We need to get this out of the way right off the bat: We would never wish injury upon any player. That isn’t the point of this piece.
But … it might seem like it at times in the space below, because the fallout (fall up?) of Deshaun Watson’s ruptured Achilles is wonderful for fantasy managers. Simply wonderful!
No, we know, it isn’t wonderful for Watson. We understand that. He has a grueling road back.
But … he has been an awful quarterback. Not just in fantasy, but in real life, too. As any good fantasy manager will tell you, we don’t care that much if our fantasy QBs win games in the NFL. We just want those juicy fantasy points. Interceptions hurt less than touchdowns help on fantasy boxscores.
So yes, we are happy that someone else will be quarterbacking the Browns. And no, it isn’t because of … um … all the other stuff. Look, the Madman surely isn’t alone in thinking Watson is a terrible person, allegedly. But … that doesn’t have to be why we’re happy. Because we would never wish injury upon anyone. We can be happy because he has been bad at football — and, worse, bad at fantasy.
If that weren’t enough, he also was the most overpaid, and Cleveland shipped a treasure trove of draft picks to trade for the right to overpay him. And after all of that, he was one of the worst at his job. So, there’s that, too.
We have all kinds of reasons to be happy. We don’t have to focus on being happy that he is injured, because we would never do that.
And make no mistake, we are ecstatic about the fantasy impact.
Watson was miserable as a fantasy QB. He had just one week as a top-12 QB this season, and that was as QB11. He averaged QB19. That is even worse than last year, when he averaged QB16 before a shoulder injury.
There is history for a post-Watson fantasy bump. Last season, Joe Flacco stepped in, and he averaged QB8 over five games — his worst week being QB13, and his last two were both in the top five.
Jameis Winston has a long history of being a less-than-ideal NFL QB, but he also has been a fantasy asset — certainly more fantasy-friendly than post-scandal Watson.
Sure, Winston is capable of a terrible week — think Watson-level bad. But he also had a much higher ceiling — something Watson has lacked since arriving in Cleveland.
Now, don’t expect the world out of Winston. He has never been great, he hasn’t played a stretch of complete games since early 2022, and his receivers are … well … not good.
After trading Amari Cooper, the Browns are left with Jerry Jeudy, David Njoku and (who?) Cedric Tillman. None are great, but Winston is not afraid to sling it. So all those guys get a bump up with Watson gone — even Elijah Moore, too.
Because Winston likes to chuck it, defenses will have to defend against the deep ball, so that should create more room for newly returned running back Nick Chubb.
Wow! This is like win, win, win, win, win! Except for Watson. It isn’t great for him, and we would never root for someone to get injured.
Now, if the Browns, being the Browns, decide to instead start Dorian Thompson-Robinson at QB … well … at least DTR doesn’t have all the off-the-field baggage. But in terms of fantasy (or real-world) impact, we don’t think he delivers any meaningful difference statistically. So everyone’s fantasy outlook would remain static.
So we can be at least a little happy — not because Watson is injured, because we would never wish that upon anyone, but because there is a path to a better fantasy future now for other Browns players.
Rejoice!
Futures are bright
Romeo Doubs WR, Packers
Led the team in targets (10) the week after scoring two TDs. In a strong offense with a quality QB, surprised how many leagues there are where he is available.
Ricky Pearsall WR, 49ers
Has gone from literally being shot in preseason to playing in a real game to fantasy roster hopeful. With Brandon Aiyuk out, and Deebo Samuel and Jauan Jennings nursing issues, Pearsall could have increased targets in his future.
D.J. Turner WR, Raiders
Someone besides Brock Bowers has to catches some passes in Vegas. Turner is on the radar behind Tre Tucker as a deep bench option. Aidan O’Connell to Gardner Minshew at QB doesn’t change our outlook.
Jonnu Smith TE, Dolphins
Once Tua Tagovailoa returns, maybe Smith disappears. But until then, expect him to continue to get targets from whoever the timid QB of the day is.
Dark days ahead
Tank Bigsby RB, Jaguars
Parlay his monster Week 7 into a trade. Chances are, when Travis Etienne is healthy, Bigsby starts splitting the work again. Even D’Ernest Johnson is a workload threat in a given week in the meantime.
Betting on the NFL?
Chuba Hubbard RB, Panthers
He ranks fifth among all RBs — fifth! But rookie Jonathan Brooks should make his debut in the next week or two, at which point Hubbard’s monster volume will take a huge dip.
Michael Pittman Jr. WR, Colts
QB Anthony Richardson returned, and predictably Pittman’s fantasy production evaporated. Can’t trade him, and likely no one on waivers better. Stash him on your bench as an emergency option.
Sam LaPorta TE, Lions
At a slim position, we have looked past his paltry production. But we’re almost at midseason, and he has just 14 receptions. Fourteen! Ranks as TE19, and take away one catch (a 52-yard TD in Week 6) and he is TE32. Bench him if you haven’t already.
