Travis Benjamin wins AFC Honors: Is he the X-Factor on offense?
Sep 20, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns wide receiver Travis Benjamin (11) jumps over Tennessee Titans punter Brett Kern (6) on a punt return for a touchdown during the second quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
It was announced today that Travis Benjamin earned AFC Special Teams player of the week honors after his performance in Week 2 against the Tennessee Titans.
On special teams, Benjamin finished with 154 return yards, which included his 78-yard punt return touchdown right before halftime.
Through two games, Benjamin has put up some crazy numbers. With only six catches and seven targets, he has 204 yards, which puts him fourth overall in the NFL for receiving yards. No one else in the top ten has less than seventeen targets.
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Then comes his special teams play. But Benjamin provides much more than just special teams expertise. Parallels may be drawn between Benjamin and Josh Cribbs, but Cribbs never really fit in as a receiver.
Benjamin has been the Browns top threat on offense through the first two weeks, totaling four total touchdowns. The only other player in the league with four touchdowns? Mr. Rob Gronkowski.
He may only have those six catches on the season, but three have been for touchdowns. This type of production is great, but it may not be a great sign for the Browns offense as a whole.
Having Benjamin perform well is great, but he does not have the size and strength to be a threat downfield once a jump ball comes his way, and teams figure out that yes, he is in fact going to streak down the sideline on most plays.
We have only had a one incomplete pass sample size of Dwayne Bowe, but it does not look like he will be much help. Brian Hartline is a solid receiver to have on the offense, but he also lacks that intangible big-play ability.
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The only receiver with that ability is Benjamin. And I realize it is early to get too excited on his play through two weeks, but I’m a Browns fan so I get a pass. And it is also too early to say that he will be shut down the rest of the season, because maybe he will just continue to blow by secondaries and haul in a touchdown or two every game.
Being the X-factor does not mean he must put up this type of production every week, which is why I am not exactly praising or putting down Benjamin. I am just pointing out how he has an innate ability to make big plays, but due to his lack of physical size it will not be a consistent result.
But right now, I will accept his production as it means the Browns are actually scoring touchdowns. And if the run game does not go back into its deep Week 1 slumber, opportunities will remain for Benjamin to get those big receptions and keep scoring. It would also help if the quarterback situation was solidified.
So it goes.