Denzel Boston

The Browns enter 2026 with an unresolved QB room — Tony Grossi reports Deshaun Watson (coming off a 2024 Achilles tear, post-suspension) has the inside edge over rookie Shedeur Sanders this spring. Neither is a proven plus-passer, capping Boston's efficiency on targets early in his career.

Boston is at best the third option in the pass game behind Jerry Jeudy and first-rounder KC Concepcion, with breakout TE Harold Fannin Jr. and Isaiah Bond also competing for looks. Most camp projections slot him WR3 (Jeudy-Concepcion-Boston-Bond), a crowded room for a rookie.

KC Concepcion (R1 P24, dynasty value) will absorb the high-value targets in Cleveland's offense — explosive route runner profiling as the clear WR1. Boston must carve a complementary niche, limiting his weekly target floor in year one.

Boston ran a 4.5 40 (did not run at the Combine) and profiles as a long-strider — not a separator. At the NFL level this restricts his route tree to contested catches and red-zone fades, which caps his per-route value and weekly upside.

His profile is a contested-catch, red-zone X receiver, so early fantasy production likely leans heavily on touchdowns rather than volume — a boom/bust weekly outcome until target share grows.

Harold Fannin (TE, value) is already CLE's premier receiving tight end and figures to eat heavily in the red zone — exactly the zone where Boston's profile is most valuable, creating direct competition for TDs.

Analysts see a legitimate path for Boston to leapfrog the aging Jerry Jeudy and lock in the perimeter WR2 role opposite Concepcion as early as this season — a clear, near-term path to starter volume rare for a Day 2 rookie.

Shedeur Sanders is already Pro Bowl-caliber and a young franchise QB, providing a capable arm to grow with over the next 5+ years. A rising Sanders tide lifts all CLE pass catchers and gives Boston a sustained target floor.

Boston scored 14 of his 20 college TDs in the red zone — teams noticed, with the Browns' own AGM noting 'a lot of teams had him with first-round grade.' That TD-heavy profile translates to weekly fantasy upside even on modest target volume.

Jerry Jeudy, Cedric Tillman, and Isaiah Bond are not long-term cornerstones. As that layer clears over the next 1-2 seasons, Boston should naturally ascend into a WR2 role with significantly higher target volume.

HC Todd Monken runs a creative, multi-WR passing scheme (former Ravens OC, Georgia OC) that historically finds productive roles for big contested-catch receivers — a good match for Boston's contested-catch and red-zone skill set.

Round 2, pick 39 draft capital plus an elite college finish (125 catches, 1,715 yards, 20 TDs over his final two Washington seasons) earned him a first-round dynasty rookie ADP and OROY-candidate buzz.