Cleveland Browns — 2026 Fantasy Outlook

The case for drafting him

The Cleveland Browns DST has posted a sack total of 47.3 per season on average across the last three years, peaking at 53 sacks in 2025. The pass rush is real and consistent. Turnovers have been a mixed story: 2023 was a standout year with 18 interceptions and 10 fumble recoveries, while 2024 dropped sharply to 4 interceptions and 8 fumble recoveries before 2025 rebounded to 11 interceptions and 7 fumble recoveries. The three-year average settles at 11 interceptions and 8.3 fumble recoveries per season. Forced fumbles have been steady, averaging 13.7 per year with a 2025 high of 15. For a drafter who wants a DST with a credible pass-rush floor and a demonstrated ability to create turnovers, Cleveland has the track record to support that case.

What the model projects

The projection for the Cleveland Browns DST is 118.9 half-PPR fantasy points. The draft value sits at -26.9, meaning the projection falls below replacement level at the DST position in a 12-team half-PPR format. That places Cleveland at DST13 and #142 overall, inside Tier 9. The bye week is Week 11.

The range of outcomes

The three-year history shows meaningful season-to-season variance, particularly in the turnover categories that drive DST scoring swings. Points allowed ranged from 362 in 2023 to 435 in 2024 before settling at 379 in 2025. The 2024 season saw only 4 interceptions compared to 18 in 2023, a swing that illustrates how volatile the scoring floor and ceiling can be for this unit. Touchdown returns have been modest, averaging 2 per season over the three-year window. The sack production is the most stable pillar, never dipping below 41 in any of the three seasons. Drafters should expect the upside to hinge heavily on whether the interception total trends closer to the 2023 or 2025 level rather than the 2024 trough.

How to draft him

Cleveland is not being drafted consistently enough across platforms to carry a market ADP, so there is no draft-slot anchor to work from. At DST13 and #142 overall with a negative draft value, this is a late-round or streaming-tier option. The projection of 118.9 points reflects a unit that sits below replacement level in a standard 12-team half-PPR league. If you are targeting Cleveland, the sack floor and the potential for a turnover rebound are the reasons to do it, and the depth of the DST pool means you can likely wait until the final rounds to find out whether he is still available.

The model projects 118.9 points, a draft value of -26.9, and a position rank of DST13. That puts Cleveland below replacement level in a 12-team half-PPR format, which means the projection does not support spending an early pick on this unit. The sack average of 47.3 per season over three years provides a floor, but the overall value sits in streaming territory.

The game-log splits across three seasons show meaningful variance. In 2023, Cleveland held opponents to 6 points or fewer twice and allowed 35 or more twice. In 2025, they allowed 35 or more once and held opponents to 6 or fewer twice. The interception totals swung from 18 in 2023 to 4 in 2024 and back to 11 in 2025, which is the clearest indicator of how much the scoring ceiling can move year to year.

Sacks are the most consistent category: 48 in 2023, 41 in 2024, and 53 in 2025, for a three-year average of 47.3. Forced fumbles have also been steady at a 13.7 average. Interceptions are the high-variance category that most influences whether a given season trends toward the upside or the floor.

There is no market ADP available, meaning Cleveland is not being drafted consistently enough across platforms to establish one. Given the DST13 position rank and a draft value below replacement level, this unit fits as a late-round selection or a streaming option picked up after the draft rather than a planned roster investment.