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Is Deshaun Watson worth drafting despite his suspension? Will Jacoby Brissett be a viable option in Watson's absence? Read the 2022 fantasy football outlook of both Cleveland quarterbacks.
Although it was reported that the NFL was seeking at least a one-year suspension for Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson, the NFL and NFLPA reached an agreement in August that would suspend Watson for 11 games without pay.
More on Browns’ QB Deshaun Watson being suspended 11 games, fined $5 million and agreeing to undergo a professional evaluation after a settlement between the NFL and NFLPA, via @Jake_Trotter:https://t.co/tWHfNh5e4a
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— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 18, 2022
Because the Browns have a bye in Week 9, Watson will officially be able to return for Week 13 against his former team, the Houston Texans. Cleveland signed veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett to a one-year deal back in March, shortly after acquiring Watson. The team hasn't shied away from showing confidence in Brissett, maintaining all offseason that he will be QB1 while Watson serves his suspension.
Fantasy football draft season is now in full swing and for some, it may be tempting to snag Watson late. He is currently being selected as the QB24 and has been an elite-level fantasy asset in the past.
Is it smarter to let an opponent clog their bench with Watson for the first 12 weeks while you draft Brissett? Should you avoid both Cleveland signal-callers? Let's take a closer look.
Is Deshaun Watson A Worthwhile Fantasy Football Draft Pick In 2022?
In each of his three full seasons as the Houston Texans' starter, Watson finished as the QB5. He impressed as a dual-threat quarterback, racking up fantasy points both through the air and on the ground. The last time we saw him in regular season NFL action was in January 2021, but at age 27, there's really no reason to suspect that Watson has regressed.
Watson is currently being selected at the back of the 15th round in 2022 redraft leagues. Admittedly, this is not a steep price to pay for a quarterback that could lead your team to glory in the fantasy playoffs. Taking Watson towards the end of your draft, however, guarantees that you will be filling two roster spots with quarterbacks for at least the first 12 weeks of the season.
Alternative options in Round 15 may not seem appealing on the surface, but selecting a wide receiver such as Alec Pierce or Nico Collins offers the flexibility of seeing what you have in a player for a week or two before deciding whether to cut bait in favor of a high-priority free agent. If one of these players is involved in their offense right away, however, their value on the trade market and on your roster will quickly exceed that of a suspended Watson.
Let your leaguemates draft Watson, and instead look to select one quarterback with the ability to produce in your starting lineup every week. Even in a Superflex or 2QB league, it would still be wise to pass on Watson, as you will likely need to use three additional roster spots for quarterbacks.
What Is Jacoby Brissett's Fantasy Football Value In 2022?
Brissett started 15 games in two different seasons with the Indianapolis Colts and his best fantasy finish was QB20. This year, he will start the first 11 games for an offense that ranked top-10 in total rushing attempts in each of the last two seasons. With Brissett under center, it's essentially a guarantee that coach Kevin Stefanski and the Browns will continue this trend and rely heavily on running backs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt.
In Superflex or 2QB formats, Brissett will have QB3 value as a bye-week fill-in and replacement-level starter in the event of an injury. For a fantasy team with adequate depth at other positions, drafting him in the double-digit rounds could make some sense if no other starting quarterbacks are available.
In one-quarterback leagues, though, Brissett can be comfortably left on the waiver wire.
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