Deshaun Watson is reportedly healthy and in a “great head space” as he prepares for an “ongoing competition” for the starting role, presumably against high-profile newcomer Shedeur Sanders. The 30-year-old veteran carries a massive $34.9 million salary for 2026, a steep price given he has played only 19 games since 2021 due to dual Achilles injuries and past legal controversies.
Watson could legitimately slow down Sanders’ breakout momentum in 2026. While team leadership is calling for fan support, the high-stakes battle between the expensive incumbent and the rising rookie will be one of the NFL’s most scrutinized storylines this summer. Superflex dynasty leaguers would be wise to buy the dip on Sanders.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders has had one of...
Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders was the first ...
The Cleveland Browns have publicly praised quarterback ...
The Cleveland Browns a quarterback at No. 182 in Taylen Green, an athletic marvel with a 43.5-inch vertical and a 4.37-second 40-yard dash. Green scored a 9.99 Relative Athletic Score and a solid 19.9 Breakout Age, proving he possesses the “cheat code” dual-threat profile—verified by his historic 777 rushing yards at Arkansas—to completely wreck defensive game plans.
In dynasty Superflex formats, Green is an interesting late round flier or taxi squad add, as the expectation is that Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson will compete for the starting job for Todd Monken’s Browns.
Monken recently reached a new level of coachspeak ridiculousness when he expressed excitement over the Browns quarterbacks’ strong start and their impressive command of the team’s new offensive playbook during offseason workouts.
The position group currently features newcomers Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel alongside veteran Deshaun Watson, who is recovering from major injuries and carries a franchise crippling salary. Although no starter has been named, Sanders is reportedly the frontrunner to lead the offense when the season begins.
Watson is the new Russell Wilson. He will start games in 2026, but Sanders is projected to play more games and carries some value in dynasty leagues. Cleveland will be hyper-focused on finding a new franchise QB in the 2027 NFL Draft. Until then, only the team’s ancillary weapons can be considered solid buy low options in dynasty.
A legitimate camp battle is brewing in Cleveland, where league-average play from Shedeur Sanders, and his sack-magnet rookie profile, provides the only viable option to prevent Deshaun Watson from seeing the field. Meanwhile, Watson is the ultimate sunk cost asset, a $230 million objectively pedestrian QB ensuring the team finishes with a 7-10 record.
Unless Cleveland burns their premium draft capital on a rookie QB like Ty Simpson, Sanders has a real shot to seize the starting job and finally bury Watson for good. Though both Sanders and Watson are ships passing in the night at his point in their respective careers, they currently have near equivalent dynasty values.
Todd Monken is attempting the ultimate sports necromancy by trying to revive Deshaun Watson. The $230 million franchise anchor most recently posted a 72.4 True Passer Rating (#31) and bottom-barrel EPA per Play after single-handedly turning Cleveland into a fantasy football wasteland.
With a torn Achilles and the looming presence of Shedeur Sanders, Watson’s grip on the QB1 chair is officially looser than a pair of gas station sweatpants. While no one is expecting a 2019 Houston resurgence, at just 30 years of age, Watson has the ability to be fantasy relevant and keep Sanders’ dynasty stock suppressed all season.
The Cleveland Browns are the quarterback wasteland; that is no secret, but have they learned from the years of constant failed picks and development? The “vibe” currently is that the Browns will bypass drafting a quarterback early in the 2026 draft class and move forward with Shedeur Sanders, who plummeted back to earth in week 15 after an encouraging game in week 14 vs the Titans.
With four quarterbacks on the roster, it makes for a messy room, and none of the players have stood out. Shedeur, who is the current starter, went 18 of 35 for 177 yards and three interceptions against the Bears, but is building a connection with fellow rookies, Harold Fannin and Isiah Bond. Having three more games this season, if he shows growth and positive results in his 2025 audition, maybe the “vibes” become a plan of action.
Author: Dane Madoche(@FF_DaMaddog)
