Never Too Early: Cleveland Browns Fantasy Football Preview

Hear that? It's the pitter-patter of fantasy football season approaching. Fantasy FanHouse is here to get you ready by previewing every team from a fantasy perspective.

Meet The ...
Proud employers of Brady Quinn. Seeing as how savvy he likely is with the clipboard, there's not really much reason to take it away from him in 2008, right? I mean, Derek Anderson has a ton of weapons, led by the explosive Braylon Edwards and "tha soldiah" Kellen Winslow. Yeah, it's safe to say that Quinn's job as the visor-wearer is safe.

The Breakout
We've been down this path with Donte' Stallworth before. Several times. Still, I'm going to take the plunge again and say that this time Stallworth is going to have his much-awaited breakout season. Why am I stupid enough to say it again in 2008? Well, he just has too much talent to not eventually surpass his career highs (70 catches, 945 yards, and 8 TDs) ... assuming he plays in a capable passing offense. He did each of the last two years and regressed. I don't have an explanation as to why it's going to be different, except that I have a gut feeling the defenses will key enough on Winslow and Edwards, and that he'll shake free enough times for the huge breakout campaign. I'll predict a career high in catches and yards.

The Bust
It's almost too predictable to say, but Jamal Lewis has a ton of tread on those 29-year-old tires (he will be 29 when the season starts), and last season was way too good to be true after all his body has been through. Is he a top-10 running back? Absolutely not. Don't even think about it. You could get screwed even more by his immense risk for injury this season because there isn't really a viable handcuff option. Lewis gets hurt, and you just lose a second-round pick. He was the sixth highest scoring running back last year. I'm not expecting a finish in the top 15 this year.

The Depth Chart
QB1 - Derek Anderson
QB2 - Brady Quinn
RB1 - Jamal Lewis
RB2 - Jason Wright
RB3 - Jerome Harrison
WR1 - Braylon Edwards
WR2 - Donte' Stallworth
WR3 - Joe Jurevicius
WR4 - Josh Cribbs
WR5 - Paul Hubbard
TE1 - Kellen Winslow
TE2 - Martin Rucker
K - Phil Dawson

The D/ST
The mediocre unit that only had 28 sacks a year ago and had trouble against the run went out and got two solid defensive lineman in Shaun Rogers and Corey Williams. They also added Terry Cousin to the secondary, presumably as a nickel back. Still, they didn't do enough to make them even close to a viable fantasy starter. They checked in at 23rd last year, and with a little improvement this season should end up around 20th. The one thing holding them close to backup status is the electrifying return man, Josh Cribbs.

The Skinny
Quality selection here. You've got an elite wideout in Edwards, and a starter to go with him in Stallworth. Winslow himself is an elite tight end, arguably the best (though I'll have him third). You have to love Dawson because the Brownies have a capability to be in a lot of shootouts and rack up the kicking points.

With Anderson, many people are expecting a step backwards after the magic of '07. That's fine, but don't expect a bust. There are just too many weapons and last year wasn't any more a fluke than Tony Romo's season. If Jamal Lewis and the offensive line can keep any pressure off Anderson, he'll easily be an upper-echelon fantasy QB again.