Fantasy Index

Factoid

Cleveland Browns

Crowell, West an intriguing one-two punch at running back

When looking at team rushing production, I like to separate out the quarterbacks. (To a lesser degree, the wide receivers as well.) Ultimately I want to see what the running backs can do on designed running plays. Any team with a guy like Cam Newton, Michael Vick or Russell Wilson, after all, will have a good running game. I want to see what those teams can do without the quarterback.

In the case of Carolina, they go from being an above-average running game to being a bottom-10 group.

One team that jumps out to me are the Browns. They didn’t have a running quarterback last year (Brian Hoyer started most of their game), so they’re an offense that looks a lot better when you look only at the actual running backs. Isaiah Crowell and Terrance West are a nice one-two punch of youngsters.

In the case of the Browns, when we see aside the quarterbacks and end-around yards by wide receivers, Cleveland has the 7th-best running game in the league. Only 10 teams ran for more yards, and only one team (Kansas City) scored more rushing touchdowns.

RUSHING PRODUCTION (running backs only)
RkTeamAttYardsAvgTDPoints
1.Dallas4722,2874.816324.7
2.Baltimore4021,9364.814277.6
3.Cincinnati4141,8744.515277.4
4.Philadelphia4151,8204.415272.0
5.Kansas City3651,6514.517267.1
6.Denver4001,7494.415264.9
7.Cleveland4371,6343.716259.4
8.Seattle3891,7934.613257.3
9.Houston4741,9314.110253.1
10.New Orleans3691,6084.414244.8
11.Green Bay3711,6214.412234.1
12.New England3791,5564.113233.6
13.Pittsburgh3761,6834.510228.3
14.NY Giants4261,5423.612226.2
15.Miami3341,5484.611220.8
16.Washington3331,3994.213217.9
17.NY Jets3931,6484.28212.8
18.San Francisco3531,4674.28194.7
19.Atlanta3361,3163.910191.6
20.Minnesota3361,3364.09187.6
21.Detroit3461,3003.89184.0
22.St. Louis3281,3344.18181.4
23.Jacksonville2971,1804.09172.0
24.Buffalo3661,4003.85170.0
25.Carolina3511,3793.95167.9
26.Indianapolis3371,3133.96167.3
27.San Diego3481,2323.56159.2
28.Arizona3561,2173.46157.7
29.Chicago3021,1964.06155.6
30.Tennessee3041,1583.85145.8
31.Tampa Bay3161,1803.74142.0
32.Oakland3031,1393.84137.9

—Ian Allan

Fantasy Index