Watson was fantastic in Week 17 at Washington with 27 Fantasy points, and he did it with just 9-of-18 passing for 169 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions, along with 31 rushing yards. It was his first game with more than 18 Fantasy points in his five appearances this season, and we'll see if he can build on that performance this week at Pittsburgh. But this matchup is daunting since the Steelers have allowed just one quarterback to score more than 15 Fantasy points since Week 10, which was Joe Burrow in Week 11. Granted, the level of competition was mediocre -- Andy Dalton, Matt Ryan, Marcus Mariota, Sam Darnold, Derek Carr and Tyler Huntley twice -- but I'm not expecting Watson to have a big outing in Pittsburgh in Week 18.
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Browns' Deshaun Watson: QBs to Sit
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The Commanders have held their past five opposing quarterbacks to 19 Fantasy points or less, and only two quarterbacks have scored at least 20 points against Washington since Week 4. Watson has scored 18 Fantasy points or less in all four starts with the Browns, and he's been held to 161 passing yards or less in three of those games. There's no way you can trust him in your Fantasy championship in Week 17.
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Browns' Deshaun Watson: QBs to Sit
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Watson continues to look better after three starts, but he's still scored 18 Fantasy points or less in each outing. He could be playing in bad weather this week against the Saints, with the forecast calling for heavy wind and snow. This feels like a game where the Browns will lean on Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, which is what happened in Week 15 against Baltimore, and Watson only passed for 161 yards and one touchdown. The Saints also have allowed just one quarterback to score more than 19 Fantasy points since Week 6, which was Brady when he had a miraculous comeback in Week 13.
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Browns' Deshaun Watson: QBs to Sit
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Watson improved in his second game as the starter for the Browns, going from 13 Fantasy points in Week 13 at Houston to 18 points in Week 14 at Cincinnati. This will be his first home game in Cleveland, and hopefully that helps his performance. But he also has to face a tough opponent in the Ravens, who have held eight of their past nine opposing quarterbacks to 18 Fantasy points or less. Amari Cooper (hip) is playing at less than 100 percent, which doesn't help, and Watson hasn't done enough yet to warrant trusting him in a tough matchup like this.
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Browns' Deshaun Watson: Throws first TD as a Brown
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Watson completed 26 of 42 passes for 276 yards, one touchdown and one interception in Sunday's 23-10 loss to the Bengals. He added 33 yards on six rushing attempts.
After a shaky Browns debut last week, Watson looked marginally more comfortable in his second appearance. His first two passes went for gains of 18 and 13 yards, and he finished the first quarter with completions on all four of his attempts, though neither team produced any points. Watson's first touchdown pass in a Cleveland uniform came in the third quarter, when he found tight end David Njoku from 13 yards out, but Watson was picked off on the following possession. He's still shaking off the rust from his extended layoff, which will make Watson a risky fantasy option in Week 15 against the Ravens as many leagues begin their playoffs.
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Browns' Deshaun Watson: Bust Alert (Start/Sit)
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Watson looked like a quarterback who hadn't played in almost two years in Week 13 at Houston. He was 12-of-22 passing for 131 yards, no touchdowns and an interception, and he rushed for just 21 yards. He should improve in his second start in Week 14 at Cincinnati, but this is a tough matchup to trust him after he scored just five Fantasy points against the Texans. Cincinnati is No. 4 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks and just held Patrick Mahomes to 20 points in Week 13. Mahomes and actually Jacoby Brissett in Week 8 are the lone quarterbacks with more than 20 Fantasy points against the Bengals this year, so maybe Watson can repeat what Brissett did in that matchup (278 passing yards and a touchdown, along with 12 rushing yards and a touchdown, with a lost fumble). However, I'd be hesitant to start Watson in most one-quarterback leagues this week. He needs to prove himself first before Fantasy managers can trust him again.
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Browns' Deshaun Watson: Admits being out of sync
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Watson acknowledged that he dealt with rhythm and timing issues in his season debut last week against the Texans after he missed the first 11 games of the campaign while serving a suspension, Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal reports. "All of that stuff's gotta come back and, like I said last week, I don't know when it's gonna come back," Watson said. "I don't know if it was gonna be last week, this week. My job is to just keep getting better and when it clicks it, it clicks and everyone will feel that."
Watson underwhelmed last week in his first regular-season game in 700 days, as he sat out the entire 2021 season before Houston traded him to Cleveland over the offseason. In his second start with Cleveland this Sunday against the Bengals, Watson may not return to the Pro Bowl-caliber form he displayed prior to his nearly two years away from the game, but the quarterback seems confident that he'll gradually get more comfortable. Watson said he was able to get a feel for the "speed of the game and how defenses adjust" in his season debut, but there were noticeable timing issues with receivers, as he often throw short of or behind targets. Watson will get the opportunity to further acclimate Sunday, and head coach Kevin Stefanski reiterated earlier this week that he has no plans to turn the offense back over to Jacoby Brissett in what will be a matchup critical to Cleveland's fading playoff hopes.
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Browns' Deshaun Watson: Remains starter
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Cleveland head coach Kevin Stefanski said Watson will start Week 14 against the Bengals, despite showing some rust in his season debut during last week's win over the Texans, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. " Deshaun is our quarterback. We're focused on having a really good day of practice [Wednesday] and having a great day on Sunday," Stefanski said.
While taking the field last week for his first regular-season action since Week 17 of the 2020 campaign, Watson completed 12 of 22 passes for 131 yards with no touchdowns and an interception. At 5-7, the Browns hope to keep their slim playoff chances alive, but Stefanski has no plans to turn the offense back over to Jacoby Brissett, who closed his tenure as Cleveland's starting quarterback on a high note before Watson was reinstated from his suspension last week. Cabot notes that Watson looked sharper during Wednesday's practice, but those sessions are much different than game conditions.
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Browns' Deshaun Watson: On roster, expected to start
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Watson was officially added to Cleveland's 53-man roster Monday and is expected to start Sunday's game against the Texans, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
After waiting 700 days since his last NFL appearance, Watson will make his return against his former team Sunday. Joshua Dobbs was waived in a corresponding move to make room on the roster for Watson, while Jacoby Brissett will be relegated to a backup role.
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Browns' Deshaun Watson: One To Stash (QB Preview)
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Watson is still a couple of weeks away from returning, but he has top-five upside when he comes back and we're close enough to his return to stash him, especially if your QB has already had his bye.
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Browns' Deshaun Watson: Week 11 Waiver Priority List
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Unless you need a quarterback this week, the top priority at the position is to stash Watson where available. Even if you have a quality Fantasy quarterback, you should add Watson and try to trade him. While there's no guarantee he's still a standout Fantasy option after not playing in a regular season game since 2020, there's still the potential of him being great once he makes his Browns debut in Week 13. He's worth adding for 5-10 percent of your remaining FAB.
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Browns' Deshaun Watson: Eligible for practice
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Watson (suspension) is eligible to begin practicing Monday and remains on track to make his Browns debut Week 13 in Houston, The Athletic reports.
According to the terms of the 11-game suspension he received Aug. 30 for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy, Watson remained away from the Browns from the end of the preseason through Oct. 10, when he was eligible to report to the team facility. Over the past month, Watson has been able to work out at the facility and sit in during team meetings, and now he'll be able to take the practice field with the rest of his teammates for the next three weeks. General manager Andrew Berry said back on Nov. 2 that Watson will take over the starting quarterback job when first available Week 13, and there's little reason to think that the Browns' plans on that front have changed, as the team has gotten off to a 3-6 start with Jacoby Brissett running the offense.
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Browns' Deshaun Watson: Week 10 Waiver Priority List
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It's time to stash Watson where he's still available. He's eligible to play in Week 13 when his suspension ends, and he could be a No. 1 Fantasy quarterback in all leagues to close the season. If you have an open roster spot, especially if your quarterback situation is bad, then find a way to add Watson now for 1 percent of your remaining FAB.
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Browns' Deshaun Watson: Heads to reserve list
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The Browns placed Watson on the reserve/suspended list Tuesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
The transaction is merely a formality, as Watson's placement on the list allows the Browns to whittle their roster down to 53 men prior to Tuesday's deadline. Though he's ineligible to make his Browns debut until Week 13 in Houston while he serves his 11-game suspension, Watson is able to return to the team's facility Oct. 10. He'll be able to resume practicing Nov. 14 and is eligible to be reinstated to the roster Nov. 28, assuming he complies with the conditions of the settlement and treatment plan that accompanied his suspension. Jacoby Brissett is on track to open the season as the Browns' starting quarterback while Watson is unavailable.
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Browns' Deshaun Watson: Suspended 11 games
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The NFL and NFLPA have agreed to a settlement Thursday that will result in Watson serving an 11-game suspension to start the upcoming season, Jake Trotter of ESPN.com reports.
Additionally per the report, Watson will pay a $5 million fine for violating the league's personal conduct policy, as well as undergo mandatory evaluation by behavioral experts and follow their suggested treatment program. The quarterback's suspension takes effect on Aug. 30, and he'll be eligible for reinstatement on Nov. 28 and game action Week 13 versus Houston. Jacoby Brissett is in line to fill in as the team's starter while Watson is unavailable.
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Browns' Deshaun Watson: Could reach settlement with league
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Watson's representatives and the NFL Players Association are in active negotiations on a discipline settlement with the NFL, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
The report notes that as Watson awaits designee Peter C. Harvey's ruling on the NFL's appeal of the quarterback's six-game suspension, the two sides have continued to negotiate, with Cabot indicating that a settlement may be reached within the next few days. Judy Battista of NFL Network previously noted that the league is seeking a one-year suspension for Watson, but Cabot suggests that if a settlement can be reached, the quarterback could take the field at some point during the regular season.
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Browns' Deshaun Watson: Goodell names designee for appeal
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Commissioner Roger Goodell has designated former New Jersey attorney general Peter C. Harvey to hear the league's appeal of Watson's six-game suspension for violating the league's personal-conduct policy, NFL.com reports.
On Wednesday, the NFL announced that it would appeal disciplinary officer Judge Sue L. Robinson's ruling, which called for a six-game suspension for the Browns QB. Citing a source familiar with the appeal, NFL Network's Judy Battista indicated that the league is seeking a one-year suspension for Watson. The NFL Players Association, which initially stated it wouldn't appeal Robinson's decision, has until Friday to respond to the league following Thursday's announcement. The report notes that under the league's personal-conduct policy, the appeal will be processed on an expedited basis and will be based on a "review of the existing record."
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Browns' Deshaun Watson: Hearing concludes
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Watson's hearing before the NFL and NFLPA's jointly appointed disciplinary officer ended Thursday, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
After three days in front of the officer, the league is drawing closer to concluding its 15-month long investigation into Watson, who faced 24 civil suits for allegations of sexual misconduct. All but four of those were settled Tuesday, June 21, and among them one suit added his former team, the Texans, as a defendant Monday. According to Cabot, the officer requested that post-hearing briefs from both parties be filed the week of July 11. Once those are submitted, a ruling on Watson's punishment likely won't be announced until mid-July, at the earliest, after which he'll have an opportunity to appeal any proposed suspension. As Cabot reported Monday, the NFL is aiming for an indefinite ban of at least one year.
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Browns' Deshaun Watson: In midst of hearing
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Watson's hearing in front of the NFL and NFLPA's jointly appointed disciplinary officer began Tuesday, Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com reports.
The NFL is at the tail end of its 15-month long investigation into Watson's legal situation, which included 24 civil suits for allegations of sexual misconduct. Of those, 20 were settled last Tuesday while four are pending, with one of them amending its wording Monday to name the Texans as a defendant. According to Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer, the league is seeking an indefinite suspension which would last at least one year, but there remains no timetable for the disciplinary officer to make a decision on the matter.
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Browns' Deshaun Watson: Present for offseason workouts
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Watson is in Cleveland on Tuesday for the start of the Browns' offseason program, while fellow quarterback Baker Mayfield (shoulder) isn't in attendance, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
That's as expected, given that Mayfield reportedly requested a trade in mid-March when the Browns were originally revealed to be pursuing Watson. Cleveland still has a few things to hash out in their QB room before Week 1, starting with a possible NFL suspension for Watson and finding Mayfield a new home. Watson, 26, is still facing civil suits for allegations of sexual misconduct after a Harris County, TX grand jury voted not to indict him on criminal charges in March.
