Cleveland Browns fantasy football: start ‘em, sit ‘em
Start: Nick Chubb
If you have Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb, he is a must-start this week against the Baltimore Ravens. Not only do you not sit who was likely a first-round pick in your fantasy football draft in the first week of the season, but you also don’t do it when the guy had 165 rushing yards and three touchdowns against the team the previous season.
The Ravens defense is still a tough defense, and while they limited Chubb to only 45 yards in the second game against them, the potential for Chubb to have another big game is too much to have him on your fantasy bench.
Consider how many times Chubb ran the ball over 15 times in a game last season (15 games) and how he contended all year for the league’s rushing title. No matter how good the Ravens defense is, Chubb always seems to find a way to have a few breakaway runs. Given the fact that there were no preseason games, the defense may be a bit rusty, which could allow for a big game for Chubb, much like he had in September of last year.
It may be a bit much to ask for another 160-yard and three-touchdown performance in the first game of the season, especially considering all the talent on the offensive side of the football. But you can fully expect Chubb to get his fair share of touches, and Nick Chubb rarely lets his touches go to waste.
Sit: Austin Hooper
When the Browns acquired tight end Austin Hooper via free agency this offseason, it looked like the perfect signing to an already impressive offense. Adding one of the best pass-catching tight ends in the past few years to an offense already loaded with talent at the pass-catching position would give Baker Mayfield one more outlet to help grow and improve.
However, for this week 1 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens, not much should be expected from the former Falcon. Hooper is someone you should definitely consider benching in your fantasy lineup this week.
Yes, Austin Hooper comes off a season with 75 receptions with six touchdowns. Yes, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski often utilizes two tight end sets that could allow for many opportunities for Hooper to make an impact. However, according to Pro-Football-Reference, the Baltimore Ravens allowed the fewest receptions to tight ends (52) and the third-fewest receiving yards to tight ends (575 yards) in 2019.