Where to Take Deshaun Watson in Your Fantasy Football Draft

Today, we finally got a decision on the Deshaun Watson suspension. This also means we have more clarity on the Deshaun Watson fantasy football value.

The ruling for the Watson suspension is six games, meaning he will be able to return to the Cleveland Browns for their Week 7 game against the Baltimore Ravens. Of course, this also means Watson will be out for your fantasy football teams for seven of the first nine weeks, since the Browns have a Week 9 bye week.

So, with this in mind, where should you take Deshaun Watson in your fantasy football draft? If you don’t want to read, watch our Deshaun Watson fantasy video. Subscribe while you’re at it, since we have new videos coming every weekday in August.

Where Should You Take Deshaun Watson in Your Fantasy Football Draft?

Deshaun Watson Fantasy Football Stats

Deshaun Watson Schedule

Deshaun Watson Fantasy ADP

The Deshaun Watson fantasy football ADP is taken from Fantasy Football Calculator for 12-team PPR leagues. Obviously, the data comes from before the suspension.

ADP — 134, 11.09, QB16

While Watson will miss seven of the first nine games for your fantasy team this season, I believe clarity on the situation will lead to his ADP rising (going earlier). When the Deshaun Watson fantasy value settles, I think he could leap Kirk Cousins, making him a 10th-round pick in 12-team leagues.

Where to Draft Deshaun Watson in Fantasy Football?

January 3, 2021 — this is the last time Deshaun Watson played in an NFL game. January 12, 2020 — this is the last time Watson played in front of a stadium full of fans.

There are many reasons to believe the Deshaun Watson fantasy football value takes steps backward this season. With Houston, he often played from behind, played indoors and he was in the AFC South. Now, Watson plays in the AFC North, has a solid running game and defense, and nearly all of his games will be outdoors this season. Throughout his career, Watson has been a bit worse outdoors, and now he’ll be outdoors in the cold.

Watson will have to get back up to NFL speed quickly. He also has had a lot affecting his mental game over the past couple of years. We do not know how he will look.

For me, if I am able to put suspended players in my league’s IR slot, I am willing to draft Watson in the 10th or 11th round. I would try to pair him with Kirk Cousins ideally, though pairing him with Jameis Winston or Marcus Mariota also works if you are trying to load up on other positions first.

It doesn’t feel worth it to reach for Watson. On a per-game basis, he isn’t going to be a massive difference-maker for you, even if he returns to his career average for fantasy football. However, on a team that won’t require him to play hero ball all the time, there’s a good chance the Deshaun Watson fantasy value will be lower on a per-game basis than his career average, which doesn’t make him super desirable, given his suspension.