Cleveland

Browns

Moore gets a pass for his quietest outing in four games with Jameis Winston as starter, as it came in a swirling Cleveland snowstorm where completions were tough to come by. It’s still unlikely he bounces back in Week 13 as a WR4 against the Broncos on Monday Night Football, as Denver has been one of the league’s stingiest teams when it comes to allowing tight end fantasy points. Of course, that might not end up mattering if Winston ends up in negative game script and attempts his usual 35-40 passes.

It was a rough night for a tight end who entered the proceedings with five straight five-catch performances, as one of his missed connections was a horrendous end zone drop. He did contribute an invisible box score grab on a two-point conversion a few moments later, but it’s an awful start to your week if Njoku is your seam stretcher. He now has 11 days to rest up for a Week 13 Monday night date with the Broncos’ tough pass defense.

Having a quiet night in rough receiving conditions in a snow globe Cleveland stadium, Tillman took several massive shots trying to convert a third down on the final play of the third quarter. He was wobbly attempting to get up and did not return to the game. Before departing, he was once again getting out-produced by Jerry Jeudy, who has slowly taken command of the Browns’ receiver corps following Jameis Winston’s insertion under center. After looking like a potential second-year breakout after Winston’s first few games in place of Deshaun Watson, Tillman seems to be slowly reverting to WR4 status. That will be especially true for dates like Week 13’s matchup with the Broncos’ tough pass defense. That’s if Tillman can get cleared from his head injury.

With lake effect snow bearing down on whatever the Browns’ stadium is called now, it wasn’t an easy night to be a wideout, but Jeudy led all pass catchers with his 85 yards. That included a critical fourth down conversion on what proved to be the Browns’ game-winning drive. Languishing with Deshaun Watson under center, Jeudy has posted at least 70 yards receiving in all four of Jameis Winston’s starts. He’s also predictably surpassed Cedric Tillman on the depth chart after the second-year pro went bonkers early. It’s taken five years and who knows how many quarterbacks, but Jeudy is finally looking like a player who was once a first-round pick. The Broncos are not a good Week 13 matchup, but Jeudy has earned some WR3 benefit of the doubt even for his tougher setups.

The two scores — which each came from two yards out — more than doubled Chubb’s season total, but he finished below 60 yards rushing for the fifth time in as many tries. Chubb has averaged more than 3.3 yards per carry only once since returning from his knee woes. Tonight was a slopped-up snowfest in Cleveland, but Chubb looked like he would have been lumbering even in pristine conditions. The Browns probably needed to get backup Jerome Ford more involved, but he handled only five touches. The good news is that Chubb now has 11 days to reset and collect himself and see where he’s at in his comeback. His (hopefully) fresher legs will be needed against the Broncos’ strong pass defense on Week 13 Monday Night Football.

Winston also lost a fumble in what can only be described as a “wild one.” With the snow starting early and turning into a swirling storm by the second half, the teams needed to get their points in early. So naturally they entered the final frame with just 16 combined tallies before going off for 27 in the fourth. Unfathomably, the fourth was where Winston both lost his fumble and tossed his interception, but the Steelers were even more determined to lose. Frankly, both teams seemed determined to lose with comical clock mismanagement late. Between the miscues, Winston kept sticking big throws to Jerry Jeudy, and survived some horrid drops by his seam stretchers. Winston has made the Browns more watchable while creating fantasy excitement, but he’s now in the midst of a brutal stretch of schedule, including the Broncos in Week 13. With no teams on bye for Thanksgiving week, we won’t be streaming Winston.

Even with snowy, swirling conditions descending on Cleveland for Thursday Night Football, the Browns decided they didn’t need Foreman active as an extra pair of legs out of the backfield. The 28-year-old is going to have a frosty free agent market next March.

Garrett was a surprise addition to the injury report on Tuesday because of the hip issue. He was held out of practice but returned to the field for a limited session on Wednesday before being removed from the injury report entirely. The superstar EDGE has seven sacks this year and will look to add to the total versus Russell Wilson on Thursday.

Moore got in two limited sessions to start the week before being upgraded to a full practice on Wednesday. With Jameis Winston chucking the ball at least 40 times in all three of his starts, Moore has moved up to the WR3 ranks for Week 12. He has 17 catches for 179 yards and a touchdown in three Winston starts.

Njoku had his reps limited in practice this week but doesn’t have an injury designation heading into Thursday’s game versus the Steelers. Njoku has seen plenty of looks in recent weeks, piling up 19 receptions in Jameis Winston’s three starts. He remains in the TE1 ranks for Week 12.