If you look at the stat sheet from the team, you realize that something is seriously wrong. Namely, wide receivers were unusually unproductive in 2017. The table lists the yardage totals last year as well as the position that generated those yards. The names are withheld for the moment in order to observe the positional trends.
First of all, let's consider what I call the Greg Little Line, of at least 700 reception yards. Greg Little was a receiver who did not last long with the Browns and was infamous for getting unsportsmanlike conduct penalties at bad times plus celebrating too much over modest accomplishments. Despite his poor reputation --and by the way, let me add that Little was a great blocker and did well on special teams as well--Little got 709 yards his rookie season. So just as baseball has the Mendoza line (.200 batting average), I think the Browns should have a Greg Little Line as the minimal acceptable yards for a starting wide receiver in the NFL.
The Browns had no one over the Little Line in 2017. Weirdly, wide receivers are not anywhere near the top of the list. Instead, the second string running back and part time slot receiver led the team by far, followed by two tight ends. Among WR, the best performance was from the WR3 role (Ricardo Louis), who is now injured and out for the year. The nominal WR1 and WR2 (Josh Gordon and Corey Coleman)were down near the bottom of the list partly because of suspensions and injuries respectively. Still both players failed to catch as many as 50% of the balls intended for them which ranked them both near the bottom of the league.
Partly that might be explained by the fact that the Browns quarterback was a 21 year old rookie who had left college early. That has never been a formula for success. Nevertheless, he could complete passes to running backs and tight ends and even to the WR4 (Rashard Higgins), but not to his supposed top receivers.
Second string running back (Duke) was by far the best receiver, operating out of the slot at times. The two tight ends (Njoku and DeValve) also performed much better statistically than the wide receivers, with more yards, and bringing in completions a higher percentage of the time..
The point is, if you just look at the numbers, from a positional standpoint the Browns had very little production from the wide receivers in 2017. In fact, it is downright amazing how little they contributed.
It's possible that the same group of underperformers at WR might improve in 2018 with a new quarterback, a new Offensive Coordinator and improved talent around them (especially Pro Bowl slot receiver Jarvis Landry). Maybe this is the year that Corey Coleman stays healthy and focused, and Josh Gordon plays like his old self again. Both guys are capable of playing at the Little Line at least, even thought neither guy has done much the past few years. These guys are at the top of the depth chart not because they have earned it, but because there is no one else at present.
It's also possible that some of the young additions like Antonio Callaway and Damion Ratley might be given the opportunity to start. Callaway in particular has a very high talent level. The main concerns about him are off the field, which makes him a bit like Josh Gordon. If he's not suspended, play him! Ratley is a raw talent but also has game breaking ability. He may need a while to learn, but there is no reason why he can't push some of the underachievers away and earn some game snaps.
