If you're still buzzing about the Browns shocking the Baker Mayfield-led Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 2 — good. Soak it in! In a contest that few expected Cleveland to even be competitive, especially after their Week 1 bludgeoning at the hands of the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Browns suffocated the Tampa Bay offense for the better part of 60 minutes while their own offense showed signs of life after another slow start.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson engineered what was likely his best performance as a member of the Cleveland Browns, and it was particularly necessary after the run game sputtered for most of the day. On defense, the Browns grounded the Buccaneers' aerial attack to a sub-200-yard day as they harassed Mayfield and brought him down for three sacks, adding an interception to boot.
Through it all, the formula didn't change. The Browns didn't retreat on their reliance on rookies after a humbling Week 1. They showed trust in their guys, and the group rewarded them with plenty of encouraging work. As the season unfolds, consistent performances like these will help reinforce the promisingly dangerous foundation being built in Cleveland.
Browns rookies carried their weight en route to Todd Monken's first win as an NFL head coach
Left tackle Spencer Fano — Stock: rising
Fano responded well after having an unspectacular debut against the Jaguars' formidable pass rushers. Pro Football Focus ranked him fifth among the 19 offensive players with a 69.3 overall grade. Against the Buccaneers' group, Fano allowed zero pressures and zero sacks on the day.
He was wildly improved as a pass blocker, increasing his grade from 59.8 in Week 1 to 79.1 in Week 2. Next week, the Browns will have their home debut against the Carolina Panthers. Panthers' EDGE rushers Jaelan Phillips and Princely Umanmielen quietly both rank among PFF's top 35 at their position, meaning it's not getting easier for Fano next week.
Wide receiver KC Concepcion — Stock: neutral
After losing a fumble last week, Concepcion took care of the ball against the Bucs. He was targeted six times and caught all six of them, though it was only for 28 yards. He also rushed one time for -6 yards. On the bright side, 17 of his receiving yards were after the catch, a promising sign of Concepcion's dynamism transferring over from the college ranks.
Concepcion's 62.5 offensive PFF grade ranked seventh on the offense. The Panthers are coming off a shutdown performance against the Cooper Rush-led Atlanta Falcons, though they were torched to the tune of 59 points by the Chicago Bears in Week 1. Let's hope the Browns can exploit some of those weaknesses in Week 3.
Wide receiver Denzel Boston — Stock: beginning to crack the ceiling
Denzel Boston was Cleveland's most productive offensive weapon for the second week in a row. He was targeted seven times and reeled in five of them for 95 yards, including a 55-yarder that he took to the house as he deftly avoided Buccaneers defenders. The performance earned him a 73.5 overall grade, good for third on offense.
While it's admittedly early, Boston is slowly emerging as a bona fide No. 1 wide receiver. He possesses all the tools one could hope for, and if he puts it all together, then it's safe to say general manager Andrew Berry has uncovered another gem.
Safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren — Stock: neutral
EMW continued to have a modest role on defense for the Browns, logging just 10 snaps on the afternoon. He received a 60.6 grade for his efforts, good for ninth out of 18 defenders who took a snap in the game. McNeil-Warren was also targeted for the first time as a pro, and the pass fell incomplete.
On special teams, he seems to already be making his mark. He made three special teams tackles, which led the team. The usually-steady Ronnie Hickman has struggled mightily over the first two weeks — combine that with his being in a contract year, and it's not out of the question that McNeil-Warren can usurp him on the depth chart soon enough.
Right guard Austin Barber — Stock: hit a little speed bump
Barber debuted on the season with a masterpiece against Jacksonville. Against Tampa Bay, he cratered back to earth with a 54.0 grade, which ranked 13th on offense. He was also flagged once. Despite that, he allowed zero pressures and no sacks on the day, finishing with a team-leading (and elite) 88.1 pass block grade.
The writing on the wall continues to indicate that the Browns found a star-in-the-making in the former Florida Gator. He's already taken hold of the starting role from Teven Jenkins. If he keeps performing like he has been, he won't be giving it back any time soon.
Tight end Carsen Ryan — Stock: neutral
For the second week in a row, Ryan made the most of his impact on special teams, playing 16 snaps. He did log one offensive snap, though he was not targeted on the play. Ryan is still clearly behind Fannin Jr. and Blake Whiteheart, though that's hardly an indictment on a seventh-round draft pick.
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