Cleveland Browns DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (ankle) was spotted with a walking boot on his right foot after the team's 33-17 defeat at the hands of the Dallas Cowboys. Before his exit, Njoku amassed 44 yards on 4-of-5 receiving. Not many things went right for Cleveland on Sunday, and just when it looked like they were turning it around, disaster struck. In the middle of the third quarter, the eighth-year TE took a Deshaun Watson pass for a 29-yard catch and run but came up hobbling after the play and was escorted to the blue medical tent on the sideline. The severity of his injury is unclear at this time, but his reportedly being in a walking boot is not a positive development for his outlook. With any luck, Njoku might have avoided a high-ankle sprain, but he'll be someone to monitor over the coming days. Veteran Jordan Akins is the only healthy tight end on Cleveland's roster. He'll receive all the work he can handle in Week 2 when the Browns take on the Jacksonville Jaguars if Njoku is unable to suit up.

Cleveland Browns kicker Dustin Hopkins made his lone field-goal attempt and added two extra points in a 33-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 1. Hopkins knocked down a 51-yard field goal for the Browns in the first quarter but was held without another field-goal attempt for the remainder of the game. The veteran has shown a big leg since joining the Browns in 2023, having now hit all nine of his attempts from 50+ yards. The Cowboys have a tough defense, so Hopkins should see more chances to score points moving forward.

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy caught three of his eight targets for 25 yards and a touchdown in a 33-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 1. Jeudy made a decent debut with his new team, catching a six-yard pass for Deshaun Watson's only TD toss of the afternoon. The veteran finished second on the team in targets as he instantly slotted in as the team's WR2 behind Amari Cooper in his first game as a Cleveland Brown. The Cleveland offense struggled greatly against a tough Dallas defense in the loss but Jeudy's early role in the offense is encouraging. He should be treated as a solid WR3/flex option moving forward.

Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Ford carried the ball 12 times for 44 yards and a touchdown while adding six catches for 25 yards in a 33-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 1. Ford's final stat line will be useful in fantasy, but the third-year back benefitted greatly from garbage time. Most of his production in the passing game came after the game was out of hand and his two-yard touchdown run came with the Browns down 23 points with just 29 seconds left on the clock. On the bright side, Ford saw most of the backfield touches for Cleveland, which should continue for as long as Nick Chubb (knee) is on the PUP list. Treat Ford as an RB2 in PPR fantasy leagues going forward.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson completed 24 of his 45 passes for 169 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions while adding 39 yards on five carries in a 33-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 1. It was a rough afternoon for Watson, who did not look comfortable for much of the game while going against a fierce Dallas pass rush. His lone touchdown pass was a six-yard completion to Jerry Jeudy in the third quarter. Watson should have had another touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter as he threw a strike near the goal line to a wide-open Amari Cooper, who let the ball slip between his hands for an incompletion. While the offense's sluggish start to the season is concerning for Browns fans and fantasy gamers rostering Watson alike, it is worth noting that the Cowboys have an excellent defense, so better times could still be ahead. That said, Watson looks like a middling QB2 heading into a Week 2 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars on the road.