Who Should I Start? Deshaun Watson or Anthony Richardson

Saturday, December 14, 12:27 PM

Despite being 3-10 heading into a Week 15 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs, the Cleveland Browns expect quarterback Deshaun Watson (Achilles), reigning NFL Coach of the Year Kevin Stefanski and general manager Andrew Berry to return in 2025, according to sources. Watson's role, however, is up in the air with the Browns moving forward after he suffered a season-ending Achilles tear midseason. Cleveland traded three first-round picks to the Texans to acquire Watson in 2022 and then signed him to a five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract. Since joining the team, he has played in just 19 games and has posted a weak 80.7 passer rating when on the field. A post-June 1 release of Watson would create around $119 million in dead money, which would be the most in NFL history. The Browns are stuck with Watson for now, and he'll be off the fantasy radar coming off his serious injury in 2025.

Friday, December 20, 5:28 PM

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson found the end zone via the rush for the fourth time in the last four weeks in Week 15, but had another horrendous day throwing the football, completing 50% or less of his passes for the eighth time in the nine full games he's played in 2024 while throwing two interceptions. Things won't get any easier in Week 16 as the Colts have a divisional matchup with the Titans who have allowed the 11th-fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. Wide receiver Alec Pierce has been ruled out after sustaining a concussion last week, which actually may help improve the 22-year-old's completion rate since he likes to throw the ball deep and Pierce leads the entire NFL in average depth of target. Therefore, targets could be focused more on intermediate, higher-percentage throws. Regardless of whether or not that holds true, with fantasy titles hanging in the balance, managers who are streaming QBs will want to look elsewhere if possible as the former first-round draft pick projects only as a mid-range QB2 in Week 16.