Who Should I Start? Deshaun Watson or Kenny Pickett

Saturday, December 6, 9:14 PM

The Cleveland Browns are planning to keep quarterback Deshaun Watson (Achilles) on their roster next season, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. While Watson is considered unlikely to play this season as he continues to recover from a torn Achilles that required multiple surgeries, the team has expressed interest in keeping him on the roster, noting that the 30-year-old's veteran presence is valuable for their pair of rookie quarterbacks in Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel. Another big reason Watson is expected to return is due to the fact that the Browns would have to take on a dead salary of close to $135 million if they released him before June 1 and a $53 million cap charge if he was designated as a post-June 1 cap casualty. The record for dead-cap money was set by the Denver Broncos with quarterback Russell Wilson at $85 million, which they split into two years, but releasing Watson would cost the Browns significantly more. With Watson set to return in 2026, he's expected to compete with Sanders and Gabriel for Cleveland's starting gig.

Friday, December 12, 5:38 PM

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kenny Pickett will make the start on Sunday against his former team, the Philadelphia Eagles, head coach Pete Carroll announced on Friday. Geno Smith (shoulder, back) injured his right throwing shoulder in last week's loss to the Denver Broncos and has not practiced all week. This will be Pickett's first start for the Raiders since they acquired him from the Cleveland Browns earlier this season. In relief of Smith last Sunday, Pickett went 8-for-11 passing for 97 yards and a touchdown against Denver. Pickett played in five regular-season games (one start) and two playoff games as part of the Eagles' Super Bowl run last year. The Raiders think Smith has a good chance to return in Week 16 against the Texans, but if Pickett plays well this weekend, the team might stick with him. In a bad matchup on the road in potentially snowy weather, Pickett shouldn't be considered as anything more than a low-end, low-upside QB2 streamer in superflex leagues this weekend.