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Shedeur Sanders or Deshaun Watson

Who Should I Start? - Week 1 • Start New
Shedeur Sanders

Shedeur Sanders

QB • Cleveland Browns CLE
Deshaun Watson

Deshaun Watson

QB • Cleveland Browns CLE
OR
🔓 EXPERT ANALYSIS

Owners starting Sanders over Watson

 
 
 
 
START BOTH START BENCH BOTH BN

Includes Detailed Projections

Learn More
Outlook Shedeur Sanders

Promising Backup Offers Intriguing Late-Round Stash Value in Cleveland

Shedeur Sanders enters his sophomore season in a developmental role, currently positioned as the primary backup behind Deshaun Watson. Despite his current reserve status, Sanders has turned heads at Browns practices under head coach Todd Monken, rotating in for first-team reps and earning praise for his deep-ball accuracy and rapid development.

Our models project Sanders for 1,121 passing yards, six passing touchdowns, and six interceptions, along with 115 rushing yards and one score. While these numbers reflect a limited projection as a backup, any shift in the starting lineup would immediately elevate him into a high-upside fantasy option.

Looking at draft trends, Sanders' ADP has steadily climbed from the late 240s into the 220s, indicating growing fantasy hype. In 1.0 PPR leagues, he represents a highly affordable late-round flyer who could become a massive steal if Watson struggles or misses time this season.

Updated 23 hrs ago

Latest News Shedeur Sanders
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🔓 EXPERT ANALYSIS

Owners starting Watson over Sanders

 
 
 
 
START BOTH START BENCH BOTH BN

Includes Detailed Projections

Learn More
Latest News Deshaun Watson
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Next Up ❱ Performance Comparison
Performance Shedeur Sanders
Fantasy Chart Loading...

YDS CMP% TD INT RUSH YDS TD
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Season stats based on the past 7 days

YDS CMP% TD INT RUSH YDS TD
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Season stats based on the past 14 days
Performance Deshaun Watson
Fantasy Chart Loading...

YDS CMP% TD INT RUSH YDS TD
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Season stats based on the past 7 days

YDS CMP% TD INT RUSH YDS TD
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Season stats based on the past 14 days
Next Up ❱ Own/Start Comparison
Redzone Touches Shedeur Sanders

Redzone information only applies to RB, WR, TE.

Redzone Touches Deshaun Watson

Redzone information only applies to RB, WR, TE.

Next Up ❱ Own/Start Comparison
OWN/START Shedeur Sanders
OWN
19%
-0.22 compared to last week
START
16%
+7.43 compared to last week
OWN/START Deshaun Watson
OWN
 
0%
No change since last week.
START
 
0%
No change since last week.
Next Up ❱ Consensus Rankings
Expert Consensus Shedeur Sanders
Not Ranked
Average Ranking of Fantasy Experts
Expert Consensus Deshaun Watson
31st
Average Ranking of Fantasy Experts
Next Up ❱ Player Breakdowns
Breakdown Shedeur Sanders

    Overview

  • A good quarterback can mean the world of difference in such a pass heavy league.
  • Experts don't even rank him among QB's. Either he is on a bye week or is just plain bad. Based on his stats from the past 30 days, he is currently ranked 37th with 95.16 total points (5.29 avg).
  • Currently 339.08 points behind the leader: Matthew Stafford
  • Average points in the past two weeks have dipped quite a bit at 5.3.

    • QB Stats

  • Top 25 in pass yards with 1609 (89.39 per game) and is currently ranked 34th among QB.
  • Top 50 in pass tds with 8 (0.44 per game) and is currently ranked 36th among QB.
  • Top 15 in interceptions with 11 (0.61 per game) and is currently ranked 12th.

    • Bonus Qualities

  • Played in 18 more games this year than last year.
  • At this point in the season his numbers compared to last years: Yards: +1609, TDs: +8, INTs: +11
  • Known to throw for big gains. If your league has bonus points for long TDs then this guy would be great to have.

    • Season Outlook

  • PASS YDS: 1121, PASS TDS: 6, RUSH YDS: 115, RUSH TDS: 1
Breakdown Deshaun Watson

    Overview

  • He has missed playing in at least 2 games but is not listed on the injury report as of today. Check out his player news to see if he has any nagging injuries.

    • Bonus Qualities

  • Played in 7 less games this year than last year.
  • At this point in the season his numbers compared to last years:

    • Season Outlook

Next Up ❱ Health Check
Injury Shedeur Sanders

No Injury Reported

Injury Deshaun Watson

No Injury Reported

Next Up ❱ Matchup Comparison
Matchups Shedeur Sanders

Week 1
Cleveland Browns @ Jacksonville Jaguars

PA/G YDS/G TO INT SACK TDs FSP
20.17319.8932223343.82
Compare to same point last season

Overview

  • Experts don"t even rank him among DST's. Either he is on a bye week or is just plain bad. Based on his stats from the past 30 days, he is currently ranked 5th with 147.00 total points (8.17 avg).
  • Currently 80 points behind the leader: Seahawks DST
  • Average points in the past two weeks have dipped quite a bit at 8.2.

Defensive Stats

  • Top 12 in total yards against with 338.71 per game and is currently ranked 12th among DST.
  • Top 2 in turnovers with 31 (1.82 per game) and is currently ranked 2nd among DST.
  • Top 2 in rush defense with 1510 (88.82 per game) and is currently ranked 1st among DST.
  • Ranked 21st in pass defense with 4248 (249.88 per game).
  • Top 2 in interceptions with 22 (1.29 per game) and currently ranked 2nd among DST.
  • Top 8 in points against with 19.76 per game and currently ranked 8th among DST.
  • Top 6 in Total TDs with 4 (0.24 per game) and currently ranked 6th among DST.

Bonus Qualities

  • At this point in the season his numbers compared to last years: Total Yards Against: -60.29, Turnovers: +22 Sacks: -3, INTs: +14, TDs: +3, Points Allowed: -3.89,

Season Outlook

  • SACK: 40, INT: 13, TDS: 5, PA/G: 21, YDS/G: 322.6
Matchups Deshaun Watson

Week 1
Cleveland Browns @ Jacksonville Jaguars

PA/G YDS/G TO INT SACK TDs FSP
20.17319.8932223343.82
Compare to same point last season

Overview

  • Experts don"t even rank him among DST's. Either he is on a bye week or is just plain bad. Based on his stats from the past 30 days, he is currently ranked 5th with 147.00 total points (8.17 avg).
  • Currently 80 points behind the leader: Seahawks DST
  • Average points in the past two weeks have dipped quite a bit at 8.2.

Defensive Stats

  • Top 12 in total yards against with 338.71 per game and is currently ranked 12th among DST.
  • Top 2 in turnovers with 31 (1.82 per game) and is currently ranked 2nd among DST.
  • Top 2 in rush defense with 1510 (88.82 per game) and is currently ranked 1st among DST.
  • Ranked 21st in pass defense with 4248 (249.88 per game).
  • Top 2 in interceptions with 22 (1.29 per game) and currently ranked 2nd among DST.
  • Top 8 in points against with 19.76 per game and currently ranked 8th among DST.
  • Top 6 in Total TDs with 4 (0.24 per game) and currently ranked 6th among DST.

Bonus Qualities

  • At this point in the season his numbers compared to last years: Total Yards Against: -60.29, Turnovers: +22 Sacks: -3, INTs: +14, TDs: +3, Points Allowed: -3.89,

Season Outlook

  • SACK: 40, INT: 13, TDS: 5, PA/G: 21, YDS/G: 322.6
Next Up ❱ Ratings Comparison
Rating Shedeur Sanders
4.99
FantasySP Player Rating
Rating Deshaun Watson
5.63
FantasySP Player Rating
Next Up ❱ Career Comparison
Career Shedeur Sanders
PASS RUSH
YR TM GP YD CMP% TD INT RAT YD TD FUM
2025 CLE 9 1609 57% 8 11 69.8 168 1 1
3-YEAR AVG 5 805 57% 4 6 69.8 84 1 1
Totals 9 1609 57% 8 11 69.8 168 1 1
Career Deshaun Watson
PASS RUSH
YR TM GP YD CMP% TD INT RAT YD TD FUM
2017 HOU 7 1699 62% 19 8 103.0 269 2 2
2018 HOU 16 4165 68% 26 9 103.1 551 5 6
2019 HOU 15 3852 67% 26 12 98.0 413 7 6
2020 HOU 16 4823 70% 33 7 112.4 444 3 3
2022 CLE 6 1102 58% 7 5 79.1 175 1 0
2023 CLE 6 1115 61% 7 4 84.3 142 1 2
2024 CLE 7 1148 63% 5 3 79.0 148 1 3
3-YEAR AVG 4 739 60% 5 3 81.7 106 1 1
Totals 73 17904 66% 123 48 98.8 2142 20 22
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Player News

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Matchups

Week 1
ARI @LAC
ATL @PIT
BAL @IND
BUF @HOU
CAR vs CHI
CIN vs TB
CLE @JAC
DAL @NYG
DEN @KC
DET vs NO
GB @MIN
LAR vs SF
LV vs MIA
NE @SEA
NYJ @TEN
PHI vs WAS
Matchup Time Pitchers
ARI @MIA 01:10 EDT EST
ATL @CHW 07:40 EDT EST
BAL vs SEA 07:05 EDT EST
CHC @COL 03:10 EDT EST
DET vs MIN 01:10 EDT EST
KC vs TEX 02:10 EDT EST
LAD @PIT 06:40 EDT EST
NYM vs STL 01:10 EDT EST
Matchup Time
No games scheduled
Matchup Time
VGK @CAR 8:00 PM EST