The Cleveland Browns are ranked No. 18 in ESPN's preseason Football Power Index. Here's everything you need to know about the Browns heading into the 2019 NFL season:
The big question: How will Mayfield and Odell -- and their big personalities -- jell together?
In Baker Mayfield and Odell Beckham Jr., the Browns boast potentially one of the best quarterback-wide receiver combos in the NFL. They collectively have that level of talent. The question is whether their chemistry actually will translate into an elite pass-catching duo. All preseason signs have pointed in that direction. But the pressure of actual games will present the real challenge. -- Jake Trotter
Offseason in a nutshell
Cleveland made the biggest splash of the offseason, trading for Beckham from the New York Giants to pair with its franchise quarterback, Mayfield. The Browns also upgraded their defensive line with DT Sheldon Richardson and DE Olivier Vernon. And they signed troubled RB Kareem Hunt, who could be the team's X factor down the stretch once he serves an eight-game suspension for violating the league's personal conduct policy. -- Trotter
Inside the Browns' schedule
Most important game: The Steelers have dominated the AFC North -- and the Browns -- for decades. The new-look Browns, however, will have a prime-time opportunity to make a statement Nov. 14, when Pittsburgh visits FirstEnergy Stadium for a Thursday night showdown. A victory would not only send a message to the Steelers, it could give Cleveland the inside track in the division.
Toughest stretch: The Browns take on the NFC champion Los Angeles Rams at home in Week 3. After that, Cleveland faces back-to-back road trips to Baltimore and San Francisco, followed by an Oct. 13 home matchup with the Seattle Seahawks. A Week 7 bye will come at an opportune time. But then the Browns go to New England on Oct. 27 to face the defending Super Bowl champions.
Over or under 8.4 wins? It seems inconceivable a franchise that went 0-16 two years ago actually could exceed this number. But Mayfield wasn't on those Browns. Neither were RB Nick Chubb, Beckham or WR Jarvis Landry. This is a completely different squad, and the most talented one Cleveland has fielded since the 1980s. The Browns will not only hit the over, but they will make the playoffs, too. -- Trotter
Schedule ranking: No. 23
Cleveland has one of the biggest schedule changes from last season, when its schedule ranked third-toughest in the league. The Browns also have by far the biggest change from the first half of this season to the second half. Only Tampa Bay has a harder schedule in Weeks 1-9 using adjusted projected DVOA of opponents, but only the Jets have an easier schedule in Weeks 10-17. Seven of Cleveland's final nine games come out as easier than average by this formula, with the exception being the two games against Pittsburgh that come in a three-week period (Week 11 in Cleveland on a Thursday night, then Week 13 in Pittsburgh). -- Football Outsiders | See the full 1-32 ranking
Breakout fantasy star: QB Baker Mayfield
Surprised Mayfield could be considered a breakout? Don't be. He exploded onto the fantasy scene in 2018, tossing 27 touchdown passes and posting the 10th-most fantasy points among quarterbacks once Freddie Kitchens took over as playcaller in Week 9. But he didn't become the starter until Week 3, and he wasn't drafted high in many leagues. With Beckham added to an offense that includes Landry, David Njoku and Chubb, Mayfield has a huge ceiling and is well-positioned to join the conversation for the league's top fantasy quarterback in 2019. -- Mike Clay | More fantasy coverage
The view from Vegas
Super Bowl odds: 14-1 (opened 16-1)
Over/under: 9 (O -120/U +100)
Playoff odds: Yes -120, No +100
Odds courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook as of Sept. 2.
Most interesting player prop
Over/under 4,244.5 passing yards for Baker Mayfield:
Trotter: Over. Mayfield averaged 266 yards passing per game last season as a rookie. Matching that alone would put him over. That should be more than achievable with Beckham now a part of the Cleveland receiving corps.
Bold prediction: OBJ leads NFL in receiving
Beckham will break the 1,500-yard receiving mark for the first time in his career en route to leading the NFL in receiving. He will also set a career mark with more than 13 touchdown catches, as the Browns win the AFC North for the first time in 30 years on their way to making the playoffs for the first time since 2002. -- Trotter
Where the Browns landed in NFLRank
No. 13: WR Odell Beckham Jr.
No. 21: DE Myles Garrett
No. 45: QB Baker Mayfield
No. 89: CB Denzel Ward