2020 POTENTIAL BREAKOUT STARS: AFC NORTH PART 2

BY ADAM GREENE

We’ve selected our member of the “slightly” over-hyped Baltimore Ravens and given the appropriate amount of love to the NFL’s No. 1 overall pick in Part 1. Now it’s time to dig a little deeper in Part 2 as we pick a couple of veterans due to make an impact in 2020.

CLEVELAND BROWNS

Cornerback Denzel Ward

(2019: 44 tackles, one for a loss, two interceptions, one fumble recovery)

The Browns are, of course, the Browns and picking a breakout star always comes with some trepidation. This roster is one of the best in the league, loaded on both sides of the ball. If this was the New York Giants or New England Patriots roster, people would be writing their tickets to the Super Bowl. But they’re the Browns and we’ve learned the hard way not to trust them.

Ward was the guy drafted after Baker Mayfield, their second first round pick of 2018. He’s played well in both his seasons with one caveat, he keeps getting hurt. The 5-11, 190 corner played in 13 games his rookie season. He suited up for 12 last year and maybe cost himself a Pro Bowl berth. So, in that case, I’m probably cheating in including him here, but what are you going to do?

If there is a bright side to the lack of field work during the global COVID-19 pandemic it’s the fact that guys like Ward, coming back from injuries, weren’t rushed back out onto the field. More than that, even, he won’t take any meaningless preseason snaps. When he suits up, it’ll be for real and Cleveland has every reason to expect getting a full 16 games (and maybe more) out of their first round investment.

If you need a little more incentive to place your faith in Ward, Pro Football Focus has him solidly in the green with a 69.9 grade in just his second season.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

Wide Receiver James Washington

(2019: 44 catches, 735 yards, three touchdowns)

Picking James Washington to have a breakout season in 2020 almost seams unfair as he most definitely would have last season if starting Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger hadn’t gotten hurt.

In spite of hauling in passes from a guy named Duck and Mason Rudolph, Washington still put up solid numbers in his second year in the league out of Oklahoma State. Pittsburgh finished 8-8, but Washington asserted himself as the team’s solid No. 2 after unquestioned No. 1 JuJu Smith-Schuster.

While Washington did put up good numbers, what’s important to look at is his targets; 80. Which means the plays were dialed up to feature him plenty, but the throws were likely bad from Rudolph and Mr. Quack. Roethlisberger won’t have those issues delivering a catchable ball and if Washington receives similar targets in 2020, expect 60-plus catches and more than 1,000 yards receiving. Probably with about eight or so touchdowns.

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