Average Draft Position (ADP): 198
Pick/Round: 17.06
Despite this recent news, rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer is still barely getting drafted in leagues.
The DeShone Kizer era is upon us. @MaryKayCabot and I talked about it on our Monday podcast. https://t.co/6jMvEhSfIo
— Dan Labbe (@dan_labbe) August 28, 2017
Kizer has been named the starter for the Cleveland Browns, and to some extent, skepticism around an offense that struggled last year with a rookie quarterback now at the helm makes sense. It's logical that Kizer won the job -- his primary competition, Brock Osweiler, recorded a Passing NEP per drop back of -0.04 in 2016, good for 33rd out of 39 quarterbacks with 100 drop backs or more. Pro tip: that ain't stellar.
Overall as an offense, the Browns ranked 26th in Passing NEP per drop back (0.01), and also lost their top pass-catcher in Terrelle Pryor to the Washington Redskins this offseason.
So, for all the reasons not to believe in this Browns offense, what are the reasons to buy in?
Don't forget that Cleveland spent some serious coin this offseason to shore up the offensive line, and they're not rated as one of the league's top units. There's nothing that helps smooth out a rookie learning curve than a solid line to work behind.
The cupboard also isn't bare. Over the last four games in 2016, Isaiah Crowell averaged 6.46 yards per carry, Duke Johnson ranked 14th out of 43 running backs with 30 or more targets in Receiving Success Rate (66.04%), and Kenny Britt has arrived to take Pryor's place on the receiver depth chart. There are some weapons at Kizer's disposal.
With that improved line, Kizer's fantasy stock will be largely hinged on his legs -- he rushed for 997 yards in two seasons at Notre Dame. If he can sprinkle in those rush yards while being passable behind center, he could make for a very nice quarterback option at a bargain-bin price.