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Cleveland Browns tight end Jordan Cameron entered fantasy draft season last year as a popular sleeper, and he came through with 80 receptions for 917 yards and seven touchdowns in a breakout season. Cameron was tied for fifth among tight ends in fantasy scoring (127 points; ESPN leagues), and he was also very consistent with only game (one catch for four yards against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 9) where he didn’t have at least three receptions.
Positives
Cameron was one of the most heavily targeted tight ends in 2013 (118; 7.4 per game), and with wide receiver Josh Gordon facing a year-long suspension that number could rise fairly dramatically this year. Cameron was also targeted 19 times in the red zone last year (tied for second most among tight ends), and he stands to be an even more prominent target in that area of the field.
In the two games quarterback Brian Hoyer started and finished last season, Cameron had 16 catches for 157 yards and four touchdown. It’s worth noting one of those scores came on a fake field goal, but Hoyer clearly looked Cameron’s way a lot and that rapport is noteworthy if Hoyer wins the starting job.
Negatives
The departure of head coach Rob Chudzinski and offensive coordinator Norv Turner is bad news for Cameron, as both have a history of featuring tight ends prominently in their offenses. New offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan does not have that kind of history with the position and the Browns are likely to run the ball more, so fantasy owners should keep the potential for a drop in production in mind.
Cameron missed a game late last season with a concussion, and while there does not seem to be any lingering concerns the injury should be noted. Gordon’s likely absence should bring increased attention from opposing defenses, so Cameron faces the challenge of potential double-teams on a regular basis this year.
Final Verdict
Cameron is making the transition from sleeper to a top-tier fantasy option this year, and as such will not be the steal he was in 2013 drafts and auctions. But I don’t expect any notable regression this year, regardless of any difference in offensive scheme, and there’s a chance Cameron tops all of his numbers from last season as the No. 1 option in Cleveland’s pass offense.
Bye Week: Week 4
Projected Round: Eighth Round
Auction Value: $2 (ESPN.com)
Brad Berreman is a Senior Writer at Rant Sports.com. Follow him on Twitter or connect on Google +.
