It's absurdly ironic that less than seven months after being the final addition to what would become the league's final Pro Bowl, Shedeur Sanders has lost the starting job to Deshaun Watson, who, on a per-game basis, has been one of the least effective starting quarterbacks these past four years.
This decision by the Browns will impact the fantasy production of Denzel Boston, KC Concepcion, Jerry Jeudy, Harold Fannin, and perhaps even Quinshon Judkins. Let's examine why.
Watson, of course, is entering the final year of one of the most destructive contracts in the modern sports era, initiated by one of the most lopsided trades in the modern sports era. Cleveland mortgaged a large chunk of its finances and its future for (among other things) 3,365
passing yards, 465 rushing yards, 22 touchdowns, and 14 turnovers in 19 starts.
Due to the terms of the contract, it's inconceivable that Watson will remain in Cleveland after this season. Therefore, he's starting for a team with one of the league's worst Super Bowl odds, with a mostly young and talented offensive corps that he's never played with, and any chemistry they develop will be irrelevant entering 2027.
At some point this season, the Browns almost certainly will bench Watson. Then Boston, Concepcion, and the rest of the team's skill players will have to gel with a new quarterback. By that point, any fantasy managers who drafted Boston, Concepcion, Jeudy, Fannin, or Judkins will be stuck in limbo as the offense reboots.
Managers should understand the risks of investing in Browns players, because it's hard to build momentum when a quarterback could be yanked at any time and replaced by a highly inexperienced "backup."
For a deeper dive into why I'm fading all Browns skill players in my fantasy draft, listen to this recent podcast episode.
This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: The fantasy disruption of naming Deshaun Watson the starter
