Bell will compete for playing time with the Browns, potentially suiting up as a slot receiver and depth player. Bell played at least 40% of the snaps in 10 games last season, catching at least three passes in four of them and scoring in none of them. Given the added receiver talent the Browns added in the spring and the run-friendly offense they seem to prefer, Bell isn't worth rostering in seasonal Fantasy leagues with declining value in Dynasty formats too.
Bell brought in both targets for six yards during the Browns' 21-16 preseason win over the Jets in Thursday night's Hall of Fame Game.
The 2022 third-round pick tied with several teammates for third in receptions on the night, but all of Bell's yardage actually came on one catch. The 24-year-old logged a team-high 236 snaps out of the slot last season and was in on 493 plays from scrimmage overall across 16 games, but he had a modest 24-214 line to show for it. The Purdue product is fighting to carve out a spot on the latter portion of the Browns' receiver depth chart, and he was notably outperformed by rookie third-round selection Cedric Tillman, one of his primary competitors, on Thursday. Bell will aim to make up ground during Cleveland's second preseason tilt, a home clash against the Commanders a week from Friday.
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Browns' David Bell: Diminished role expected
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Bell is expected to have a diminished role with the addition of Elijah Moore.
Bell was Cleveland's leader with 236 snaps at slot receiver last season, per Pro Football Focus. While he was serviceable in that role, the Browns felt an upgrade was needed and traded for Moore, who was the Jets' leading slot receiver in 2022 with 255 snaps. The Browns also added Marquise Goodwin, who played 187 snaps in the slot for the Seahawks last year, which may further negatively impact Bell's playing time in 2023.
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Browns' David Bell: Shut out Week 18
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Bell did not catch either of his two targets in a 28-14 loss to Pittsburgh in Week 18.
Bell finished the season with just one catch on four targets over the final three weeks. He had thumb and toe injuries down the stretch, missing nearly two full games, which impacted him over the final five games. The rookie slot receiver finished the year with 24 catches, 35 targets and 214 yards. Bell had steady, if minor, production prior to the injury and, like every pass catcher on the team, will wait for Deshaun Watson to return to form the quarterback had prior to a long layoff. If the old Watson is back in 2023, the Browns will likely throw more, and Bell could build off the modest output of his rookie season.
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Browns' David Bell: Returns to action
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Bell caught one of two targets for 18 yards in Saturday's 17-10 loss to the Saints.
Bell rejoined the active roster after missing one week due to a toe injury. He had 51 snaps and a 73-percent share, season highs for the rookie wideout. Cleveland's passing attack has taken a step back since Deshaun Watson returned from his suspension, so expected output for Bell and others should be seen through that filter. The Browns had fewer than 200 passing yards for the third time in four starts, with the offense averaging 170 passing yards when Watson starts.
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Browns' David Bell: Cleared for Week 16
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Bell (toe) doesn't carry an injury designation for Saturday's game against the Saints after being listed as a full practice participant Thursday, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.
Bell is thus slated to return to the mix after missing one game, but as the Browns' No. 3 wideout option behind Amari Cooper and Donovan Peoples-Jones, the 2022 third-rounder brings modest fantasy upside to the table in Week 16. Over the course of 13 games, the Purdue product has hauled in 23 of his 31 targets for 196 yards.
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Browns' David Bell: Expected back Saturday
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Bell (toe) is on track to play Saturday against the Saints, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Bell, who missed the Browns' Week 15 win over the Ravens, was listed as a limited participant on Tuesday's estimated practice report. The Browns are apparently optimistic that Bell will increase his practice activity as the week rolls along, with Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal relaying that head coach Kevin Stefanski "sounded confident" about the receiver's availability for Saturday. Bell has been a steady, if unspectacular, contributor over his first 13 NFL games, catching 23 of 31 targets for 196 yards and zero touchdowns.
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Browns' David Bell: Opens week as limited participant
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Bell (toe) was listed as a limited participant on Tuesday's estimated practice report, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.
The rookie sat out the Browns' Week 15 win over the Ravens with listed toe and thumb injuries, but the former issue is the only one attached to his name as Cleveland begins preparing for Saturday's game against the Saints. Bell already looks to be in a better spot on the health front compared to last week, as he failed to practice in any fashion Wednesday through Friday before sitting out against Baltimore. The Browns may still need to see Bell put in a full practice Wednesday or Thursday before officially clearing him for the weekend.
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Browns' David Bell: Inactive Saturday
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Bell (thumb/toe) is inactive for Saturday's game against the Ravens.
Bell was listed as a non-participant in practice Tuesday through Thursday before being the lone Cleveland player assigned a Week 15 injury designation (questionable). He'll sit this one out, with 2022 sixth-rounder Michael Woods and hybrid running back/receiver Demetric Felton likely next up for added snaps Saturday alongside starting WRs Amari Cooper and Donovan Peoples-Jones.
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Browns' David Bell: Questionable, but likely to sit
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Bell (thumb/toe), who is listed as questionable for Saturday's game against the Ravens, isn't in line to play, Jordan Schultz of TheScore.com reports.
Confirmation on Bell's Week 15 status won't officially arrive until the Browns release their inactive list 90 minutes before Saturday's 4:30 p.m. ET kickoff, but his expected absence comes as little surprise after he wasn't able to practice in any fashion Tuesday through Thursday while managing the two injuries. Assuming Bell is sidelined, the Browns will likely turn to rookie Michael Woods and hybrid running back/receiver Demetric Felton to take on more reps alongside starting wideouts Donovan Peoples-Jones and Amari Cooper.
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Browns' David Bell: Records three receptions
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Bell caught three of three targets for 27 yards in Sunday's 23-10 loss to the Bengals.
Bell fought through injuries during the practice week after injuring his thumb and toe and being limited to three plays in Week 13. There was speculation that he could play a larger role with Amari Cooper dealing with a hip injury, which he aggravated on the opening drive per Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, but it wound up being a normal week of production for Bell. He's averaged four targets, three catches and 25 yards over his last five healthy games.
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Browns' David Bell: Available, despite lack of practice
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Bell (thumb/toe) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Bengals, Scott Ptrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.
Bell's lack of injury designation is surprising considering the rookie wide receiver was limited in practice Wednesday and Thursday before failing to participate in Friday's practice. Assuming Bell is indeed able to play without restrictions, he could be thrust into a larger role given the uncertainty over top wideout Amari Cooper's (hip) availability.
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Browns' David Bell: Remains limited in practice
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Bell (thumb) was a limited practice participant Thursday, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Though Bell's practice reps have been capped for both of the Browns' first two Week 14 sessions, the rookie wideout said Thursday that he'll be good to go for Sunday's game in Cincinnati, per Zac Jackson of The Athletic. In order to enter the weekend minus a designation, however, Bell may need to upgrade to full practice activity Friday. If available Sunday, Bell will likely serve as the Browns' clear No. 3 wideout after his main challenger for the role, Anthony Schwartz (concussion), was placed on injured reserve Wednesday.
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Browns' David Bell: Limited by thumb injury Wednesday
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Bell was a limited participant at practice Wednesday due to a thumb injury, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.
Bell was forced out of Cleveland's Week 13 win in Houston due to the injury, but as long as he's able to upgrade to full participation by Friday, he should be in good shape to play Sunday at Cincinnati. The rookie out of Purdue has held a bit role in the Cleveland passing attack this season, collecting 20 receptions for 169 yards and no touchdowns.
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Browns' David Bell: Not returning Sunday
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Bell (hand) won't return to Sunday's game in Houston, Anthony Poisal of the Browns' official site reports.
Bell departed the contest early in the first quarter with what was termed a hand injury. With the rookie third-round pick ruled out, the Browns will be down to Amari Cooper, Donovan Peoples-Jones, Anthony Schwartz and Demetric Felton at wide receiver for the rest of Week 13. Bell's next opportunity to suit up is next Sunday at Cincinnati.
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Browns' David Bell: Picks up hand injury Sunday
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Bell sustained a hand injury during Sunday's game at Houston, Anthony Poisal of the Browns' official site reports.
According to Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer, Bell went to the locker room early in the first quarter and was deemed questionable to return shortly thereafter. If he's unable to reenter Sunday's contest, Bell will end Week 13 action without catch on his only target.
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Browns' David Bell: Usage increasing
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Bell caught four of five targets for 22 yards in Sunday's 31-23 loss to Buffalo.
Bell, a third-round pick in 2022, is seeing his role and usage increase as the season rolls on. He's had 10 targets the last two weeks, after totaling 11 over his first eight NFL games, and was on the field for a season-high 64-percent (48 snaps) of the offensive plays. While his four receptions are a season high, Bell was a distant third behind Amari Cooper and Donovan Peoples-Jones in terms of impact. The rookie's high-water mark came in Week 4, when he had 35 yards and his lone reception for more than 20 yards. Bell's growing role does give him some deep-league intrigue with Deshaun Watson potentially boosting the entire Cleveland passing game when he takes over in Week 13.
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Browns' David Bell: Records two catches in win
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Bell caught both of his targets for 27 yards in Monday's 32-13 win over the Bengals.
Bell continues to fill the No. 3 wideout role for Cleveland but is a marginal contributor. Monday's output was the second time he's had multiple catches, and the rookie has never been targeted more than three times in a game. Things could change and the passing game could open up when Deshaun Watson (suspension) is able to play, but that's not going to happen until Week 13.
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Browns' David Bell: Another one-target game
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Bell caught his lone target for seven yards in Sunday's 23-20 loss to Baltimore.
Bell's usage pattern is a familiar one. The rookie has been targeted once in four of seven games and has seven catches on nine targets for 73 yards. Only one reception has gone for longer than 20 yards. With Amari Cooper and Donovan Peoples-Jones showing no signs of regression in an offense that relies heavily on its running backs, Bell should not get many opportunities. The positive news is that the Browns, with holes and deficiencies in all facets of the game, may not be in the market to add a veteran wideout, so Bell should continue on as the team's No. 3 wideout.
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Browns' David Bell: Catches lone target in loss
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Bell caught his only target for six yards in Sunday's 30-28 loss to the Chargers in Week 5.
Bell was targeted for the fourth straight game, but his six total targets are well behind Amari Cooper (43) and Donovan Peoples-Jones (31) through five games. The bright side is that for the first time this season, Cleveland finished with more passing attempts than carries. If that trend continues, Bell could get more targets. Of course, the Browns would prefer to lean on the backfield duo of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, but other factors -- primarily a leaky defense but also curious play calling -- have altered game plans.
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Browns' David Bell: Logs another catch
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Bell caught his lone target for six yards over a season-high 40 snaps in Thursday's 29-17 win over the Steelers in Week 3. He also returned one kick for 12 yards.
Bell, who has a pair of six-yard catches over the first three weeks, saw increased playing time Thursday -- his 56-percent share nearly doubled his snap allotment from the first two weeks. He plays mostly in the slot, but the Browns offense is heavy on multiple tight-end sets and don't often use three wideouts. It's uncertain if Week 3's usage is an outlier, but the rookie has moved ahead of Anthony Schwartz in terms of playing time.
