Cleveland Browns DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (undisclosed) did not practice either on Tuesday or Wednesday this week. Njoku has not practiced since last Thursday due to an undisclosed injury, so it appears unlikely he'll take the field for the Browns in Saturday's preseason finale against the hosting Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field. Fantasy managers will want to see the 28-year-old veteran pass-catcher back at practice with Cleveland by next week, but the tight end remains safe to pick as a backend TE1 option in drafts this summer. Njoku finished as fantasy's overall TE6 in full-PPR scoring in 2023 and is primed to serve as quarterback Deshaun Watson's No. 2 target behind Pro Bowl wideout Amari Cooper in 2024.

Cleveland Browns running back Pierre Strong Jr. (ribs) went into an ambulance on Wednesday after individual drills. It was then later reported by Cleveland's head coach Kevin Stefanski that Strong suffered a rib injury. There are no more details yet. However, it's a good sign that Strong was able to walk off the field himself. Either way, the 25-year-old is listed as the fourth running back on the Browns' unofficial depth chart, behind Jerome Ford, D'Onta Foreman, and Nick Chubb (knee) when he returns. Strong is not slated to have a huge fantasy impact in 2024, but if he is healthy, monitor his number of touches compared to the rest of Cleveland's running backs.UPDATE: Strong has been released from a hospital after being transported there by ambulance as a precaution while experiencing shortness of breath.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (arm) was removed from practice early on Wednesday due to "general arm soreness," according to Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN. The Browns' head coach, Kevin Stefanski, later said that this was a precautionary move and that he's "not overly concerned." Watson has missed most of the last few NFL seasons due to injuries and issues off the field, but he was a fantasy superstar back in 2020 with the Houston Texans, throwing for a league-high 4,823 yards and a career-high 33 touchdowns. The Browns organization and fantasy managers alike now hope that the 28-year-old can regain that form and have a productive season as the team's QB1, but until that happens, he's best drafted as a QB2 with upside.

Cleveland Browns kicker Dustin Hopkins (undisclosed) is dealing with a minor injury but will be ready for the Week 1 regular-season opener, according to head coach Kevin Stefanski. With Hopkins sidelined, Cade York again handled the kicking duties in Saturday's preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings. The Browns are trying to showcase York this summer for a potential trade suitor, but York was told to kick the ball into the end zone for touchbacks on Saturday. Stefanski felt the kickoff return and kickoff cover teams got enough work in joint practices last week with Minnesota. The 33-year-old Hopkins will be Cleveland's starter going into 2024 after a career-best year with the Browns last year, and the return of a healthy Deshaun Watson to lead the offense should put Hopkins on the radar as a low-end starting fantasy booter in 12-team leagues.

Cleveland Browns running back D'Onta Foreman turned in a productive game in his team's 27-12 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in preseason action on Saturday. Foreman carried the ball 10 times for 18 yards and a touchdown while catching all five of his targets for 46 yards in the loss. The veteran running back got the Browns on the board in the first quarter, finding the end zone on a one-run rush while also turning in an impressive effort as a receiver. Foreman could hold some early-season fantasy value if Nick Chubb (knee) isn't ready to play when the season opens, although he would still split work with Jerome Ford.