The purpose of this column is to spotlight deeper roster moves that could pay off big over the course of the season. Unless stated in a player's write up, we're not looking for one-week wonders here, but shark moves that could really strengthen your team down the road.

Dynasty Watch focuses on low risk, huge payoff roster moves that you might be able make before the guys in your league think about it. This aim of this column is to make you look like a genius to the other owners in your league. When news breaks, and the other owners are scrambling to make a waiver wire move, we want them to be upset time and time again that the player is already on your squad.

Luke McCown: QB Cleveland Browns
6'3" 212 lbs - Louisiana Tech.
23 years old. 4th Round pick in 2004 #106 Overall (QB6)

What has he done so far
McCown lead all Cleveland QBs during the preseason, having over 100 more yards passing than Kelly Holcombe, despite almost identical attempts and completions. Has been #3 on Cleveland's depth chart for the first half of the season behind Holcombe and starter Jeff Garcia. McCown's only NFL experience was in Game 2 this year when he came in with eight seconds to go and threw an incomplete 'Hail Mary'.

Current Situation
Still buried on the depth chart behind Garcia and Holcomb. However, Holcomb's contract is up at the end of the 2004 season, and Garcia's balloons to $4 million in 2005 and continues increasing to $8 million in 2007.

Spotlight ETA
Cleveland is 3-6 now. They are dead last in their division and have the second worst record in the AFC (tied). With Pittsburgh in their division at 8-1, and 4 other 'wild card' teams at 6-3, the Browns need a miracle to make the playoffs this year.

Starting QB Jeff Garcia ranks 22nd in passing, and is averaging 1 TD and 1 INT per game. In his last two starts, he has only 256 yards passing, 0 TDs and 2 INTs. He has also fumbled the ball seven times in his last five starts. These are not the stats of a $4 million-a-year QB.

Kelly Holcomb has been a fan favorite in Cleveland for several years now, but Garcia was brought in to be the starter because the Browns didn't see Holcomb as a guy who could carry the load for 16 games and be successful. His contract is also up at the end of this season.

Cleveland is going to have some hard decisions to make about the QB of the future come 2005 training camp, and to do that, they're going to need to see McCown in a game time situation. It's a good bet that once the Browns are eliminated from playoff contention, McCown is going to see the field.

Dynasty Upside
It remains to be seen what anyone under center in Cleveland can do. In college, McCown was a gunslinger, starting 43 of the 44 games he played in and throwing for almost 13,000 yards and 88 TDs in Division 1-A.

Catching the ball, Cleveland has a few solid, if unspectacular WRs in Antonio Bryant, Dennis Northcutt, Andre Davis, and Andre King. Given the fact that the Brown's running game isn't exactly lighting it up (19th in rushing yards, 25th in rushing TDs), McCown is going to have to air it out once he is brought into the game.

Looking ahead to 2005, super stud TE Kellen Winslow, Jr. will return, and the Browns will focus on repairing an OL that has already allowed 23 sacks in only 9 games. If McCown can gain the starting QB role for 2005, he should have a good chance to really turn the Browns passing game around.

Final Thoughts
It is in Cleveland's best interest to see McCown under center before the end of the 2004 season. Holcomb is not the answer, and his contract is up at the end of the year. Garcia has not gotten the job done, and he's been downright putrid over the last couple games. Cleveland can't afford to retain Holcomb and pay Garcia $4 million for 2005. The Browns need to see what McCown can do under center so that they can determine what to do at QB during the offseason.

Given his solid Division I-A play in college, McCown has a real shot at becoming the starter for 2005. Keep an eye on him down the stretch and grab him up if he looks like he's going to take over the starting job. By 2005, with Winslow and an improved offensive line, McCown might have a chance to put up some solid fantasy numbers and could turn into a solid QB if everything goes well.