Who Should I Start? Deshaun Watson or Tyler Shough

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.

Saturday, December 13, 1:06 PM

New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough completed 13-of-20 passes for 144 yards and one interception in the Week 14 win over the Buccaneers, doing most of his damage as a runner. Shough turned in a career-best rushing performance, carrying the ball seven times for 55 yards and two touchdowns, including an impressive 34-yard score to start the third quarter. He now turns his attention to the Panthers, who, following the Buccaneers' loss on Thursday, sit atop the NFC South. When these teams last met in Week 10, Shough threw for 282 yards and two touchdowns in his first career victory. The Panthers allow the eighth-fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks, though Shough has shown the ability to put the team on his back, whether through the air or on the ground, to keep games competitive. He ranks as a QB2 this week and is worth starting in superflex formats.