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The Cleveland Browns addressed their wide receiver room by acquiring star wideout Amari Cooper from the Cowboys in an off-season trade. That being said, they entered 2022 with a hole at the No. 2 receiver spot. Donovan Peoples-Jones turned in an impressive Week 1 performance that may be a sign that he will be the one to fill the No. 2 role in Cleveland.
Peoples-Jones led Cleveland in all receiving categories in a Week 1 win over the Panthers, outproducing the more-heralded Cooper, who caught just three balls for 17 yards.
Is Week 1 a sign of things to come for Peoples-Jones? Should you pick him up in fantasy leagues after his Week 1 performance?
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What Did Donovan Peoples-Jones Do In Week 1?
Peoples-Jones led Cleveland in all receiving categories in Week 1, catching six of his 11 targets for 60 yards on an afternoon where the Browns only threw for 147 yards. His 60 receiving yards more than doubled the next-closest player, Kareem Hunt, who went for 24 yards in the passing game. Peoples-Jones also showed good hands, making several contested catches against the Panthers.
Donovan Peoples-Jones had three contested catches in Week 1 against the Panthers
Tied for ? in the NFL!
He was 5th in the league with 16 CTCs last season. pic.twitter.com/c0lkWoS29p
— PFF CLE Browns (@PFF_Browns) September 13, 2022
The third-year wideout out of Michigan was utilized in mostly short and intermediate routes in the contest, with his longest target traveling 18 yards downfield. Peoples-Jones' longest reception went for 15 yards
Peoples-Jones is not a stranger to big games in the NFL, posting receiving games of 70, 101, 86, 90, and 76 yards at various times during the 2021 season, so fantasy managers know he has the talent and ability to put up meaningful stats.
Were There Any Worrying Signs With Donovan Peoples-Jones In Week 1?
While Peoples-Jones turned in an excellent fantasy performance, there are a few concerns moving forward.
The Browns executed a very run-heavy offensive game plan in Week 1, finishing 26th in the league with a 47.3% passing-play rate. The team has been among the league leaders in rushing plays since Kevin Stefanski took over as coach ahead of the 2020 season and that is unlikely to change with Jacoby Brissett simply being asked to manage the game and limit mistakes.
Cleveland's receivers could struggle to post consistently productive fantasy games over the first 11 games of the season until Deshaun Watson is reinstated from his suspension. This could make Peoples-Jones a tough player to trust in fantasy.
Should I Pick Donovan Peoples-Jones Off The Waiver Wire In Fantasy Football?
Peoples-Jones is an explosive player, which he has shown on the field. He is likely to pop for at least a few big games in 2022, although it may be frustrating trying to predict when those will come.
Peoples-Jones can be left on waivers in 10-team leagues but he is worth a spot in leagues of 12 teams or more as a depth piece if you are in need of help at the receiver position. That being said, he is not a priority add at this point of the fantasy season.
Another strategy would be to wait a few more weeks and then add Peoples-Jones when Watson's suspension is closer to ending as the Browns are likely to throw more frequently once they have their star quarterback under center. At that point, Peoples-Jones could return WR3 value in fantasy if he and Watson show some chemistry on the field.
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