Isaiah Crowell and the Browns rushing attack have paced the team's offensive success.The Cleveland Browns have been one of the biggest risers in the weekly ESPN.com NFL Power Rankings. After starting the season ranked 30th, the Browns are now up to 15th, their highest ranking since Week 1 of the 2008 season.

The Browns are off to a 3-2 start for the second year in a row and just the third time since returning to Cleveland in 1999. Last year, quarterback Brian Hoyer was injured in the fifth game and the Browns went 1-10 in their final 11 games.

Cleveland's next three opponents –- the Jaguars, Raiders and Buccaneers -– are a combined 1-16 this season, but a favorable schedule isn’t the only reason to think the Browns are for real. A healthy Hoyer has helped lead the charge for one of the league’s most improved offenses.

No. 1 in efficiency

The Browns rank ninth in the NFL this season with 26.8 points per game, which is a little more than a touchdown better per game than last season.

But diving deeper, the Browns offense has contributed to the team’s final score better than anyone this season.

Highest Offensive Efficiency
This Season

Expected points added is a measure of the impact every play has on a team’s potential points. It considers down, distance, field position, game clock and other situational factors. Read more about it here.

The Browns offense has contributed 11.4 EPA per game this season, best in the NFL. Since 2006, eight teams have had an equal or better EPA at this point of the season. Those teams averaged 13.5 wins.

But what is contributing to his efficient offense? And who?

The factors

Ball control has made the biggest impact for the Browns this season. Through five games, the Browns have committed just two turnovers, tied for fewest in the NFL (Chargers and Seahawks). The last time a Browns team had two or fewer turnovers through its first five games of the season was 1960, when quarterback Milt Plum and Jim Brown were leading the offense.

Browns Rushing Ranks
Last 2 Seasons

The Browns offense this season is being led by its rushing attack. The Browns have rushed on the highest percentage of plays this season, averaging the third-most yards and scoring the most touchdowns, a stark contrast from last season.

All of the running has opened up play-action for Hoyer. The Browns have used play-action on the second-highest percentage of dropbacks this season (34 percent), and Hoyer is averaging 12.3 yards per attempt on those passes, also second-highest in the NFL.

The players

Hoyer, who was undrafted out of Michigan State, is fourth in the NFL this season with 8.2 yards per attempt.

His top three wide receivers this season were also undrafted (Andrew Hawkins, Taylor Gabriel, Miles Austin), and none were on the team last season.

The team’s touchdown leader, running back Isaiah Crowell, is an undrafted rookie. Fellow running backs Ben Tate (signed as free agent) and Terrance West (third-round rookie) each have over 200 rushing yards this season. And like the top three wide receivers, none were on the team last season.