PROJECTED DEPTH CHART

Players listed in order of fantasy relevance. Recommended round to draft in standard 10 to 12-team leagues with 16 rounds in parentheses.

Quarterback: Derek Anderson (5), Brady Quinn (15)

Running Back: Jamal Lewis (2), Jason Wright, Jerome Harrison

Wide Receiver: Braylon Edwards (2), Donte' Stallworth(9), Joe Jurevicius, Joshua Cribbs, Travis Wilson

Tight End: Kellen Winslow (5), Steve Heiden

Kicker: Phil Dawson (16)

NOTABLE PLAYER MOVES

Additions: WR Donte’ Stallworth, WR Kevin Kasper
Subtractions: WR Tim Carter

Cleveland Browns Stadium - Photo Credit: heather0714

2008 ROOKIES TO WATCH

Round Four: Martin Rucker, TE, Missouri
Round Six:  Paul Hubbard, WR, Wisconsin

TOP POSITION BATTLE

Fourth Wide Receiver:  Travis Wilson vs. Paul Hubbard vs. Kevin Kasper vs. Joshua Cribbs

2008 SCHEDULE

Top matchups in bold

Sept. 7: Dallas
Sept. 14: Pittsburgh
Sept. 21: at Baltimore
Sept. 28: at Cincinnati
Oct. 5 :  BYE
Oct. 13: New York Giants
Oct. 19: at Washington
Oct 26: at Jacksonville
Nov. 2: Baltimore
Nov. 9: Denver
Nov. 17: at Buffalo
Nov. 23: Houston
Nov. 30: Indianapolis
FANTASY PLAYOFF MATCHUPS
Dec. 7: at Tennessee
Dec. 14: at Philadelphia
Dec. 21: Cincinnati
Dec 28: at Pittsburgh

ENGEL EYE ON: THE CLEVELAND BROWNS

There's no reason to doubt that Derek Anderson can build on last season's surprising success. He has a terrific offensive line that gives him time to locate his targets, and he can spread the ball around to more than one weapon. Donte' Stallworth may be an unreliable fantasy player on his own, but as part of the Brown's receiving corps, he fits in nicely and adds another dimension of speed. Secondaries now have to account for possible big plays from Stallworth and Braylon Edwards. Anderson also has the mettle to adjust if Stallworth gets injured, and of course, Kellen Winslow, Jr. adds even more balance to the passing game. Add in a solid running game, and I have to believe Anderson is just outside the top 5 at his position heading into 2008.

2008 FANTASY POSITIONAL OUTLOOKS

Quarterback:
Derek Anderson came out of nowhere in 2007, posting the best season by a Browns quarterback in 27 years.  After losing the starting quarterback battle to Charlie Frye in Training Camp, Anderson was merely an afterthought to fantasy owners on Draft Day.  However, in an embarrassing opening-day loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Frye had only four completions among ten attempts, finishing with 34 yards, one interception, and five sacks.  That performance effectively ended Frye’s career as a Brown, and Anderson was brought in as the new starter.  Anderson never looked back, playing every snap from that point until the season finale, when Brady Quinn played a series in mopup duty against the San Francisco 49ers.  Anderson excelled due to his quick release and excellent decision-making ability, which resulted in only 14 sacks in his 16 games. He threw 29 touchdowns against 19 interceptions in 527 attempts.  Anderson’s outlook for 2008 should be even better.  With Braylon Edwards, Donte’ Stallworth, and Kellen Winslow running downfield, Anderson will have plenty of opportunities to throw touchdown passes in 2008.  As you prepare for your draft, don’t discount Anderson as a one-year wonder.  With all of the tools at his disposal, you should be targeting Anderson no later then the fourth round.  He could easily give you better numbers then a Tony Romo or Drew Brees, who are generally projected one to two rounds earlier then Anderson.  The backup in Cleveland is second year player Brady Quinn.  Quinn has good arm strength and can make all of the throws that the Browns would expect him to make. However, Quinn skillset isn't ready for primetime, as he is just average in accuracy and has a tendency to get squirrelly in the pocket.  For dynasty leagues, target Quinn in the late-rounds--it is a virtual lock that one of these two QBs will not be a Brown after this season.  Expect both quarterbacks to be starting somewhere in the NFL in 2009. 

Brady Quinn thinks you should take a late round flyer on him. Photo Credit: notredamer

Running Back:
After spending his first six years with division rival Baltimore, Jamal Lewis joined the Browns for the 2007 season.  Lewis is a big, tough runner who still has good quickness and field vision.  The only knock on Lewis is his spotty pass-catching.  Additionally, Lewis was coming off three consecutive poor seasons when he signed with Cleveland, and it appeared that Lewis had nothing left in the tank.  However, he showed up re-energized and had a fantastic 2007 season.  Lewis rushed for 1,304 yards with eleven touchdowns (nine rushing and two receiving).  Those 1,304 rushing yards were the most by a Browns running back since Jim Brown.  For the 2008 season, look for even better numbers from Jamal, as Stallworth will provide an additional deep threat that should force teams to play less single coverage wide receivers, leaving one less defender “in the box” to cover the run.  In your fantasy draft, take Lewis no later than the late second round.  Fifth-year RB Jason Wright is the backup/handcuff for Lewis.  Wright played in all 16 games last year, compiling 510 all-purpose yards and scoring one touchdown.  Wright possesses decent speed and has good hands. He was primarily used as a third-down specialist or to give Lewis a full series to rest.  Jerome Harrison only appeared in eight games, but he still averaged 6.2 yards per carry.  Wright and Harrison should not be considered as hot commodities on draft day. If anything were to happen to Lewis, Wright would get the most touches and would than be worth snatching up from waivers.  Lawrence Vickers is the team's primary fullback and lead blocker for Lewis. The Browns coaching staff likes Vickers' ability to catch swing passes out of the backfield, so he may see more looks and touches in 2008.  With more teams moving to a dual running back system, the Browns have been rumored to considering Travis Henry or Cedric Benson to provide depth and insurance in case of rampant injuries.

Wide Receiver:
The Browns wide receiver corps is led by Braylon Edwards, who set career highs in receptions, yards, and touchdowns in 2007.  Even more amazing, 57 of his 80 catches resulted in a first down (71.3%).  It would be difficult to improve on 80 catches, 1289 yards, and 16 touchdowns, but don't underestimate Edwards’ playmaking abilities.  Numbers in excess of 90 catches, 1,300 yards, and 15 touchdowns are not just possible, but likely.  This year Edwards is a solid second round pick who might give you first-round caliber numbers.  In fact, it would not be surprising if Edwards ended the season as the number one fantasy wide receiver.  Former Patriot Donte' Stallworth was signed in the offseason and will start across from Edwards.  Stallworth had a good 2007 season in New England, and his role with the Browns in 2008 will be very similar to the role he played there.  Last year Stallworth played opposite Randy Moss, who was often double-teamed by defenders.  This year Stallworth should see the same kind of coverage, as defenses will double-team Edwards, leaving Stallworth with plenty of one-on-one opportunities.  Stallworth is an athletic receiver with the ability to explode off of the line and to get past defenders.  He works best in space, but he can also occasionally lose focus and drop easy catches.  Overall, Stallworth should make an excellent complement to Edwards, catching 50-55 balls for at least 750 yards and 5-7 touchdowns.  Target Stallworth as your WR3, and don't let him slip past the eighth round.  The Browns hoped that Joe Jurevicius would be third on the depth chart heading into the season, but he is recovering from off-season knee surgery and may not be ready for the season opener.  To make matters worse, "Double-J" just became the sixth Brown in the past four years to contract a staph infection.  If Jurevicius is not ready for the season opener, there will be a heated battle between Travis Wilson, Joshua Cribbs, Kevin Kasper, and rookie Paul Hubbard for the third starting wide receiver spot.  The Browns would love to see Cribbs win the job because of his play-making ability.  Cribbs could play a role similar to what Antwaan Randle-El did with the Pittsburgh Steelers earlier this decade.

Tight End:
After missing 30 of his first 32 professional games due first to an on-field injury in 2004, and then a much publicized off-field motorcycle incident in 2005, Kellen Winslow has really stepped up over the past two seasons to average 85 receptions, 990 yards, and four touchdowns.  Winslow has the talent to be the top tight end in the NFL, but there will always be concerns about his knee, which has already required four operations for various injuries.  Do not let this dissuade you from drafting Winslow.  In 2008, look for him to top 80 receptions and 1,000 yards receiving for the second consecutive season, while scoring six touchdowns.  Winslow is a solid fourth-round selection.  Steve Heiden is the back up to Winslow,  He has had back issues in the past and will turn 32 in September, which will limit his effectiveness.  The Browns were concerned enough about their tight ends that they spent their first selection (which was not until the fourth round) on Martin Rucker out of the University of Missouri.  Rucker is a 6’5”, 251 lb. athletic tight end who posted a 4.71 in the 40-yard-dash.  While he has nice hands and can make the tough catch, Rucker runs merely average routs and is not known for his strength.  Heiden and Rucker should not be considered on draft day.

Kicker:
Phil Dawson is the only remaining member from the Browns 1999 roster, and he had his best season as a pro last year with 120 points.  Dawson connected on 26-of-30 field goals, including 8-of-10 from beyond 40 yards.  For 2008, assuming the Browns offense continues to score points like last year, Dawson should be a top-ten kicker.

Defense/Special Teams:
Cleveland was poor defensively in 2007, ranking 21st in points per game (23.9) and 30th in yards per game (359.6).    The Browns had only 28 sacks on the season, which ranked them 27th in the league.  However, the Browns are hoping that they have addressed these issues during the off-season.  They traded 2008 draft picks for defensive end Corey Williams and nose tackle Shaun Rogers.  The team is hoping that those additions will increase pressure on opposing quarterbacks to produce more sacks, giving the defensive backs more opportunities for interceptions.  OLB D'Qwell Jackson, who led the team in tackles last year, and ILB Kamerion Wimbley, who led the defense with five sacks and was second with 33 tackles for a loss, are the two to watch among the linebackers.   The starting cornerbacks, Eric Wright and Brandon McDonald, are both second year players who will need to grow up fast this year.  Hard-hitting Sean Jones and Brandon Pool are expected to be the starting safeties.  The Browns may look to add a veteran cornerback before Training Camp--Ty Law and Anthony Henry, who was with Cleveland from 2001-2004, have been mentioned repeatedly as potential additions here.  Gary Baxter, who tore both of his patellar tendons against the Broncos in 2006, will attempt to return to action in 2008.  If Baxter is able to return, he will play one of the safety positions.  Joshua Cribbs is one of the top return specialists in the NFL, averaging 30.7 yards per kickoff return and 13.5 yards per punt return with three touchdowns on returns in 2007.  Overall, the Browns defense should be better, but not good enough to be considered on draft day. 

Offensive Line:
The offensive line performed extremely well in 2007, giving quarterback Derek Anderson time in the pocket to make throws, while opening holes for running back Jamal Lewis.  The main goal for General Manager Phil Savage in the off-season was to add depth, which he did by signing the veteran Rex Hadnot.  The left side of the line was especially strong in 2007, with left tackle Joe Thomas and left guard Eric Steinbach punishing defenders.  At center, Hank Fraley was solid. The right side of the line included right tackle Kevin Shaffer and right guard Seth McKinney.  After McKinney was injured against Seattle in week 9, Ryan Tucker stepped in to man the spot effectively.  The biggest disappointment is that the LeCharles Bentley era ended before it ever got started.  Bentley, who tore his left patellar tendon during Training Camp in 2006, never played a down for the Browns in the regular season.  During his recovery, Bentley contracted a staph infection, and doctors considered amputating his leg to save his life.  Bentley was recently cleared to begin drills, but he asked for and was granted his release from the Browns just a few days ago.  Look for another solid year out of the offensive line, which should allow the Browns to control the ball and score points in bunches. 

Matt is a long-suffering Browns fan who would like to see his Browns get one Super Bowl Championship before he dies.  To completely understand the depths of his passion, shoot Matt an e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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