the 25-year-old's fourth NFL start. While the matchup is a nice one, fantasy managers shouldn't consider Thompson-Robinson as anything more than a low-end QB2 with a bit of upside in superflex leagues in Week 16.

Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said he thinks that running back Nick Chubb (foot) won't need surgery on the broken left foot that he suffered in the Week 15 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Chubb will still miss the rest of the regular season with only three weeks left, but the 28-year-old should be fully recovered in time for the start of the 2025 campaign. Still, it's been an injury-plagued last two years for Chubb, as he's played in only 10 combined games. He got a late start in 2024 while recovering from his gruesome knee injury and ended up playing in eight contests. Chubb looked sluggish, averaging a career-worst 3.3 yards per carry on 102 rushing attempts for 332 yards and three touchdowns. In addition to coming off another injury, Chubb will be a free agent and may not return to Cleveland, further clouding his fantasy value. Jerome Ford takes over the Browns the rest of the way at RB.

Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said he's "hopeful" that wide receiver Cedric Tillman (concussion) can return and play in Week 16 against the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals this coming Sunday. Stefanski said that Tillman is "getting better" after sustaining a concussion in the team's Week 12 upset win over the division-rival Pittsburgh Steelers. The 24-year-old second-year wideout has not played since, although he appears to be getting close to clearing the NFL's concussion protocol. We'll keep a close eye on Tillman's practice status this week. If he does make it back to play this weekend, it might be quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson running the offense after Jameis Winston was benched in the Week 15 loss to the Chiefs. Tillman had a nice run from Weeks 7-9 (21-255-3 line), but his fantasy value could be negatively affected by a QB change in Cleveland upon his return.