2012 Fantasy Football Rookie Report: Brandon Weeden, QB, Cleveland Browns

Posted by Andy Miley on 08/21/2012 | 0 Comments

Tags: 2012 fantasy football, dynasty, keeper, Brandon Weeden, quarterbacks, Cleveland Browns, fantasy football, Trent Richardson, Greg Little, Josh Gordon, Jordan Cameron, Justin Blackmon, Matt Schaub

The Cleveland Browns are a team in transition.  The team was sold, which will undoubtedly bring a change in the front office.  It will be hard to tell which direction this offense is going outside their new workhorse running back, Trent Richardson.  Richardson can be built around, if healthy, and the Browns have some talented young pass catchers in second year wide receiver Greg Little, 2012 supplemental pick Josh Gordon, and second year tight end Jordan Cameron.  This offense needs a leader and may have found one in the older rookie signal caller, Brandon Weeden.

Brandon Weeden, QB, Cleveland Browns

Height: 6' 3" Weight: 220 lbs College: Oklahoma State

Scouting Report- I re-watched his 2011 games against Stanford and Texas.  Weeden has a strong enough NFL arm, but I don't believe he has any elite physical skills.  He tends to throw to a particular spot on the field which risks his receivers getting laid out by head hunting defenders.  It's almost as if Weeden has decided where the ball is going pre-snap, which may have worked in college, but this is the NFL.  Also equally concerning, Weeden never gets his arm fully warmed up as he looks like he is throwing a shotput and not a football.

He doesn't read coverages with any consistency and hurries his throws instead of taking a sack.  The footwork is a concern as he has a very wooden/stoic stance and doesn't use his feet to help drive the ball.  Weeden's eyes are almost always down the field, so he misses opportunities with underneath routes that develop.  Justin Blackmon's huge catch radius helped out Weeden immensely as most of the passes he made to other Oklahoma State receivers appeared to be highly contested.

2012 Analysis- He brings stability and age to the Cleveland Browns, but not much fantasy upside to your dynasty squad.  He is a 1st round NFL pick and the named starter so no one will get in his way.  Richardson in the backfield will help out him tremendously, but I don't expect Weeden to ever be more than a bye week starter.  The young receiving talent will help bail him out, but they cannot overcome his statue tendencies.

The rookie quarterback plays in a very good defensive division going against the Bengals, Ravens, and Steelers twice a year.  I envision a very subdued year with 2,800 yards passing, 15-18 touchdowns with about equal the amount of interceptions.  If he can gel with his receivers and Richardson can provide running cover, Weeden may have a few startable fantasy games in year one.

Compares to: a less athletic Matt Schaub (yes I know Matt Schaub isn't terribly athletic)