Cutler is putting up nice fantasy numbers (307 yards and 2 TDs) last week but his play on the field has been rough of late. But he's in no danger to be benched so all his owners care about his getting production. And he'll deliver plenty of it against a Cleveland pass defense that surrenders 200.1 yards a game. There's no reason to bench Cutler this week as he'll do well in the first Thursday night game of the season.
With Michael Pittman and Andre Hall out for the year and Selvin Young hobbling, Torain is in line to make his first NFL start this week. He played briefly last week, getting only three carries in the loss to the Dolphins, but Mike Shanahan has compared him to Terrell Davis and believes his power and running style are a perfect fit for the Broncos' system. There's some risk here because you never know how Shanahan will divide up the carries, but the Browns give up 148 rushing yards a game so Torain has plenty of upside if you're willing to roll the dice.
Young could be back in the mix for carries if his injured groin isn't a problem. He could crash the Torain Train party and even start. I wouldn't put that past Shanahan. But right now, the smart money is on Torain starting and Young being the change-of-pace RB. That gives him extremely mild RB3 value in larger leagues.
Who? That's what plenty of fantasy owners were asking last week when Hillis caught seven passes for 116 yards and a TD. The fullback could again be a viable option in the passing game this week but don't expect a repeat of last week's production.
Marshall has been extremely quiet of late as defenses have worked hard to remove him from the Denver offense. He caught only two passes last week but the good news this week is the Browns lack the secondary talent to stop him. He's always a threat to have a big game and this looks like the ideal setting for him to deliver huge for his owners.
Royal has taken full advantage of the extra coverage Marshall is commanding. He's caught 16 passes and a TD in his past two games and he'll feast on this suspect Cleveland secondary. He's become a rock-solid WR2 in all formats and is a quality start again this week.
Stokley returned from his concussion last week and caught two passes for 16 yards against the Dolphins. He's only worth starting if Marshall or Royal were out so keep him benched this week.
Scheffler has missed the last three games with a groin injury but the Broncos are hoping he can return this week. His big-play skills have been missed in the passing game but despite the favorable matchup he's a very risky start in his first game back from an injury. It's best to keep him benched this week and make sure he's healthy and then return him to your starting lineup going forward.
Prater remains one of the premier kickers in fantasy this year. He's made 14 of 16 FG attempts and this game should provide him with plenty of chances to add to his point total. He's a strong starting option again this week.
The Broncos have one of the worst defenses in the league. They rank 29th in total defense and are giving up 27.6 points per game. They will get an untested Brady Quinn making his first NFL start but that isn't enough to give them viable fantasy value. They can't stop the run. They can't stop the pass. They shouldn't be anywhere near your starting lineup this week.
The Brady Quinn Era officially begins this week as the former Notre Dame star takes over for the ineffective Derek Anderson. It's anybody's guess how Quinn will look but he has the advantage of facing a putrid Denver pass defense that gives up 243.3 yards a game. So this isn't a matchup to be afraid of by any means. If you're scrambling at QB or just looking to roll the dice, Quinn could certainly deliver.
With the unproven Quinn making his first start, look for Lewis to get plenty of work Thursday Night. The Broncos could give up 144.6 rushing yards a game so this is a great week for the Browns to lean heavily on the rugged veteran. He's a strong RB2 this week with RB1 upside.
Edwards hasn't lived up to his billing as an elite fantasy WR but he has a sweet matchup this week. The Broncos' secondary is in shambles and nobody there has the talent to match up with him. Whether Quinn can take advantage is the question but Edwards should get 3-4 opportunities to make big plays all over the field, raising his fantasy potential significantly. He's been hard to trust this season but he should be locked into your starting lineup this week.
Stallworth didn't play last week with a quad injury but the Browns are hoping he'll be ready Thursday night. Despite the sweet matchup, he's a poor fantasy option, however, since he's done next-to-nothing all season. Keep him benched.
Winslow returned from his one-game team suspension and had a productive outing against the Ravens last week, catching five passes for 64 yards. Young QBs tend to rely on shorter passes initially so look for Quinn to lean heavily on Winslow this week. The fact the Broncos have nobody who can cover him gives him extremely high fantasy potential. He's a great player who will play great this week.
Dawson is a solid kicker who has made 14 of 16 FG attempts this season. This game could turn into a shootout given how poor both of the defenses are, so Dawson has some quality upside. If you need to gamble with a kicker, Dawson is worth a roll of the dice this week.
The Browns have little going for them defensively. They're awful against the run and are sluggish against the pass. Cutler has been struggling of late but he'll get well this week. Look elsewhere for defensive help this week.
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