Deshaun Watson Fantasy Football Outlook (2026)

By Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros), Mon, Aug 3rd 2026, 9:45am EDT

Entering the final year of a burdensome five-year, $230 million contract that has been an albatross around the neck of the Cleveland Browns, Deshaun Watson will compete with second-year man Shedeur Sanders to be the Browns' Week 1 starter. An electric dual-threat quarterback early in his career, Watson has been a flop since being traded to the Browns in 2022. The oft-injured Watson has started only 19 games for Cleveland over the last four seasons. He's averaged just 6.0 yards per pass attempt and 177.1 passing yards per start with the Browns. Watson has at least offered a little bit of rushing value, averaging 24.5 rushing yards per game since the trade. But it's fair to wonder whether that rushing potential still exists after a pair of Achilles tears, the latter of which sidelined Watson for all of 2025. Watson is no more than a late-round option in superflex leagues.