The Cleveland Browns are coming off of a bye with a number of fantasy football starter options and with Ben Tate coming back, he could start over Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell, but all three are solid start options for Brian Hoyer along with Jordan Cameron, as those names have the chance to step up for the Browns and for fantasy owners moving forward.
According to ESPN.com, Tate is set to return after the Browns had a bye week and he will be in the lineup when the team takes on the Titans. The Browns have a soft schedule coming up against the running game and that means Tate, Isaiah Crowell and Terrance West all could be options for fantasy owners. Tate is going to be back in the lineup, but he may not be ready for a full slate of carries, as ESPN Cleveland's Tony Grossi writes that he could be in line for about 15 touches in the game.
For the next couple weeks that makes Crowell and West solid options for owners in deeper leagues and they should not look to drop those names even with Tate coming back. Crowell showed he has a nose for the endzone and if Tate goes down again, both West and Crowell will get more touches. Tate was injured in the first game of the season and missed out on the next two weeks leading into the bye. Tate was signed in the offseason to be the starter and he should take that role over again once he is back in the lineup.
Tate has been injury prone in the past and while he is coming back, he easily could go down again and that makes West and Crowell worth hanging onto. Tate had his best season in 2011 with 942 yards and now he has the chance to get back onto the field as the starter after backing up Arian Foster for a few years. West has been very solid with 47 carries for 204 yards and two touchdowns and he comes in after being crazy productive in college with 2500 yards and 40 touchdowns. West has been averaging over four yards per carry and that is one reason why he should be able to keep getting on the field even with Tate back.
Crowell comes in with three touchdowns on the season and he has 141 years and he is more likely to get some touches over West as the backup to Tate. Crowell has averaged over five yards per carry and has been strong in the red zone and that should keep him on the field. The Browns are 1-2 and while they are coming out of the bye after a loss, they have a decent schedule with Tennessee, Jacksonville and Oakland in three of the next four games. The team also has the Steelers but that will be at home after the opening road loss in Week 1.
Tate is going to get the most carries of the three players, but owners should caution dropping West and Crowell just yet unless they have to. Tate is a strong option moving forward, but he could get injured again and the Browns now know they have players that can step up.
