Leave it to the Cleveland Browns. A week after a convincing win brought them to 3-2 and gave everyone visions of a run to 6-2 and a possible playoff berth, the Browns fell back to earth -- and then another two or three levels below -- in Sunday's 24-6 embarrassing loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Browns fantasy football recap: Andrew Hawkins only productive player for Cleveland
The Cleveland offense was stifled almost completely by ... the Jaguars? What? We break down the fantasy implications.
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The Browns scored the game’s first six points on first- and second-quarter field goals, before being held scoreless the rest of the way. The team’s rushing game was particularly stifled, with only 69 total yards on 30 carries.
So, time to take a look at the fantasy sadness:
Brian Hoyer: For all the relative success the Cleveland quarterback had had entering Week 7, he only had one game of more than 15 fantasy points, so it's unlikely many people were relying on him. That said, a game against the Jaguars always boosts fantasy images, so some probably tossed Hoyer out there, only to be "rewarded" with a season-low four fantasy points. Hoyer threw for 215 yards on 16-of-41 passing (39 percent). He was picked off once and lost a fumble. The Browns might bounce back from the loss, but Hoyer can't be anywhere near fantasy lineups, and after Sunday's awfulness, it's possible the Johnny Manziel whispers will start.
Ben Tate: Whether it was the absence of center Alex Mack or just a good game plan by Jacksonville, the Cleveland running game struggled mightily against the Jags, highlighted by Tate, who ran for only 36 yards on 16 carries. Tate had averaged 100 yards per game the last two weeks, with two touchdowns in Week 6, but his yards per carry average fell to 2.3 in Sunday's game. His stock will drop a few spots for next week, with the possibility that he could fall further if the offensive line can't get things worked out.
Isaiah Crowell: The backup running back was a popular sleeper flex play entering Week 7, but he couldn't get anything going at all Sunday, with 18 rushing yards on seven carries and one catch for 5 yards. His stock was only somewhat high because of the Browns' matchup, and Sunday's struggles mean he can't be used as much more than a handcuff going forward.
Andrew Hawkins: There's just no telling who will do what in the Cleveland passing game from week to week. Four different pass catchers have had the Browns' team high in fantasy points through six games. Sunday, it was Hawkins' turn. He caught five passes on nine targets for 112 yards, adding a rush for 8 yards. Hawkins started the season looking like the team's top target and a PPR beast through three games, but had 26 yards in Week 5 and never even saw a target in Week 6. Suddenly, he popped up again. Hawkins is a back-of-the-roster type with potential, but he'll likely remain unreliable.
Miles Austin, Travis Benjamin: These two show the hazards of trusting Hawkins. Austin had back-to-back double-digit fantasy days in Weeks 2 and 3, but hasn't come close to that since, with 53 yards on three receptions against Jacksonville. Benjamin, meanwhile, had two touchdowns and 16 fantasy points in Week 5, but Sunday he was shut out completely, with no catches on four targets.
Jordan Cameron: The Browns' No. 1 tight end looked like he was back on the map a week ago, with 16 fantasy points and a prime Week 7 matchup, but he was awful Sunday, catching only one of his six targets and going for just 5 yards. Cameron is still a TE1 because of the rockiness of the position, but this was particularly bad.
