The Worksheet, a comprehensive fantasy football preview by Rich Hribar, breaks down everything you need to know about the Browns vs. Saints Week 9 matchup.
Find a breakdown of every Week 9 NFL game in our Worksheet Hub.
| Cleveland | Rank | @ | New Orleans | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 | Spread | -2.5 | ||
| 20.5 | Implied Total | 23.0 | ||
| 17.4 | 29 | Points/Gm | 23.1 | 14 |
| 21.6 | 13 | Points All./Gm | 27.7 | 29 |
| 60.5 | 22 | Plays/Gm | 65.6 | 7 |
| 62.5 | 15 | Opp. Plays/Gm | 64.4 | 23 |
| 5.0 | 23 | Off. Yards/Play | 4.8 | 26 |
| 5.2 | 11 | Def. Yards/Play | 5.8 | 28 |
| 41.1% | 21 | Rush% | 37.3% | 29 |
| 58.9% | 12 | Pass% | 62.8% | 4 |
| 43.4% | 16 | Opp. Rush % | 45.0% | 24 |
| 56.6% | 17 | Opp. Pass % | 55.0% | 9 |
- The Browns have a -52 point differential (13-65) in the first quarter this season, last in the league.
- The Saints have a -38 point differential (6-44) in the first quarter, 31st.
- The Saints are the only remaining team that has not scored first in any game this season.
- Cleveland games average 39.0 combined points per game, the 2nd fewest in the league.
- 58.3% of New Orleans' first downs or touchdowns come on early downs, the lowest rate in the league.
- The Browns have converted a league-low 13.7% (7 of 51) of their third-and-longs (needing 7 or more yards).
- Cleveland has a 62.9% success rate defending passing plays (3rd) compared to a 57.6% success rate against rushing plays (28th).
- The Saints have a league-low 55.2% success rate against rushing plays.
Trust = spike production for that player
Browns vs. Saints Fantasy Quarterback Preview
Tyler Shough
Shough comes out of the bye as an uneven fantasy producer.
After opening the year as the QB1 in expected points per game through four weeks, Shough has been the QB24 in expected points since.
We knew his early-season output was being juiced by late-game output, which was always fragile.
After averaging a league-high 49.3 dropbacks per game over his first four games, Shough has averaged 33.0 dropbacks per game since (QB26).
He needs volume as a passer, averaging 6.3 yards per pass attempt (24th) with a 4.8% touchdown rate (15th).
The Saints are unlikely to be in panic mode here, and this is a tougher matchup, leaving Shough as a QB2.
The Browns are much better against the pass than the run.
Teams are aware, throwing the ball 1.2% below expectations against them (20th).
Cleveland's past two opponents have thrown the ball 5.9% and 6% below expectations.
Cleveland is allowing 12.6 passing points per game (10th), a 59.5% completion rate (4th), and 6.6 yards per pass attempt (11th).
They have allowed a 4.2% touchdown rate (17th) if you're looking for production, but they've allowed only two QB1 scoring weeks so far.
The Browns are playing man coverage a league-high 43.4% of defensive snaps.
Shough has been good against man coverage this season if you're looking for added success here and a better floor than we have seen from him lately.
Against man coverage, Shough has completed 68.9% of his passes (3rd) for 7.0 yards per pass attempt (12th) and a 9.8% touchdown rate (10th).
The Saints could also get Kelvin Banks back this week.
Banks has been sidelined with an ankle injury.
His backup, Asim Richards, has allowed a team-high 22 pressures in his absence.
The Browns have a 38.3% pressure rate (9th), so that would be a welcome addition if New Orleans can get Banks back in the lineup.
Shedeur Sanders
Sanders is trending toward a Sunday start, with Deshaun Watson going into concussion protocol Tuesday night.
Sanders made seven starts last season (3-4).
Among 45 quarterbacks with 100-plus dropbacks, Sanders ranked 44th in rating (68.1).
Sanders was at 6.6 Y/A (32nd).
He struggled to avoid the negative plays that plagued him in college.
He had a 4.7% interception rate (43rd) with a 9.8% sack rate (39th).
Pro Football Focus credited Sanders with causing 29.1% of his own pressures, which was the second-highest rate in the league.
For fantasy purposes, Sanders averaged 11.9 points per game in his starts, with an average scoring week of QB22.
He had one start finishing higher than QB18.
That was a different offense, and Cleveland has better playmakers to offer a better outcome here, but Sanders is a fantasy QB2.
The matchup does offer upside, at least.
The Saints rank 22nd in passing points allowed per attempt (0.47), allowing a 66.1% completion rate (23rd), 7.6 Y/A (25th), and a 4.8% touchdown rate (21st).
Browns vs. Saints Fantasy Running Back Preview
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More Week 9 Fantasy Breakdowns From The Worksheet:
| Week 9 NFL Games | Time |
|---|---|
| Jaguars @ Ravens | Thursday Night Football |
| Bengals vs. Falcons | Sunday -- 9:30 a.m. ET |
| Jets @ Chiefs | Sunday -- 1 p.m. ET |
| Cowboys @ Colts | Sunday -- 1 p.m. ET |
| Lions @ Dolphins | Sunday -- 1 p.m. ET |
| Browns @ Saints | Sunday -- 1 p.m. ET |
| Giants @ Eagles | Sunday -- 1 p.m. ET |
| Rams @ Commanders | Sunday -- 1 p.m. ET |
| Broncos @ Panthers | Sunday -- 1 p.m. ET |
| Texans @ Chargers | Sunday -- 4:05 p.m. ET |
| Packers @ Patriots | Sunday -- 4:25 p.m. ET |
| Raiders @ 49ers | Sunday -- 4:25 p.m. ET |
| Cardinals @ Seahawks | Sunday -- 4:25 p.m. ET |
| Buccaneers @ Bears | Sunday Night Football |
| Bills @ Vikings | Monday Night Football |