We’re going to ignore a few things about Deshaun Watson. First, forget his giant guaranteed contract. We’re also going to forget his excessive desire for human contact and the fact that Watson was never convicted of making masseuses touch his no-no area. And finally, we’re going to set aside the 11-game suspension and $5 million dollar fine from the NFL that cost him all of 2021.
Because beyond all that, Watson is still the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns and that should hold a lot of fantasy value. But Deshaun is also an enigma. On one hand, he’s shown he can be a top 5 fantasy quarterback who can pile up yards in the ground and through the air. On the other, Watson looked like his best days were behind him last season.
Will Deshaun Watson stay healthy in 2024?
Injury concerns have lingered since Deshaun Watson was dominating down in Houston. Last season alone he dealt with an ongoing shoulder problem that eventually ended his season. Watson has ended up only playing 6 games each of the last two seasons. His availability has been a major disappointment for both Watson and the Browns.
When he was on the field, he was all over the place. One moment he looked like he was back and the next he was downright awful. The Browns’ QB was sacked 17 times and only threw for 7 touchdowns. And it wasn’t pretty to watch.
Every time he seemed to take a step forward, he took two back. Watson simply didn’t look healthy and it turns out he wasn’t. He had to be shut down for the season just as he seemed to be finding his groove again.
And yet, we can’t just forget that in his last full season (2020) he threw for over 4,800 yards and 33 tds. He did this while only throwing 7 picks and somehow still gaining 400 yards rushing.
Deshaun Watson has weapons all around him
The main reasons for being bullish on Deshaun Watson this season are his past success and the players around him. Amari Cooper leads the supporting cast and quieted doubters with an exceptional 2023 season despite playing with backups and journeymen QBs most of the season. Amari even made Joe Flacco look like Peyton Manning for a spell. And when Watson was healthy, he and Cooper developed some deft chemistry as well.
Beyond Amari, David Njoku and Elijah Moore have both flashed at times in their careers. Njoku especially has grown into a strong fantasy and real-life football asset who has meshed well with Watson. The Browns even added former first-round pick Jerry Jeudy to the mix from Denver in hopes of maximizing Deshaun Watson’s value.
Watson even gets a returning Nick Chubb to go with last year’s breakout, Jerome Ford, in the backfield. Toss in an experienced offensive line that features Jack Conklin and Jedrick Willis and boom, Deshaun Watson has everything a quarterback could want. It also means he has no excuses left not to perform at a high level.
Final Thoughts
So what will 2024 bring for Deshaun Watson? If the last few years are any evidence, it won’t be pretty. But he’s still worth the risk this season as most drafters are completely overlooking him. Watson won’t cost a premium pick and if he stays healthy, he might end up sneaking into QB 1 territory.
And that’s exactly the type of player to buy low on, unless you can’t get past all that off-the-field drama I said I wouldn’t mention again. He has been elite before and is still only 28 years old, which leads me to think he has something left. And even if he doesn’t work out, it’s not going to cost you your season. So if he’s still around late in drafts, definitely scoop up Deshaun Watson.
