RADIO
Deshaun Watson Placed in Concussion Protocol Wednesday
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (concussion) was placed in concussion protocol on Wednesday, according to Mary Kay Cabot. Watson left Week 8's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers early after hitting his head on the turf in the first quarter. Second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders replaced him for a drive, but Watson returned and finished the game. With Watson in the protocol, it's unclear whether he will be able to suit up for Week 9's contest against the New Orleans Saints, which would put Sanders in line to start. In seven career starts, Sanders has completed 116 of 196 passes for 1,353 yards, seven touchdowns, and nine interceptions, while adding 153 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries. Fantasy managers should monitor Watson's practice status throughout the week, but it seems likely that Sanders will start in Week 9.
Source: Mary Kay Cabot
Source: Mary Kay Cabot
Deshaun Watson Returns to Game vs. Steelers
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (head) returned to the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers after briefly exiting in the first quarter for a concussion check, according to Kelsey Russo, an associate editor and staff writer for the Browns. Shedeur Sanders replaced Watson while he was out. On the first drive following Watson's return, he was strip-sacked by Pittsburgh linebacker Patrick Queen, and the ball was recovered by Pittsburgh defensive lineman Keeanu Benton, which eventually led to a touchdown for the Steelers.
Source: Kelsey Russo - Cleveland Browns
Source: Kelsey Russo - Cleveland Browns
Deshaun Watson Headed to Medical Tent for Concussion Check
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (head) is heading to the medical tent after a roughing-the-passer call on Pittsburgh Steelers safety Jaquan Brisker in Week 8, according to The Athletic's Mike DeFabo. Scott Petrak of The Chronicle-Telegram and Medina Gazette adds that the referees sent Watson to the sideline for concussion evaluation. Shedeur Sanders is now in at quarterback for the Browns. Watson's status will need to be monitored moving forward.
Source: Mike DeFabo - The Athletic
Source: Mike DeFabo - The Athletic
Deshaun Watson Not Looking Like Front-Line Starting QB
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson looks to be on the low end of starting quarterbacks for fantasy in his Week 8 matchup at the Pittsburgh Steelers. Watson has led the Browns to 5-2 overall record but his fantasy numbers leave something to be desired this season. Watson was 25-of-36 passing in Week 7's win over the Titans with 308 passing yards and an interception without a touchdown. He did rush three times for 19 yards and a rushing touchdown. Although he didn't find the end zone passing the ball, it was one of Watson's better games through the air. He will likely find things tougher this week against the Steelers' defense, which ranks 11th against the pass allowing 212.7 passing yards per game with just seven passing touchdowns allowed this season. In the first meeting against Pittsburgh at home, Watson finished with 268 passing yards, a touchdown, and an interception. Watson will hope to keep up his positive play in a key road matchup. Matching up with the likes of Jamel Dean, Asante Samuel Jr., and Jalen Ramsey, Watson looks like a bottom tier starting quarterback this week. If you have other options you may want to start them over Watson this week.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Deshaun Watson's 308 Yards Don't Fix the Touchdown Drought
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson threw for 308 yards in Sunday's 27-24 victory over the Tennessee Titans, topping 300 yards for the first time since joining the team, yet he failed to throw a touchdown for the second consecutive game. He completed 25 of 36 passes with one interception and added 19 rushing yards on three carries, including a nine-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. Over his past three starts, the veteran has thrown just one touchdown pass, which puts his season total at seven through seven games. The legs keep rescuing him, with 215 rushing yards on 48 attempts ranking third among NFL quarterbacks. Week 8 brings a rematch with the Pittsburgh Steelers, against whom he threw for 268 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in Week 4. Superflex and two-quarterback leagues make him a worthwhile addition, while the inconsistent passing production limits his appeal in standard one-quarterback formats.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Browns Activate Dillon Gabriel From Injured Reserve
The Cleveland Browns announced on Monday that they activated quarterback Dillon Gabriel (back) from Injured Reserve. In a corresponding move, the Browns released tight end Carsen Ryan. Gabriel, a third-rounder in 2025, has appeared in 10 games (six starts) and has thrown for 937 yards with seven touchdowns and two interceptions. Now that the 25-year-old is healthy, he will slot in as Cleveland's No. 3 signal-caller behind veteran Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders. The Browns also have rookie Taylen Green on the roster. Barring injuries to Watson and Sanders, Gabriel will be fighting an uphill battle for playing time in 2026 in his second season in the NFL. Gabriel did some good things as a rookie in 2025 before getting hurt and opening the job up for Sanders, but he was mostly a game manager and refused to take shots deep down the field.
Source: ClevelandBrowns.com
Source: ClevelandBrowns.com
Deshaun Watson Worth A Look In Week 7
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson is a decent starting option in Week 7's game against the Tennessee Titans. Watson was 16-for-26 passing for 164 yards and no touchdowns and no interceptions in last week's 13-10 win over the Baltimore Ravens. This week he gets a little bit better of a matchup against the Titans, even if it is on the road. The Titans rank in the middle of the pack at 16th in the NFL in pass defense, allowing 220.5 passing yards per game with six passing touchdowns allowed. Watson has 1,174 passing yards this season with seven passing touchdowns compared to just two interceptions. The veteran quarterback needs to show more touchdown ability to be considered a safe option. The good news is his top two wide receiver options, Denzel Boston and KC Concepcion Jr., have been cleared to play after missing some practice time this week. Despite his good touchdown-to-interception ratio, he carries a bit of risk in playing him as a QB1. Nevertheless, this might be a game to look Watson's way should you need a bye-week replacement at the quarterback position.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Deshaun Watson a Viable QB Streamer to Target on Waivers
Across six games in 2026, Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson has completed 63.8% of his pass attempts for 1,174 yards, seven touchdowns, and two interceptions. The 31-year-old has also added some fantasy value with his legs, rushing for 196 yards on 45 attempts. After a relatively hot start to the year, Watson's production has slowed down of late. Over the last two weeks, totaled just 319 passing yards and one touchdown while leading the Cleveland offense to just 25 total points. However, the Browns have a significantly easier matchup coming up in Week 7 against the Tennessee Titans. Through six weeks, Tennessee ranks in the bottom 10 in the NFL in yards per pass attempt allowed (7.5). Given the matchup, Watson could be a solid quarterback streamer for fantasy managers to target on the waiver wire ahead of Week 7.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Shedeur Sanders Unlikely to Be Traded Despite Hiring Agent
Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders is unlikely to be moved before the November 10 trade deadline despite recently hiring his first agent, according to Jonathan Jones of The Athletic. Sanders signed with Adie von Gontard of Young Money APAA Sports after previously representing himself, raising questions about his future in Cleveland. However, Jones reports that general manager Andrew Berry remains fond of the 2025 fifth-round pick and would be reluctant to trade him. Sanders has barely seen the field this season behind Deshaun Watson after completing 56.6% of his passes for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions across eight games as a rookie. His contract runs through 2028, giving Cleveland an inexpensive option to develop while Watson's long-term future remains uncertain. Sanders has no immediate redraft appeal, but his age and contract situation make him worth holding in deeper dynasty superflex leagues.
Source: The Athletic
Source: The Athletic
Deshaun Watson A Mid-Tier Starting QB For Week 6
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson returns home for a Week 6 matchup with the Baltimore Ravens after losing a road contest to the New York Jets last week. Watson was inaccurate overall against the Jets in Week 5, completing 15-of-33 passes for 155 yards and a touchdown pass to wide receiver Denzel Boston. Watson will look to build on and improve his performance from last week back at home against the Ravens. The Ravens' pass defense ranks 18th in the NFL with 223.6 passing yards allowed per game and has allowed just five passing touchdowns this season. Watson has struggled to put up QB1 numbers this season and has a completion rate of 64.2 percent this year with 1,010 passing yards and seven passing touchdowns. Watson could have trouble finding the end zone against Baltimore who has allowed just one passing touchdown per game so far this season. But Watson has at least one passing touchdown in each of his two previous home games this season. Expect another mid-tier performance from Watson as the Browns are back in Cleveland.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Deshaun Watson Continues to Produce as a Viable Streaming Option
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson has cooled down since the first three weeks of the season, but he still remains in the streaming conversation for fantasy football. Watson has thrown for at least one touchdown pass in every game this season, but he also has three turnovers over the last two weeks. Similarly, although he has been running the ball incredibly well, he has also found himself under extreme pressure; he took a whopping eight sacks in Week 5. It seems like for every positive factor surrounding Watson, there's also something negative to consider. That's why he remains a fringe streamer going forward. He doesn't need to be rostered in every league, but managers looking for a quarterback fill-in to overcome injuries or bye weeks should feel comfortable turning to Watson. He'll get a mediocre matchup this week in the form of the Baltimore Ravens, who most recently allowed 240 passing yards and a touchdown to Michael Penix Jr.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Deshaun Watson Faces Vulnerable Jets Pass Defense
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson is RotoBaller's 22nd-ranked quarterback as he takes on a New York Jets pass defense that displayed vulnerability during a loss to the Chicago Bears last week. The Jets have allowed opponents to average just 193.3 yards per game through the air this season, which is the sixth-lowest mark in the NFL. However, in Week 4 against the Bears, the Jets gave up 492 yards of total offense, including 268 yards passing to Bears backup quarterback Tyson Bagent, who completed 73.5% of his passes. Watson recorded 268 yards passing, a touchdown, and an interception, along with seven carries for 22 yards during a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers last week.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Deshaun Watson is Becoming a Priority Streaming Option
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson has surprisingly been reliable through the first four games of the season. Heading into Week 5, Watson has thrown for 855 yards with six touchdowns and two interceptions. He has also rushed for 127 yards on 31 rushing attempts this season. Watson carries a 69.6 percent completion rate into this Week 5 matchup against the New York Jets. A defensive unit that has struggled to contain quarterbacks this season. Watson is currently the QB12 heading into this big road matchup against the Jets. Given that some teams are on bye, Watson is looking like a priority streaming appeal for this weekend while he enjoys a career resurgence.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Dillon Gabriel Eligible to Return to Practice
Cleveland Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel (back) is eligible to return to practice after spending the first four games on injured reserve. Daniel Oyefusi reported Tuesday that Cleveland has opened Gabriel's 21-day practice window, giving the Browns three weeks to activate him to the 53-man roster or leave him on injured reserve for the rest of the season. Gabriel's back issue surfaced after the preseason finale against New England, when he completed 12 of 15 passes for 186 yards and three touchdowns. He was placed on injured reserve at roster cutdown with a designation to return. Cleveland currently has Deshaun Watson atop the depth chart, followed by Shedeur Sanders and rookie Taylen Green, so Gabriel's return creates more of a roster decision than an immediate fantasy opportunity.
Source: Daniel Oyefusi
Source: Daniel Oyefusi
Shedeur Sanders' Redraft Value Slipping Away as Offense Surges
Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders seemed like an inevitable choice to take over as the team's starter at some point this season, but the impressive production from Deshaun Watson has altered the former fifth-round pick's redraft outlook. Entering this season, it seemed like Watson was on a short leash, with Sanders pushing to take over as the team's No. 1 quarterback. Instead, Watson has led the Browns to a 3-1 start, which currently puts them first in the AFC North. The veteran signal-caller has completed 70% of his pass attempts for 855 passing yards, six touchdowns, and two interceptions, plus an additional 127 rushing yards. He ranks as the overall QB5 in fantasy scoring so far, albeit with one more game than most quarterbacks because he played on Thursday night. At this point, Watson is trending toward occupying the starting role for the rest of the season, barring an injury. Sanders could still represent the long-term future in Cleveland, but his redraft value has declined significantly. He can be dropped to waivers in redraft formats.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
