Saturday, September 25, 2021

Cleveland Browns Week 3 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2021 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Here is where the Cleveland Browns rank in terms of average, best and worst:

  • Average ranking: 8.0 (8th)
  • Best ranking: 4th (USA Today)
  • Worst ranking: 10th (Multiple)

Below you will find a Week 3 roundup for the Browns in our consensus 2021 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 8

Fantasy surprise: RB Demetric Felton

On the first offensive touch of his NFL career, the rookie spun out of two tackles then broke another on the way to a 33-yard touchdown on Sunday. The sixth-round pick out of UCLA wound up finishing with a team-high 51 receiving yards on top of returning punts and kicks in Cleveland's 31-21 win over Houston. Coach Kevin Stefanski noted afterward that Felton's role as a multipurpose playmaker in the offense would continue to grow. But with wide receiver Jarvis Landry dealing with a knee injury and fellow wideout Odell Beckham Jr. still yet to play, Felton's role could grow sooner rather than later. -- Jake Trotter

NFL.com -- Rank: 8

The Browns got a solid performance from Baker Mayfield and the now-customary game-icing touchdown run from Nick Chubb to beat a Texans team that continues to look friskier than expected. Houston QB Tyrod Taylor was dicing up his former team before suffering a hamstring injury that ended his day after two quarters (and which is likely to cost him considerable time, per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero). The Browns were pretty much in control from that point onward, as Texans rookie Davis Webb delivered an uneven performance in relief. One subplot to watch: Jarvis Landry is week-to-week after suffering an MCL injury on the second snap of the game. With Odell Beckham's lingering absence threatening to turn into an Unsolved Mysteries episode, Cleveland is suddenly thin at wide receiver. Mayfield's lack of downfield passes underlined this issue against Houston.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 10

They found a way against the Texans, but it was clunky at times. They were in a close game until Tyrod Taylor went out. Losing Jarvis Landry for a bit will hurt the offense.

USA Today -- Rank: 4

Very premature to anoint RB Nick Chubb a future Hall of Famer -- but he's doing gold jacket-type things. Chubb is the first Cleveland player since Leroy Kelly (Hall of Fame Class of 1994) to rush for a TD in eight consecutive games and first since Jim Brown (Hall of Fame Class of 1971) to run for at least 50 yards 35 times in his first four seasons.

The Athletic -- Rank: 10

Baker Mayfield's Next Gen passing chart is full of green dots from Week 2. He was 19-of-21 passing in Cleveland's win over Houston, an efficient albeit not incredibly dynamic afternoon. The question with Mayfield is contract-related at this point. The Browns feel good about him, but two interceptions and only one touchdown pass two weeks into the season isn't going to add dollar signs to a future extension. Having nine incomplete passes, though, is pretty impressive.

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