The Cleveland Browns had a surprising 2020 campaign. They made the playoffs, and they won a game! AND that game they won came against their rivals, the Pittsburgh Steelers. They did this without star wide receiver Odell Beckham, Jr in tow. Instead, they leaned on their run game, Jarvis Landry, and a bevy of tight ends. With Beckham returning from injury this season, the Cleveland Browns didn’t really need to do much to address fantasy football-relevant positions in the 2021 NFL Draft. They took a third-round wide receiver and a Swiss Army Knife to the existing weaponry in Cleveland Browns’ quarterback Baker Mayfield’s arms locker.
What can we expect from Anthony Schwartz and Demetric Felton in their rookie campaigns for the Cleveland Browns, and what does that mean for 2021 fantasy football leagues?
FULL CLEVELAND BROWNS DRAFT RESULTS
| Rd | Pick | Player | Pos. | College |
| 1 | 26 | Greg Newsome II | CB | Northwestern |
| 2 | 52 | Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah | LB | Notre Dame |
| 3 | 91 | Anthony Schwartz | WR | Auburn |
| 4 | 110 | James Hudson | OT | Cincinnati |
| 4 | 132 | Tommy Togiai | DT | Ohio State |
| 5 | 153 | Tony Fields II | LB | West Virginia |
| 5 | 169 | Richard LeCounte | S | Georgia |
| 6 | 211 | Demetric Felton | WR | UCLA |
Round 3, Pick 91: Anthony Schwartz, Wide Receiver, Auburn (6’0” 197 pounds)
Depth Chart:
WR1: Odell Beckham, Jr.
WR2: Jarvis Landry
WR3: Rashard Higgins
WR4: Donovan Peoples-Jones
WR5: Anthony Schwartz
TALENT
I will be honest with you all, I don’t watch the NCAA and I only watch about 25 rookie wide receivers before the draft, to get a taste of the position. Anthony Schwartz was not one of those 25. When the Browns took him, I figured he had to be a deep threat, since that’s an aspect the Browns passing game currently lacks. Lo and behold, I looked into him and watch some tape, and I was right. He ran a 4.27 40-yard dash at his Pro Day, and that’s what he does best. The guy is extremely raw, but can fly past defenders, or get the ball behind the line of scrimmage and go to work. He’s talented, but it’s unharnessed right now, with Auburn throwing him on nine routes, bubble screens, and sweeps most of the time.
2021 OPPORTUNITY
The Browns need to give Schwartz some seasoning before you can rely on him in your fantasy football leagues. They might have a full intent to use him, and he fits within the 100-pick threshold for first-year fantasy football success. Unfortunately, the guy will be… fifth fiddle at best in this offense, at any given time. Because of that, I doubt he does more for the Browns than stretch the field his rookie year.
2021 FANTASY FOOTBALL OUTLOOK
I doubt he gets 40 touches this year; I will pass on him in any and all redraft leagues.
TALENT
2021 OPPORTUNITY
2021 OUTLOOK
Round 6, Pick 211: Demetric Felton, Offensive Weapon, UCLA (5’9” 189 pounds)
Depth Chart:
OW: Demetric Felton
TALENT
I stubbornly list Felton as an offensive weapon instead of a wide receiver or a running back because UCLA, listed him as a wide receiver while he is clearly a running back. UCLA lined him up all over the place to get the ball in his hands as effectively as possible. Felton is missing running back instincts but has enough spin moves, hop steps, and second efforts to keep churning forward. I don’t think he has much of a future in the NFL as a wide receiver, but you can split him out wide like Austin Ekeler, Antonio Gibson, or Nyheim Hines to be an air back in the NFL. Felton is fast and shifty, and hard to bring down. He’s a fun player to watch, and I hope he carves out a long and exciting NFL career. Unfortunately, I don’t expect much from him during his rookie year.
2021 OPPORTUNITY
Felton likely doesn’t see the field much behind the bevy of offensive weapons that the Cleveland Browns and Baker Mayfield have at their disposal. The best-case scenario is an offensive meltdown of injuries in front of Felton and he gets some spot play here and there. But, there’s nothing in the draft capital and depth chart that indicates that he should get a lot of fantasy football-relevant play if everything goes according to plan.
2021 FANTASY FOOTBALL OUTLOOK
I don’t see a reason to draft him in most fantasy football leagues, given his depth chart issues. However, he should flash as a preseason DFS (yes this exists) darling. Also, should the Cleveland Browns actually utilize him, he could have some deep league appeal. Unfortunately, this is all pie in the sky hopes on my part.
TALENT
2021 OPPORTUNITY
2021 OUTLOOK
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