Dylan Sampson left Week 1’s loss vs. the Jaguars due to a knee injury and left the stadium using crutches and wearing a knee brace. Sampson was hurt about halfway through the first quarter during a kickoff return.
Sampson was at least able to come back to the sideline and test his knee out in an attempt to return to the game after putting a brace on it, so it doesn’t seem like a long-term injury. However, Cabot reports that his knee will be put through further tests Monday to determine the severity of the injury. Sampson is expected to play the pass catching RB role for the Browns this season, a role that 2nd year player Raheim “Rocket” Sanders took over once Sampson left the game. Fantasy football managers will need to keep an eye on the results of Monday’s tests for a potential timeline of how long Sampson will be sidelined.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson is not a ...
Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken informed the QBs on ...
The Cleveland Browns still haven't picked a starting ...
Multiple reports indicate Deshaun Watson is expected to get the first crack at Cleveland’s starting quarterback job, despite a preseason that has done little to silence the questions. Watson has completed 16-of-27 passes for 168 yards, zero touchdowns and one interception across two preseason appearances, including a rough outing against Buffalo while playing with backups.
Watson enters 2026 as a veteran quarterback with his fantasy ceiling tied to whether he can stay healthy and rediscover his rushing and passing efficiency. Watson is a low-end QB2 who needs the Browns’ young weapons—Denzel Boston, KC Concepcion and Harold Fannin Jr.—to unlock any meaningful fantasy value.
Deshaun Watson secured consecutive first-team reps over rookie Shedeur Sanders in Cleveland’s training camp quarterback rotation, signaling head coach Todd Monken favors the veteran. Despite Watson posting a 72.0 True Passer Rating in 2024, three straight efficient practices earned him exclusive starter work while Sanders—boasting an 81st-percentile 19.6 Breakout Age—waits on deck.
Watson is currently in the lead, but he is highly unlikely to be under center in the second half of the season. Regardless, this camp development will inevitably suppress Sanders’ superflex value. Expect this position competition to continue through the preseason games before Cleveland officially names its Week 1 starter against Jacksonville.
The Cleveland Browns have an open quarterback competition because Deshaun Watson failed to secure the job during spring practices. Watson finished his last active stretch with an 11.4 Fantasy Points Per Game average and a No. 37-ranked 72.0 True Passer Rating.
Challenger Shedeur Sanders offers a 90th-percentile 78.2 College QBR, but his 3.08-second average time to throw caps the fantasy utility of this entire depth chart. Sanders is the Browns QB to target in fantasy football superflex best ball and dynasty league formats.
Rumors out of Cleveland indicate the Browns are simply not sold on Shedeur Sanders as a franchise quarterback and are fielding trade calls for the second-year QB ahead of training camp. Despite taking initial first-team minicamp reps, Sanders remains locked in a fluid depth chart battle with Deshaun Watson after averaging a paltry 11.9 Fantasy Points Per Game across eight games last season.
It is a major concern for Sanders’ dynasty lifetime value that the front office is hesitant to anchor their future to a passer who paired a 78.2 College QBR with an NFL-long 3.08-second average time to throw in 2026. Traded or not, Sanders remains a priority stash in superflex fantasy football dynasty leagues and will continue to be a polarizing QB prospect for the foreseeable future.
Shedeur Sanders earned the initial first-team reps this week, and Browns HC Todd Monken thinks he is “being more decisive.” Sanders still faces a looming training camp rotation with Deshaun Watson. Watson managed just 11.4 Fantasy Points Per Game in seven starts last season before a second consecutive year ended on injured reserve.
This fluid depth chart offers very little job security to open the season, making both Sanders and Watson highly volatile selections in early fantasy football drafts. Sanders has youth on his side and is the preferred option for dynasty managers.
