There is a whole lot of hype surrounding the Cleveland Browns heading into 2019, and for good reason (who ever thought we would be saying that?).
The Browns' offense is headlined by second-year quarterback Baker Mayfield, last year's No. 1 pick who had a phenomenal rookie season. Not only that, but Cleveland had a monster offseason, adding wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and running back Kareem Hunt, not to mention some big defensive pickups.
But, obviously, Beckham is the key acquisition, as he will join a receiving corps that already featured Jarvis Landry.
Landry had his first year with the Browns in 2018 after coming over in a trade with the Miami Dolphins, hauling in 81 receptions for 976 yards and four touchdowns en route to a Pro Bowl appearance.
So, what is the Fantasy Football outlook like for Landry heading into his second season in Cleveland?
Well, one thing we need to keep in mind is that Landry is no longer the No. 1 receiver. That title clearly belongs to Beckham, who is a top five wide out in the league—at worst—when he is healthy.
Based on that, Landry's targets may dip from the 149 he received in 2018. For comparison's sake, Sterling Shepard, who was the No. 2 receiver behind Beckham with the New York Giants, was targeted 107 times this past season, and that was with Beckham only playing in 12 games.
Now, obviously, it's not a one-to-one comparison, as Landry is a better receiver than Shepard, and the Browns' offense is different than that of the Giants, but it does give you an idea that Beckham will be the dominant wide out in 2019.
Let's keep this in mind, too: the Browns have quite a few options out of the backfield, as Nick Chubb, Hunt, and Duke Johnson (if Cleveland keeps him) are all capable receivers. Plus, David Njoku is one of the most talented tight ends in football, so Mayfield will have a plethora of options in the passing game.
Basically, as talented as Landry is, he may not be the greatest Fantasy Football option simply due to the fact that the Browns have so many other weapons.
Of course, if you are looking for a No. 2 receiver, then Landry should fit the bill. It just probably wouldn't be wise to draft him too early.
Remember, even as the top target for Mayfield in 2018, the 26-year-old still did not reach 1,000 yards, and in five NFL seasons, he has only achieved that mark twice, so it's not like he's Antonio Brown out there.
Landry has never caught below 80 passes in a season before, but this may very well be the first year it happens, as you have to expect Beckham to snare in the neighborhood of 90 balls, not to mention all of the catches between Njoku and the running backs.
Expect something like 70 receptions for 800 yards and under 10 touchdowns for Landry in 2019. Obviously, that is still a fine season, and he will be a major cog in Cleveland's offense, but there are a lot of receivers who will be safer picks than him going into the year.
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