The 2020 Cleveland Browns return for the new season after falling prey to the hype surrounding them in 2019. The under the radar approach in Cleveland is the perfect opportunity for the Browns to redeem themselves after falling flat just a season ago.
However, even when they have a better 2020 season than they did 2019, some from last season will either take a step back from their success or will continue to step back while others rise.
Some names on this list come as no surprise, while others will make you demand reasoning. Some will take a step back because of competition at a position but others will because of a larger influx of talent. Just because a player is listed as taking a step back does not spell disaster for their season. Sometimes, a step back is good. A blessing in disguise.
2020 Cleveland Browns Players Who Will Take a Step Back
Nick Chubb
Nick Chubb will continue to impress the Browns and fantasy owners alike as he’ll still rack up yardage and scores. However, with Kareem Hunt available in all 16 games for 2020, he’ll take away carries and opportunities on second or third and long.
Chubb will still see more carries and playing time. But Hunt’s ability to come out of the backfield and catch the ball makes him a more attractive target than Chubb. In just eight games, Hunt had 37 receptions, and he figures to continue where he left off come 2020.
Chubb’s still getting his 1,000 yards and his floor is 4.5 yards per carry. But he won’t post the same rushing numbers or even reception numbers in 2020 because of Hunt’s presence. It’s a step back, but it’s a good step back. And it means fresher legs if the 2020 Cleveland Browns make the playoffs.
Jarvis Landry
With a healthy Odell Beckham and Rashard Higgins, don not expect Jarvis Landry to come up big as often as he did in 2019 when he earned yet another Pro Bowl berth. Instead, his reception total and yardage will drop as Beckham and Higgins figure to enter the season at 100 percent.
Landry is a consistent receiver, and he will be consistent again in 2020. But he will not post the same numbers. Another reason is because Austin Hooper and Harrison Bryant arrive at tight end. Tight end was a weak link in 2019 with David Njoku going out with an injury, but like receiver, the position reloaded.
Do not look for any of the receivers or tight ends to post eye-popping numbers in this offense. This especially rings true if everyone in Cleveland remains healthy. While Landry will take a step back, it’s another good step back as it means the Browns will spread the ball around.
Sheldon Richardson
Sheldon Richardson quietly put together a good campaign in 2019 but he is more of a pass rusher than a run stuffer. The Browns went out and drafted Jordan Elliott and signed Andrew Billings. Two run stuffers. Richardson will not see the field as often with the recent arrivals, which helps keep the defensive rotation fresh.
In 2019, Richardson posted career highs in solo tackles with 43 along with a career-high in passes deflected with four. He was more successful on the interior line than given credit for. In 2020, he will drop into a rotational role with Billings or Elliott receiving the call on run-first downs.
Richardson is another example of a positive step back. Instead of taking a step back because of scheme or age, it is because the Browns reinforced his position.
Wyatt Teller
Wyatt Teller stepped in at right guard and became the starter for the rest of the season, but this season he faces competition from Drew Forbes. Forbes is returning from an injury-plagued rookie campaign that derailed his 2019 season.
While Teller grasped the position in 2019, he did not play well, scoring just a 56.7 overall grade per Pro Football Focus. This paves the way for a contender for Teller’s starting position, and Forbes will get the first crack at it if he is healthy.
In 2019, SI.com labeled Forbes as Prospect X, which goes to the NFL Draft’s mystery sleeper. Forbes also impressed coaches in the preseason prior to his injury, keeping his eyes on the second level at all times without getting too ingrained in a defensive lineman. Keeping his eyes moving, he picked up blitzes during the preseason, contributing to both pass and run blocking.
Teller was not this effective, and it showed. If Forbes has a good camp and Teller cannot improve, he will take a backseat to the second-year guard.
David Njoku
Yes, David Njoku took a massive step back in 2019 but do not look for him to rebound in 2020 unless he has an excellent camp. Sure, the Browns picked up the fifth-year option on Njoku. But they drafted Harrison Bryant and signed Austin Hooper, meaning the team has all but lost faith in the tight end.
While Njoku may start training camp as the number two tight end, he is bound to get demoted to the number three role when the John Mackey Award-winning Bryant shows up. While the Browns claim they didn’t intend to draft a tight end, if they had faith in Njoku to rebound they never would have drafted one. Even if Bryant draws comparisons to George Kittle.
Whether the Browns accepted his fifth-year option or not, when Bryant shows up big in a game, Njoku’s time in Cleveland is finished. While coach Kevin Stefanski loves three-tight end sets, the Browns also have six on the roster, including Stephen Carlson who made a couple big plays despite seeing limited production in 2019.
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