The Cleveland Browns‘ wide receiver situation has an interesting look after the team traded for Jerry Jeudy to pair with Amari Cooper.
A pairing of Cooper and Jeudy would both have fantasy football value in 2024, but a lot will rest on Deshaun Watson’s ability to consistently get them both the ball. Elijah Moore was underwhelming last year and is now fighting for fantasy relevance as the WR3 on this offense.
Amari Cooper’s Fantasy Outlook and Projections
- PPR Fantasy Points: 233.7 (158.1 non-PPR)
- Receptions: 75.6
- Receiving Yards: 1136.1
- Receiving TDs: 7.6
In a season when the Browns didn’t have a single quarterback complete 125 passes, Cleveland’s WR1 was able to shine. Yes, a large chunk of Cooper’s production came on a Christmas Eve dismantling of the Houston Texans, 11 catches for 265 yards and two touchdowns, but he also reached triple figures on four other occasions and saw a consistent target share (10 games with 8+ targets).
Of course, Cooper’s historic game came with Joe Flacco under center, which wasn’t the plan entering 2023 and certainly won’t be this season, given the financial commitment the Browns have with Deshaun Watson.
After a bumpy first game with the 28-year-old quarterback, Cooper displayed a strong connection with Watson, reaching at least 90 yards and accounting for 39.9% of Cleveland’s receiving yards across those four games.
Cooper is currently being drafted as a solid Flex option (outside of the top-24 WR), bridging the fourth and fifth rounds, which might prove to be a reasonable bargain. He’s being drafted after receivers like Malik Nabers (iffy offensive environment) and DJ Moore (loads of target competition with a rookie QB), whom I have greater concerns surrounding.
Targeting Cooper depends as much on the build of your roster as anything. While I think he has access to a fine ceiling, you’re drafting him for his floor and locking in that production.
Cooper is the type of receiver I want to add to my roster if I take on some risk early (be it by way of multiple running backs or maybe a receiver with moving pieces on his offense like Drake London or Deebo Samuel), though I do believe he is a stronger fit in most situations than those at the position being drafted in his vicinity.
– Kyle Soppe, Fantasy Football Analyst
Jerry Jeudy’s Fantasy Outlook and Projections
- PPR Fantasy Points: 146.4 (91.6 non-PPR)
- Receptions: 54.8
- Receiving Yards: 747.2
- Receiving TDs: 2.5
Jeudy’s ADP of No. 143 overall as the WR56 off the board suggests fantasy managers aren’t exactly high on the Alabama product heading into the 2024 season. For some additional context, Jeudy is currently being drafted after Romeo Doubs and Mike Williams — the latter who is coming off of a torn ACL from last year — in the 11th round of fantasy drafts.
Is there a chance that Jeudy is being a bit too overlooked after his disappointing 2023 season and overall production as a Bronco? Sure, but his target competition actually gets far more difficult with the move to Cleveland.
It’s hard to label a talent like Jeudy a bad pick in the 12th round, but his upside certainly feels a bit capped, with players like Cooper, Njoku, and Moore all competing for targets in this Cleveland offense. Personally, I’d rather have other options than Jeudy at this price point.
– Derek Tate, Fantasy Football Analyst
Elijah Moore’s Fantasy Outlook and Projections
- PPR Fantasy Points: 128.3 (80.6 non-PPR)
- Receptions: 47.7
- Receiving Yards: 562.9
- Receiving TDs: 3.1
When looking at Moore’s 2023 performance, the first thing that jumped out at me was the fact that he saw over 100 targets. Given his final numbers of 59 catches for 640 yards and two touchdowns, that was quite surprising to see.
Sadly, Moore’s better-than-expected volume didn’t translate into fantasy production. He averaged a mere 7.8 fantasy points per game, finishing as the overall WR61.
Despite Moore seeing over 100 targets, he clearly wasn’t a priority in the Browns’ offense. Moore was targeted on just 18.9% of his routes run, 62nd in the league. His 1.16 yards per route run was 75th, and his 6.2 yards per target was 88th.
Moore’s ADP is currently WR114. He is nowhere close to being drafted in fantasy leagues. Even in deep leagues, fantasy managers aren’t looking at Moore.
I have Moore at WR85. While it may seem like I am above consensus on him, any wide receiver outside the top 72 is unlikely to be drafted. At that point in the rankings, it’s just personal preference, as there is very little distinguishing between undrafted wide receivers.
It’s very difficult to envision a scenario in which anyone should draft Moore. There would need to be at least one injury, if not two, to the Browns’ pass-catchers in between the time you read this and your fantasy drafts.
– Jason Katz, Fantasy Football Analyst
Join Theo Ash: Your Football Opinion
Listen to the Your Football Opinion with Theo Ash! Click the embedded player below to listen, or you can find this podcast on iTunes, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms. Be sure to subscribe and leave us a five-star review! Rather watch instead? Find us on the Pro Football Network YouTube Channel!