Cleveland Browns DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Ford has been active in the passing game this season, catching 17 passes for 85 yards through four games. The veteran tailback will look to keep it up in Week 5's road matchup against the Washington Commanders. The Commanders have struggled on defense this season, allowing the 11th-most fantasy points per game to running backs thus far. After a hiccup in Week 2, Ford has reclaimed the majority share of the Cleveland backfield and has reached at least 10.0 PPR points in three of his four contests. Fantasy gamers can treat him as a high-end RB2 heading into a prime matchup against Washington in Week 5.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson has struggled for a good portion of the 2024 season, throwing for just 727 yards, four touchdowns, and three interceptions through four games. He has a good chance to bounce back, however, in Week 5's road matchup against the Washington Commanders. Washington's defense has struggled against quarterbacks this season, allowing the second-most fantasy points per game to the position thus far. Watson's play has been up-and-down this year but he has a shot at posting his best fantasy outing of the season in Week 5 thanks to his opponent. Fantasy gamers can treat him as a high-end QB2 on Sunday.

Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (ankle) is considered questionable for the Week 5 matchup against the Washington Commanders. Njoku has been sidelined since suffering an ankle injury during the season opener. He returned to practice last week, but was ultimately ruled out for Week 4. Njoku practiced on Wednesday and appears to be headed in the right direction. If active, Njoku should be considered a low-end TE1 for Week 5. Otherwise, Jordan Akins figures to make another start, but he was held to one reception on two targets last week. Akins doesn't offer much upside right now, so fantasy managers should look elsewhere for help if Njoku is sidelined again.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (abdomen, oblique) is in pads and practicing for the third time this week on Friday. However, The Athletic's James Boyd reports that veteran Joe Flacco is taking most, if not all, of the first-team repetitions in practice as Richardson stands behind Flacco to watch him throw. Richardson was relieved by Flacco in the Week 4 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers and was limited in practice on Wednesday and Thursday. The 22-year-old's injury isn't believed to be serious, but perhaps they let Flacco make the Week 5 start against the division-rival Jacksonville Jaguars this Sunday. Either way, Richardson has fallen to low-end QB1/high-end QB2 territory after a disappointing start to his sophomore season in which he leads the league with six interceptions thrown. Check back for Richardson's final Week 5 status going into Sunday's game. The Colts will also be without star running back Jonathan Taylor (ankle) this week.

Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (ankle) did not take part in practice on Thursday, but it was part of a planned day off. Njoku suffered an ankle injury in the Week 1 loss to the Dallas Cowboys and hasn't played since, but he was limited in Wednesday's session and figures to return to the practice field on Friday. The 28-year-old will likely be questionable on the final injury report on Friday, but Njoku is trending in the right direction and seems to be on the right side of questionable. If he is able to get the green light to play this weekend, he'll at least be in play as a low-end TE1 for fantasy managers. Before getting hurt in the season opener, Njoku caught four of his five targets for 44 yards. In the three games that Njoku has missed, Jordan Akins and Blake Whiteheart have been splitting TE duties in Cleveland, with Akins catching six of his 10 targets for 49 yards and no touchdowns. If Njoku misses another game, fantasy managers should be avoiding both Akins and Whiteheart.