Who Should I Start? Deshaun Watson or Joe Burrow


Week 1 Projections

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Pts.
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Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
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0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Deshaun Watson News

Deshaun Watson Back on the Fantasy Radar in 2026?

Tuesday, March 17, 6:39 AM

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (Achilles) hasn't played a snap since the middle of the 2024 season, but it appears that he could get back on the fantasy football radar soon. Watson should be healthy (or at least near full health) ahead of the 2026 campaign, giving him a real chance to win the Browns' starting quarterback job. Not only does Watson have the best career stats among the Browns' quarterback room, but he also comes with the largest investment. Cleveland flipped three first-round picks for Watson, whereas Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders were merely Day 2 or 3 selections. Neither Gabriel nor Sanders, both of whom started games in 2025, put together very encouraging stat lines. Watson wasn't great when he last played, either, going 1-6 with 1,148 yards, five touchdowns, and three interceptions. However, his experience, track record, and investment likely make him the favorite to start at quarterback in Week 1, if he's healthy. With a talented, young group of skill players around him -- plus an improved offensive line in front of him -- Watson could sneakily become a fantasy option in deeper leagues. At worst, he has top-24 upside at the quarterback position in 2026.


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Joe Burrow News

Can a Healthy Joe Burrow Challenge for QB1?

Sunday, March 15, 10:36 AM

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow missed nine games in 2025 with a Grade 3 turf toe injury that required in-season surgery. It was the second time in the last three years, and the third time in his career, that he missed significant time due to injury. When healthy, Burrow is among the most gifted quarterbacks in the league, and playing with a supporting cast of Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins will always have him in position to put up huge fantasy numbers, however, his 226 passing yards per game in 2025 marked a career low, and his 2.1 touchdowns per contest were down significantly from his 43-score season the year prior. It bears noting that Burrow's performance after returning from injury more closely resembled his MVP-candidate form, topping 23 fantasy points in five of his final six outings, with one forgettable performance against Baltimore.


Deshaun Watson vs. Joe Burrow

Still trying to decide between Watson and Burrow? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Deshaun Watson is projected to score 0.0 points this week while Joe Burrow is projected to score 0.0 points.