CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Browns have put together a 5-2 start to the season, and while much of the attention has gone to Deshaun Watson's resurgence, a group of young offensive players is helping Cleveland become a more dangerous team.
Running backs Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson, wide receiver KC Concepcion, and tight end Harold Fannin Jr. are giving Watson an assortment of weapons who can make plays in different ways. Their development has helped the Browns create a more balanced offense, and Sunday's 27-24 win over Tennessee gave another example of what this group can do.
Concepcion, a rookie selected with the 24th overall pick in April's NFL Draft, enjoyed his best performance as a professional against the Titans. The former Texas A&M receiver caught eight passes for 129 yards, setting career highs in both categories. He also added 23 rushing yards on three carries, giving Cleveland another option on designed plays that get the ball into his hands.
All eight receptions came in the first half, when Cleveland rallied from an early 14-point deficit to take a 17-14 halftime lead. Concepcion routinely found openings in Tennessee's defense, including a 32-yard reception that helped set up one of Cleveland's second-quarter touchdowns.
Judkins provided the other half of the equation. The former Ohio State running back rushed for 96 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries, averaging 5.6 yards per attempt, in his best game of the season. His 30-yard run in the first quarter set up his first score, while his second touchdown erased Tennessee's early advantage.
Sampson also contributed to Cleveland's 183 rushing yards, gaining 45 yards on just six carries. He added three receptions for 32 yards, giving the Browns another option in the passing game. The combination of Judkins' physical running and Sampson's quickness gives Cleveland a thunder-and-lightening approach to how the team attacks with the ground game.
Meanwhile, Fannin continues to develop into one of the most dangerous tight end targets in the NFL. The second-year tight end caught six passes for 91 yards against Tennessee, including a 36-yard reception on Cleveland's final possession that helped set up Andre Szmyt's game-winning field goal. This particular scribe thinks that Fannin Jr. is one of the most underrated players in the league.
For Watson, the emergence of these players means he doesn't have to depend on one receiver or one particular part of the offense to produce. Against Tennessee, he completed 25 of 36 passes for 308 yards, spreading the ball around while Cleveland accumulated 491 yards of total offense.
The Browns are benefiting from the different skills their young players bring to the field. Concepcion can create yards after the catch, Judkins can run between the tackles or break outside, and Fannin provides a receiving, and blocking, threat at tight end. Sampson adds another dimension with his speed and ability to contribute as both a runner and receiver. Those options give the Browns plenty of offensive firepower to work with.
Cleveland will face a much different challenge Sunday against Pittsburgh, but the development of its young offensive players is encouraging. The Browns have already shown they can win close games, and their growing collection of playmakers gives them more opportunities to control those games before the final minutes.
