Deshaun Watson
28-Year-Old
Questionable
Injury Shoulder
Est. Return 6/15/2024
2023 Pass/Rush Stats
YDS
1115
TD
7
INT
4
YDS
142
TD
1
2024 Projections
2024 Fantasy Outlook
For the second season in a row, Watson was limited to six games last year. This time it was shoulder injuries, including a fracture that ended his season Week 10. Watson's stats were near copies of the poor numbers he produced the year before. His 69.0 percent on-target rate was less than a percentage point higher than in 2022, ranking 31st among QBs with at least 170 attempts. His YPA was the same 6.5 (28th). The difference was he stretched the field last year. His average target depth jumped two full yards to 9.2 (3rd), and 12.9 percent of his attempts traveled at least 20 yards (3rd) after just 5.3 percent (35th) in 2022. It amounted to more than two extra deep shots per game. Not that it changed much -- Watson had only 13 more yards than the year before and the same number of TD passes (seven). Perhaps he'll get back to pushing the ball downfield this season like during his glory years in Houston when his average target depth was 9.0 yards and he actually completed the passes at a high rate. He at least has an excellent collection of playmakers to make things happen. The Browns traded for Jerry Jeudy to join wide receivers Amari Cooper and Elijah Moore, tight end David Njoku and running back Nick Chubb. Watson's rushing has remained steady the last two years (26.5 rush yards per game, prorating to 450 for a full season), so if he gets the passing going there's still a chance to be some semblance of the dynamic QB he was for his first four years. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
Continues to progress
Head coach Kevin Stefanski said Wednesday that Watson is throwing every other day as the quarterback continues his rehab from a season-ending shoulder injury, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Per Oyefusi, Watson threw passes during Tuesday's session but didn't do so Wednesday, though he did participate in individual and team drills. In regard to how Watson has looked during OTAs, Stefanski noted that the quarterback "looked like himself." Watson underwent surgery last November to repair a displaced fracture to the glenoid in his right shoulder, so the Browns are proceeding deliberately with their top signal-caller in anticipation of him being ready for Week 1. With Watson not throwing Wednesday, Jameis Winston and Tyler Huntley took the bulk of the reps in team drills.
Per Oyefusi, Watson threw passes during Tuesday's session but didn't do so Wednesday, though he did participate in individual and team drills. In regard to how Watson has looked during OTAs, Stefanski noted that the quarterback "looked like himself." Watson underwent surgery last November to repair a displaced fracture to the glenoid in his right shoulder, so the Browns are proceeding deliberately with their top signal-caller in anticipation of him being ready for Week 1. With Watson not throwing Wednesday, Jameis Winston and Tyler Huntley took the bulk of the reps in team drills.
NFL Stats
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Fantasy/Red Zone Stats
See red zone opportunities inside the 20, 10 and 5-yard lines along with the percentage of time they converted the opportunity into a touchdown.
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Advanced NFL Stats
How do Deshaun Watson's 2023 advanced stats compare to other quarterbacks?
This section compares his advanced stats with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank.
The longer the bar, the better it is for the player.
Bad Pass %
18.7%Avg Target Depth
9.3 YdsSack Rate
9.0%Avg Receiver YAC
5.0 YdsReceiver Drop %
8.8%Loading Advanced NFL Stats...
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2023 NFL Game Log
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Snap Distribution / Depth Chart
Snap Counts
Snap %
2023 Deshaun Watson Split Stats
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Measurables Review
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How do Deshaun Watson's measurables compare to other quarterbacks?
This section compares his draft workout metrics with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average.
Height
6' 3"Weight
223 lbs40-Yard Dash
4.66 secShuttle Time
4.31 secCone Drill
6.95 secVertical Jump
32.5 inBroad Jump
119 inHand Length
9.75 inArm Length
33.00 in
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Acclimation to system a priority
Kevin Patra of NFL.com identifies getting Watson fully acclimated to new offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey as the top remaining offseason priority for the Browns.
ANALYSIS
Head coach Kevin Stefanski will still call plays this season, but Dorsey, a one-time NFL quarterback, will be heavily involved with Watson. The Browns have a massive and fully guaranteed investment in Watson for years to come, so the hope is Dorsey, who helped significantly with Josh Allen's development over the last few seasons in Buffalo, can have a similarly positive effect with the veteran signal-caller.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski will still call plays this season, but Dorsey, a one-time NFL quarterback, will be heavily involved with Watson. The Browns have a massive and fully guaranteed investment in Watson for years to come, so the hope is Dorsey, who helped significantly with Josh Allen's development over the last few seasons in Buffalo, can have a similarly positive effect with the veteran signal-caller.
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
When Watson finally got back under center Week 13 last year, he looked like a quarterback who hadn’t played in a season and a half. Of 38 QBs with at least 170 attempts, Watson ranked 32nd in on-target percentage (68.2) and 36th in completion percentage (58.2). He failed to top 200 yards passing in four of his six games, with his 6.5 YPA ranking 32nd. Watson especially struggled throwing deep, completing only four of 17 attempts beyond 20 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. On a positive note, he rushed for 175 yards, showing at least part of his game was up to the task. Getting his arm back to his pre-suspension level is partly a matter of reps. Watson missed the offseason program last year and after participating in training camp and then was away from the team for three months. The long layoff from game action likely is responsible for his apparent slower processing -- Watson averaged a league-high 3.27 seconds before throwing -- and resulting struggles. Plus, last season he stepped into an offense that was tailored for QB Jacoby Brissett. This season, the scheme is his, and he'll have additional weapons after the Browns traded for Elijah Moore and drafted Cedric Tillman (Round 3) to join Amari Cooper and Donovan Peoples-Jones at wide receiver. Nick Chubb returns after a 1,500-yard rushing season, and TE David Njoku is coming off a career-high 58 receptions. It doesn’t take much faith to believe Watson can return to a top-10 fantasy quarterback, if not the top-5 QB we saw from 2018-20.
More Fantasy News
Making 40-yard throws
Browns general manager Andrew Berry said Thursday that Watson (shoulder) has been making throws of up to 40 yards, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
ANALYSIS
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Throwing full speed
Watson (shoulder) said Tuesday he's already resumed "throwing full speed" but that he's uncertain how large a workload he'll handle during OTAs and minicamp, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
ANALYSIS
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Confident in Week 1 availability
Watson, who is bouncing back from shoulder surgery he underwent Nov. 21, noted Thursday he has no doubt that he'll be ready for the Browns' season opener, Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
ANALYSIS
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Making good progress in recovery
Watson (shoulder) recently said on his QB Unplugged podcast that he's "in a great spot" and has "plenty of time to ramp up the throwing sessions," per Nick Shook of NFL.com.
ANALYSIS
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Could begin throwing Tuesday
Watson (shoulder) could begin light throwing as soon as Tuesday, Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
ANALYSIS
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