Browns’ New OC Ken Dorsey is Better for Deshaun Watson AND Jameis Winston

The Cleveland Browns have added some new pieces to their offensive department. Offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt was fired after the loss to the Houston Texans in the playoffs. The Browns have now hired ex-Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey.

Dorsey was in Carolina when Cam Newton won Offensive Player of the Year. Dorsey is also credited with the resurgence of Bills’ quarterback Josh Allen. So, now that he is in Cleveland, is he there to make Deshaun Watson worthy of his $230 million contract, or will newly acquired free agent Jameis Winston be the object of Dorsey’s redemption tour?

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Ken Dorsey

Dorsey had been with the Buffalo Bills for five seasons before being fired after 10 games last season. He began his stint in Buffalo as the quarterback coach in 2019. In 2021, Dorsey was promoted to passing game coordinator while keeping his quarterback coach title, and in 2022, he was promoted to offensive coordinator.

In last season’s 10 games with the Bills, Dorsey’s offense was second in points per game, second in third-down conversions, and third in red zone efficiency. Quarterback Allen was also responsible for 11 interceptions, four fumbles, and three fumbles lost in those 10 games.

So, naturally, Dorsey was fired.

Ken Dorsey’s Offensive Scheme

There remain questions about how the offense will be run. Head coach Kevin Stefanski has been calling plays since 2019. Will Stefanski relinquish play calling to Dorsey, or will it remain that Stefanski is calling the offensive game?

What do we think we know?

What we think we know about Ken Dorsey’s offensive schemes is that he likes to push the ball downfield in the passing game and is fond of the shotgun RPO game. There have been whispers that he doesn’t favor WR1s, but is that fact or fiction?

Deshaun Watson and Jameis Winston

For fantasy football players, nothing seems more exciting than the prospect of Winston chucking the ball downfield. But what is the reality?

In Dorsey’s tenure in Buffalo, Allen was consistently in the top 10 for deep ball passing and top-3 for rushing.

In Dorsey’s season with Cam Newton, Newton was 16^th in passing attempts but fourth in deep ball attempts. Newton was also first in carries (132), first in carries per game (8.2), and first in red zone carries (30). It’s safe to say Dorsey “has a type.”

Deshaun Watson

He is 6’2”, 221 pounds, and has only played six games in each of his last two seasons with the Cleveland Browns. In both seasons, he had 12 passing attempts of 20+ yards. In 2022, he had 36 carries; in 2023, he had 26 carries.

Jameis Winston

6’4”, 231 pounds, played seven games last season and three in 2022. In both seasons, he had five carries. Last season, he had four passing attempts beyond 20+ yards. In 2022, Winston had 13 passing attempts and 20+ yards.

If Watson remains healthy and plays close to his pre-Cleveland form (which was in 2020), he is the Dorsey prototype. In that full season, Watson was fifth in air yards and 12^th in deep ball attempts (61). He also was fifth in carries (90).

But that was four years and two seasons of not playing in the NFL ago.

Ken Dorsey does not design passes for WR1?

So, it’s agreed that Stefon Diggs is WR1 in Buffalo, at least last season. In the 10 games Dorsey was offensive coordinator, Diggs was targeted 97 times on Allen’s 324 passing attempts. Diggs saw passes on 29.93% passing attempts. Consistently, the tight ends saw the second most passes in the 10 weeks (45).

Diggs caught 70 of the 97 passes thrown his way (72.16%), and the tight ends caught 30 of the 45 passes thrown their way (66.66%).

From Weeks 1-10, Diggs was WR5 and averaged 12.9 fantasy points per game. His average was buoyed by a 30-point outing in Week 4. In Weeks 11-18, Diggs was WR53, averaging 5.4 fantasy points per game.

Dorsey’s scheme for the first 10 weeks favored Diggs and Dalton Kincaid.

Is there fantasy value with Dorsey in Cleveland?

Can Watson return to a semblance of what the Browns thought they were paying for? If so, Dorsey in Cleveland is good for Amari Cooper, David Njoku, and those bold enough to draft either.

Me, I’m waiting on the resurgence of Winston with Dorsey.

What Cleveland Browns player are you drafting in your fantasy league?

Is this the season the AFC North is the place where fantasy dreams are made?

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