Who Should I Start? Deshaun Watson or Sam Darnold

Thursday, April 4, 2:00 PM

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (shoulder) said that he'll be ready for Week 1 of the 2024 regular season after having shoulder surgery last year. Watson also said recently that he's "in a great spot" and has "plenty of time to ramp up the throwing sessions" this offseason after having surgery on Nov. 21 to fix a displaced glenoid fracture in his right shoulder. The 28-year-old probably won't do everything during offseason workouts this spring, but he should be ready to go in full this summer at training camp. Watson has only played in 12 games over the last three seasons due to injury and suspension, but he remains the Browns' starter under center and still has the talent to be a midrange QB1 with the weapons he has around him in Cleveland.

Monday, March 25, 2:16 PM

Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said that he's happy to have veteran quarterback Sam Darnold on the team this year. "I think his best football is ahead of him because of how he handled the last couple of years," O'Connell said. The Vikings head coach points out that he saw growth with Darnold's fundamentals as he worked as Brock Purdy's backup in San Francisco last year, and he's excited to get to work with him in Minnesota. The Vikings signed the former first-rounder to a one-year, $10 million deal this offseason, and depending on what the team does in the upcoming NFL draft, Darnold could open the year as the starter under center in Week 1. He'll have one of the best receivers in the game in Justin Jefferson to work with if he's starting, but Darnold will still be a midrange QB2, at best, in fantasy.