Damion Ratley could provide a spark on offense

With injuries and suspensions, one of the most efficient targets on the Cleveland Browns offense is an unexpected one. Damion Ratley, last year's sixth round pick has been effective through three games and should get more opportunities going forward.

As the Cleveland Browns search for help on offense, one player that should probably be a bigger factor is Damion Ratley. The second year receiver has become a player where he's not expected to get the ball, but when it does go his direction, good things seem to happen.

So far this season, Ratley has been targeted ten times, catching seven for 93 yards. Six of those receptions have gone for first downs and two of them have been explosive plays of 20 yards or more.

Out of the four players that have been targeted ten or more times so far this season, Ratley's 9.3 yards per target ranks second only behind Odell Beckham at 9.6. The sample size may be underwhelming, but his play on the field is encouraging.

Ratley has decent size for the position, speed to stretch the field, but particularly in the game against the Los Angeles Rams, he showed a willingness to work in traffic and through contact to make receptions.

The Browns are obviously hoping to get Rashard Higgins back from injury and are waiting on Antonio Callaway to return from suspension, but currently, Ratley is one of the best receiving options the Browns have at their disposal. When it comes to simply putting out the best 11 on the field offensively, it has to include Ratley currently. When those players do return, Ratley shouldn't simply be cast aside, should get opportunities to keep building on what he's doing.

Higgins has developed a ton of chemistry with Baker Mayfield in part because when Mayfield was working with the twos last year, he was throwing to Higgins a significant amount of the time, grew to trust him and now looks for him when he's on the field. While not to the same extent, Ratley was another player that Mayfield saw quite a bit of and may have a similar connection.

Despite missing so much of training camp and the preseason, the Browns opted to keep Ratley over a player like Derrick Willies, which was a surprise. So far, he's rewarding that faith and playing well. For a team looking for a spark on offense, Ratley could help provide it and get Mayfield playing more confident and efficient football.