Team news: Cleveland Browns

Browns game status for Week 16 vs. the Bengals:

Martin Emerson Jr., David Njoku and Cedric Tillman - questionable

Shelby Harris - out

Related Players: Jordan Akins, Jerry Jeudy, Elijah Moore

There are far better streamers available than Akins if Njoku is ruled out, even in a great matchup.

As for the WRs, Jeudy should continue to roll along as a WR3, regardless of Tillman's status.

Browns officially named Dorian Thompson-Robinson as their starting QB for Sunday’s game against the Bengals.

Related Players: Jameis Winston

This is a good sign for the Bengals D/ST, as Thompson-Robinson has a career 5.2% turnover-worthy play rate, with one passing touchdown and seven interceptions, including two back in Week 7 against this Cincinnati team. DTR will take off with the ball, but it's not enough to give him the starting nod in any fantasy lineups.

The Browns are making a change at quarterback: Dorian Thompson-Robinson will start for Cleveland against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Related players: Jameis Winston

Winston threw three INTs last week against the Chiefs and was removed in favor of DTR, who now will start in Week 16. It's not a bad matchup, as the Bengals D has had its share of struggles this season, but DTR isn't a safe start in terms of fantasy. That's especially true during fantasy playoff season. It's also likely to be bad news for the Browns offense overall, and owners may want to downgrade the rest of the Browns players when forming lineups for Week 16.

Browns Kevin Stefanski said he's not sure yet if Nick Chubb will need surgery on his broken foot but said it's a "shorter-term recovery time" for Chubb.

Related players: Jerome Ford, D'Onta Foreman, Pierre Strong Jr.

Chubb will still be out for the season but it seems like he'll be ready to hit the field for the 2025 season, wherever that will end up being for Chubb. For this season, Ford took over for Chubb and ran seven times for 84 yards and a TD, including a 62-yard burst. He had two catches for 20 as well. He should be the team's RB1 going forward and could even be on your waiver wire.

Browns HC Kevin Stefanski isn’t yet ready to say who he will start at QB vs. the Bengals.

“Anything related to Cincinnati I’ll update you guys as we get into the week.”

Related players: Jameis Winston, Dorian Thompson-Robinson

Winston threw three more INTs against the Chiefs this past week and was pulled in favor of Thompson-Robinson, who also threw an INT among his nine attempts. It's a pretty good matchup against the Bengals in Week 16, although that's probably what Will Levis thought as well, so whoever the Browns starter is could have some fantasy upside, although come with obvious risks.

Browns RB Nick Chubb suffered a broken foot in Sunday’s loss against the Chiefs.

Chubb left the game in the second half after rushing nine times for 41 yards. He was richly ruled out, which usually isn’t a good sign. The question now is whether the Browns will have Chubb again this season. Maybe he gets cleared before the season or the Browns could choose to shut him down for the rest of the season with the team now at 3-11. Jerome Ford stepped in and scored a 62-yard touchdown.

Browns RB Nick Chubb left Sunday’s game against the Chiefs with a foot injury.

Chubb went to the medical tent and then eventually the locker room in the third quarter and was ruled out shortly after. Chubb had nine carries for 41 yards before leaving. Jerome Ford came in and scored on a 62-yard run.

Browns rule out WR Cedric Tillman (concussion) for Sunday vs.
Chiefs.
TE David Njoku (hamstring), LG Joel Bitonio (back), DT Mike Hall Jr. (knee), CB Myles Harden (tibia) listed as questionable.

Related Players: Jordan Akins, Jerry Jeudy, Elijah Moore

Akins shouldn't be considered a streaming TE option if Njoku misses Sunday's game, as the team has already mentioned that they'll use a "tight end by committee" approach.

As for the WR group, we should expect things to remain top-heavy, with Jeudy operating as a fantasy WR2 and Moore as a low-end WR3.

Browns David Njoku (hamstring) is likely to sit on Sunday vs. the Chiefs ... OC Ken Dorsey says if he can't play, they'll go tight end by committee

Related Players: Jordan Akins, Blake Whiteheart

Obviously not a great sign for Akins' possibility as a TE streamer if Njoku misses. We can safely ignore the situation if their TE1 doesn't go Sunday.

Kevin Stefanski is sticking with Jameis Winston as the Browns’ starting QB.

Related players: Dorian Thompson-Robinson, Bailey Zappe

The Browns don't really have a better option at this point and it doesn't seem likely Thompson-Robinson is the future of the team or he probably would have been under center by now. Winston has 13 TD passes and 9 INTs in the eight games he's played. Winston can be in your fantasy QB mix in deeper leagues, and/or two QB or superflex leagues.