5 underappreciated ex-Cleveland Browns who will help out elsewhere in 2022
By Chad Porto
Andy Janovich (Signed with Texans)
I think fans may be surprised here. The Houston Texans may be worse at running back than they are at quarterback. The team has Marlon Mack and Rex Burkhead as their starter and backups for the season. Mack had two solid years in 2018 and 2019 but that’s been it, and while Burkhead is a good dual-threat option, you need a viable rusher.
I don’t expect to see the 29-year-old Janovich become the next Peyton Hillis (fullback to running back), but I could see him getting a few hundred yards rushing the ball. It’s clear that Lovie Smith is going to rely heavily on the fullback position as opposed to most other teams, they need to.
Davis Mills is a moderate quarterback at best and the team running backs are mostly held together by used chewing gum. The offensive is a mess (or was, we’ll see how they play) and the tight end situation isn’t ideal.
Janovich is arguably the best non-wide receiver on the offense, and if not, at least the most consistent and one could see him getting far more work in Houston’s offense than he ever did in Cleveland’s.
You don’t want to rely on him solely, obviously, but outside of Brandin Cooks, who else can you? Everyone else is an unknown asset.