Cleveland Browns: Top 3 fantasy football options

One of the most overlooked players in all of football this season is second-year running back Duke Johnson. Most fantasy leagues count receiving yards for running backs, making Johnson a sneaky good pick if available in a later round.

The University of Miami graduate thrives in the passing game out of the backfield, as his speed and agility are his most valuable assets. In his rookie year, Johnson rushed for only 379 yards, while producing 534 receiving yards and two touchdown catches.

In many fantasy rankings, Johnson will be placed lower only because of his lack of production on the ground. But as the 2015 season proved, the Browns can successfully use the second-string running back to spread the field and open up options in the passing game.

Another factor contributing to Johnson’s value in fantasy leagues this coming season is the recent struggles of Isaiah Crowell. Both on and off the field. Crowell has placed doubt and shaken the confidence of both the coaching staff and the fans. While Crowell will certainly still play a significant role in Cleveland’s offense this year as their starting running back, Johnson will play more snaps than he did in 2016, especially if Crowell continues to struggle.

Next: Tight end Gary Barnidge