The situation with the Cleveland Browns running backs is as muddled as it could be this season. Ben Tate, Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell have alternated roles as the featured back and the forgotten back all season. On Sunday, it was Crowell who led the way in the Browns' 23-7 loss to the Houston Texans.
Fantasy football waiver wire, Week 12: Isaiah Crowell, Terrance West, Ben Tate still muddled
Crowell got the most work Sunday, but you never know with Cleveland. We break down the fantasy implications.
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Crowell ran the ball 14 times Sunday for 61 yards, adding 30 receiving yards on two catches. West had five carries for 12 yards, and Tate had two carries for minus-9 yards. In 10 games this season, Crowell and West have led the Browns in fantasy scoring three times each, while Tate has done so four.
Fantasy impact: There couldn’t be a more “stay away” situation than the Cleveland running-back situation. After consecutive productive games for West entering this week, it looked like he had established himself as the team’s starter, only for Crowell, off of an “impressive” week of practice, to get the surprise start Sunday. He did fumble in the game, but had 91 total yards in the process, and after the game the team said the right things about Crowell going forward.
Still, the Browns have said positive things about all three running backs at various points this season. None of the three can be started right now, and you would be well within your rights to just leave them all on the waiver wire. It isn’t worth the headache.
