Once upon a time, Cleveland Browns QB Deshaun Watson was one of the elite fantasy assets at the quarterback position in dynasty leagues.
After throwing just 14 touchdowns to nine interceptions through his first 12 games under center in a Browns uniform, how should dynasty managers value Watson ahead of the 2024 NFL season?
Deshaun Watson’s Dynasty Outlook
Watson gave fantasy managers nothing short of elite-level fantasy production during his first three full seasons as a starter under center for the Houston Texans.
He finished as the QB5 overall in three straight years from 2018 to 2020. His best season came in 2020, where he threw for 4,823 yards and 33 TDs while adding three scores on the ground.
There’s no need to go into more detail about Watson’s off-the-field concerns, but the bottom line is that it cost him the entire 2021 season and over half of the 2022 NFL campaign.
Since being traded from Houston to Cleveland ahead of the 2022 season, fantasy managers simply haven’t seen the Pro Bowl version they became accustomed to during Watson’s prime days in a Texans’ uniform.
Watson has never thrown for 300+ yards over his 12 games since becoming the Browns’ franchise QB. Additionally, he’s never topped 50 yards rushing since being traded to Cleveland.
At his peak, Watson was one of the premier dual-threat quarterbacks in the NFL. In Cleveland, he has scarcely resembled the exceptional talent we saw during his days in Houston.
One could certainly argue that this passing offense operated at a much higher rate with Joe Flacco under center than it ever has during Watson’s 12-game stint with the Cleveland franchise.
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Don’t believe me? Well, remember when I mentioned Watson doesn’t have a single 300-yard passing game to his credit during his days in Cleveland?
Flacco topped 300 yards through the air in four of his first five games as the starting quarterback in 2023. Keep in mind that Flacco signed with the team in the middle of the season.
Some managers may be willing to dismiss this run from Flacco, but it certainly makes me a bit more concerned when trying to have an honest conversation about where Watson’s dynasty value currently is heading into 2024.
Watson’s Dynasty Ranking
Where does Watson land in the dynasty QB landscape going into the 2024 offseason? Here are Tate’s latest rankings, featuring where Watson lands in comparison to other top names at the position.
Derek Tate’s Top 20 Dynasty QB Rankings
1) Patrick Mahomes | KC
2) Josh Allen | BUF
3) Lamar Jackson | BAL
4) Joe Burrow | CIN
5) Jalen Hurts | PHI
6) Justin Herbert | LAC
7) C.J. Stroud | HOU
8) Trevor Lawrence | JAX
9) Anthony Richardson | IND
10) Justin Fields | CHI
11) Brock Purdy | SF
12) Tua Tagovailoa | MIA
13) Jordan Love | GB
14) Jared Goff | DET
15) Dak Prescott | DAL
16) Kyler Murray | ARI
17) Bryce Young | CAR
18) Deshaun Watson | CLE
19) Will Levis | TEN
20) Matthew Stafford | LAR
Should You Trade Watson in Dynasty?
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Watson failed to live up to the high fantasy expectations many of his believers were still banking on heading into the 2023 season. A full offseason with the team and the absence of a looming suspension didn’t do enough to repair the broken psyche of Watson.
Now, while he didn’t give us the elite production we saw from him in Houston during his six games on the field in 2023, Watson wasn’t exactly awful, either. This may be a case where tempering fantasy expectations is the proper course rather than hitting the panic button and attempting to completely write off Watson moving forward.
In the five games Watson played over 90% of the offensive snaps, he averaged 20.52 fantasy points per game, which is nothing to scoff at. For some context, Dak Prescott averaged 20.7 fantasy points in 2023 and finished the year as the QB3 overall.
If I were a Watson shareholder in a Superflex format, I would still want starting franchise QB compensation in return to part ways with Watson. If I can get that, then I would be willing to move him.
I do have concerns about Watson’s level of play ever returning to the peak we saw from him during his Houston days. If his struggles continue, then it could threaten his franchise quarterback standing shortly.
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For now, though, Watson is still positioned to be a strong QB2 option with QB1 upside if he can recapture his former greatness, which is still a possibility at just 28 years old.
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