Tennessee Titans vs. Cleveland Browns Fantasy Football Matchup Breakdown For Week 7

Yes, you read that right. The Cleveland Football Browns would take the division if it ended today, in spite of bottom-5 marks in PPG (17.7) and yards/play (4.5). Deshaun Watson, who I haven’t been shy to give a fair shake, played well for a stretch — but the bad Watson traits are starting to arise. The key to their success? Simple … It's all about sack avoidance. Cleveland scored no more than 13 points in any of the three games Watson ate +5 sacks, while averaging 17.0 fantasy points/game in real-life victories when he didn't. Lucky for the Brownies, this Titan D ranks bottom-5 in QB hits/game (7.7), blitz rate (12.4%), total pressures (64), and pressure rate (29.6%).

Assuming time to operate in the pocket for Watson, I’m assuming a continuation of defined roles by the Browns’ three uniquely skilled pass catchers — KC Concepcion creating mismatches with crossers underneath, Denzel Boston stretching the field to open space in the intermediate, with Harold Fannin deployed close to the paint. When you squint, you can see how the talent’s there to make this work, although it’s absolutely going to take better play under center.

No one’s run worse on short-term speculative calls than yours truly, though if you snapped up Dylan Sampson only for him to sit, perhaps early’s better than never. Cleveland’s backfield totaled all of two carries combined for the Browns entering Week 6, only to have Audric Estime and Jaleel McLaughlin uneventfully split the load 50/50. Sampson’s on track to play and could be a difference-maker in the pass game even if Quinshon Judkins returns.

• Start: Deshaun Watson (QB20), Denzel Boston (WR30), KC Concepcion (WR41)
• Sit: Harold Fannin (TE18)
• Sleeper: Quinshon Judkins (RB25)

Tennessee Titans Fantasy Preview For Week 7

When I mentioned the Titans’ vibes at a high earlier, just remember that’s a relative term — Tennessee’s still dead last in points (14.0), plays (53.0), and yards per game (236.3). Not to mention their lone victory came from mustering just 186 scrimmage yards against an atrocious Indianapolis defense. Cam Ward’s the QB34 in terms of fantasy points/game, with just one game over 183 yards or a positive EPA/dropback. Yikes. Additionally, he takes too many sacks. commits turnovers and owns the fourth-worst passer rating among starters (75.0).

Almost got excited to start Tony Pollard in a 14-team format Sunday when it appeared Tyjae Spears (knee) could miss the game. Well, Spears hardly played, leaving Pollard with an insane 91% opportunity share, and it still didn’t matter. 9 out of every 10 RB touches in a 26-point effort produced just 7.6 fantasy points. Not sure I’ve ever recommended cutting a healthy starter, but I’m close. In fact, Tennessee’s the only NFL team without a starting RB to crack the weekly top-15 once. Sigh.

I’ve maintained a pretty steady hate-hate relationship with the Titans throughout this entire process, and it’s worked out far more than not. The only sticking point, or powder-blue fantasy asset with any trade value remaining, is Carnell Tate. Sure, an 88.4% route participation rate at 25.0% target/route, 1.95 yards/route sounds great and all, it doesn’t mean much to me — top-down systemic rot caps any semblance of ceiling. Tate’s a baller, but there’s a reason half his starts land outside the top-50 on a given week. Kidding aside, I’d dangle him as half of a 2-for-1 trade offer after finally scoring a TD. Blow up the Music City mess and start over.

• Start: Carnell Tate (WR27)
• Sit: Tony Pollard (RB21), Gunnar Helm (TE38)
• Sleeper: Wan’Dale Robinson (WR45)