You’re normally not going to find many big-time fantasy football scoring outputs when the New York Jets and Cleveland Browns play each other.
Thursday Night Football though might be a little different as a primetime game will offer a big stage for a pair of franchises looking to rebuild from bottom feeders to legitimate AFC contenders.
For fantasy football owners, there is promising talent on your teams all around each roster. So if you took a Jet or a Brown, don’t worry, you could end up looking like a genius in your league.
Here is the latest advice and injury news regarding some of the biggest names that will be featured on Thursday from Cleveland:
Fantasy Football: Should you start Sam Darnold?
In year’s past, this question would have been a no-brainer as most quarterbacks could find a way to torch the Cleveland Browns. However, this Browns defense has a ton of bite to it this year.
Myles Garrett and Larry Ogunjobi have led a talented Browns pass rush, forcing opposing quarterbacks to throw into a secondary headlined by the talented rookie cornerback Denzel Ward.
Garrett and Ogunjobi have combined for five sacks through two games while Ward picked up a pair of interceptions during his NFL debut against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Darnold had a tough time against the Miami Dolphins, throwing a pair of interceptions. He hasn’t really put up big numbers for fantasy owners either as he’s averaged 17.5 points per week this season.
I would sit Darnold this week, especially if you have a more established quarterback on your roster.
Fantasy Football: Latest on Jarvis Landry
There were some worries that Browns star receiver Jarvis Landry would not be able to suit up Thursday night. He was listed as questionable as late as Wednesday after injuring his knee in Week 2 against the Saints but he will be a go against the Jets.
It’s been an inconsistent start for Landry in terms of fantasy football. He has 175 yards receiving through his first two games, but he’s failed to find the end zone.
The possibility of a big game looks pretty good even against a tough Jets defense. New York has the 17th-ranked passing defense when it comes to yielding fantasy points to wide receivers.
He’s healthy, the Browns are on the cusp of their first win and quarterback Tyrod Taylor has a lot to prove to keep his starting job. Landry should be busy so I would start him.
Fantasy Football: Big night for Isaiah Crowell ahead?
Jets running back Isaiah Crowell has made a strong early case as to why he should be receiving a lion’s share of the carries this year. While Bilal Powell has averaged just under four yards per carry, a decent number, the former Brown Crowell is averaging 6.9 yards per rush. However, the 25-year-old has just five more carries on the season than Powell.
A lot of that has to do with a stellar 10-carry, 102-yard, two-touchdown outing against the Detroit Lions in Week 1. He was shut down by the Miami Dolphins the following week as he had just 35 yards on 12 carries.
Crowell will be facing the team that gave up on him though as the Browns signed Carlos Hyde over the offseason to pair with Duke Johnson. The signs are pointing for a big game as the Browns rushing defense is ranked 25th when it comes to fantasy points allowed against running backs.
Should you have the space, Crowell could be a nice RB2 or FLEX option.
