Who Should I Start? Geno Smith or Deshaun Watson

Saturday, December 20, 7:20 AM

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith (shoulder, back) will return this Sunday on the road in Houston against the top-rated Texans defense in Week 16. He practiced in full all week and was removed from the team's injury report heading into Sunday's game. Smith has failed to pass over 175 yards in five of his last eight starts, and the Texans have held opposing quarterbacks to a league-best 12.9 fantasy points per game this season. In his previous start in Week 14 against the Denver Broncos, Smith completed 13 of his 21 pass attempts for 116 yards and one touchdown. In Week 16, the veteran quarterback will need to rely on rookie running back Ashton Jeanty and tight end Brock Bowers for short, quick passes as the Texans' defense allows quarterbacks a mere 2.73 seconds to throw, which is tied for first in the league. Only desperate two-QB Superflex league fantasy managers should consider the 35-year-old Smith as a starter in Week 16.

Friday, December 19, 1:27 PM

Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said that a decision on activating quarterback Deshaun Watson (Achilles) to the 53-man roster will be made next week, according to Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN. The deadline for the Browns to activate Watson from the Physically Unable to Perform list is next Tuesday. Watson has been ruled out for the Week 16 contest against the visiting Buffalo Bills. Even if the 30-year-old is activated from the PUP list before the Week 17 divisional matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, rookie Shedeur Sanders is expected to remain Cleveland's starter to close out the 2025 season. If the Browns don't activate Watson by next Tuesday, he'll be ineligible for the final two games of the year. The three-time Pro Bowler's NFL future remains incredibly murky, although he's expected to stick around in Cleveland next year and compete for the starting job with Sanders and Dillon Gabriel.