One of the bigger storylines of the offseason has finally turned a chapter with the trade of QB Baker Mayfield from the Browns to the Panthers.
Fun fact: The Browns will pay Baker Mayfield $588,235 Week 1 to try to beat the Browns
The scheduling gods always seem to nail these things as the Browns will travel in Week 1 to play the Panthers. There will be plenty of hype, assuming Baker is the week one starter. There are reports out there that the Panthers have suggested it will be a competition at QB between him and Sam Darnold and that they have no plans to trade Darnold. I suppose that is what they are supposed to say.
State of the Franchise – Carolina Panthers
For my money, I think both Mayfield and Darnold are better than people give them credit for. Mayfield is much better, though. He played under incredibly painful and difficult conditions for most of last year with a torn labrum in his left shoulder. People that say “but who cares, it wasn’t his throwing shoulder” are people you shouldn’t listen to. He also showed a lot of improvement the year prior, in my opinion, in a season that included three monsoon-type games. Look at his splits after the weather cleared. He has 92 TDs and 56 INTs in his career so far, compared to 54 and 52, respectively, for Darnold. I think he wins the job easily and I would approach drafts with that assumption.
I like Christian McCaffrey quite a bit with Mayfield under center and have no concerns about his injuries or prior usage. D.J. Moore was and still is the receiver to own in Carolina. There is talk about Terrace Marshall making big leaps this offseason after an epic face-planter rookie season. He was one of my top wideouts coming out last year but it is hard to deny how bad he was. It is also hard to deny how big an influence having a poor quarterback can have on a young receiver. For a late-round dart throw, you could do worse. Robbie Anderson is on record as rooting against the Panthers going out and getting Mayfield, and after the rocky chemistry between OBJ and Mayfield, it begs the question of how will this new relationship pan out? I don’t know but I’m probably avoiding him at ADP. I also don’t know who will win the target battle between Ian Thomas and Tommy Tremble but there may be a solid fantasy opportunity there as both players are going undrafted in most formats.
FF take-homes: McCaffrey is the only “my guy” from the Panthers in redraft or best ball. D.J. Moore is probably being drafted at cost, which is ok but I prefer some other names in his ADP range. I loved picking up Mayfield in SuperFlex dynasty startups earlier this offseason for nearly free. He is probably a hold right now, possibly a good buy low or at cost until the market equalizes after the “camp battle.” Darnold will soon be waiver fodder if he isn’t already. D.J. Moore is also a hold in dynasty. I’d sell Marshall for a ham sandwich.
State of the Franchise – Cleveland Browns
We do not know who the week one starter will be in Cleveland but for anyone who thought it would be Baker, it won’t be. We don’t yet know what the results of the Deshaun Watson saga will be, though there is hope that clarity will come soon. If he is suspended for any number of games, or even possibly the entire season, then it drops the hopes for the Browns’ fantasy outlook in 2022 quite a bit. If they end up rolling Jacoby Brissett or some other QB they acquire out there, then I think it would be prudent to bump down all Browns receivers on your draft boards.
That is not true for Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, though. I predict both will fall much further than they already have if and when news of a Watson suspension comes down. I think both players are already valued too low so if that comes to pass they will become even greater values, even if their production takes a hit. Hunt has been rumored to be on the trade block and could conceivably be involved in a trade to get them a stopgap QB while Watson sits. If so then maybe D’Ernest Johnson holds minor value or rookie Jerome Ford.
If Watson were to play the entire season, I’m still not sure I love any of the pass-catchers in fantasy. I think Amari Cooper is overrated but will easily be the leader in targets. Behind him, I might take some shots on the rookie David Bell, who is much cheaper. I know they just paid David Njoku but I think he will continue to split targets. Donovan Peoples-Jones wouldn’t be a bad dart throw either but for me, this is an offense with too much risk and unknowns for me.
FF take-homes: Chubb remains my only Brown that I consider a “my guy” in redraft or best ball. It is possible that all other Browns are values in dynasty right now until Watson plays. I’m not buying, though, as I think he will be suspended at least more games than I am comfortable with in terms of acquiring Browns’ skill players. I might try to buy low on Hunt if part of a package deal, though.
Thanks for reading! Stay sharp out there and remember, you only have to be better than half your leaguemates on average to be a perennial playoff team. Let’s keep balling! Look for more of my articles soon. Feel free to reach out to me to chat about fantasy football on Twitter @Ship_Chaser and follow along with me on my journey as I chase six-figure paydays! #DFFArmy #FantasyFootball #AlwaysBeBuilding #NFL #NFLTransactions #NFLTrades #AlwaysBeScouting
