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Deshaun Watson Sits to Rest Arm

By Matt Schauf | Updated on Wed, Aug 21 2024 9:21 PM UTC
Deshaun Watson Headshot

The Browns held QB Deshaun Watson out for nearly all of team drills Wednesday because of what HC Kevin Stefanski called "general arm soreness."

What They're Saying

Stefanski: "I decided to just hold back a little bit with him but not overly concerned."

ESPN Browns reporter Daniel Oyefusi, before the end of practice: "Kevin Stefanski said the plan is to play Watson in the preseason finale but walked it back in recent days, saying he would take in all info before a final decision.

Stefanski reportedly said after practice he's not sure whether Watson will play in that game.

2024 Fantasy Football Impact

I'll take Stefanski at his word here -- that he's not too concerned -- especially considering that Watson did take part in some of practice.

That said, any health question bears watching for Watson, who has lost time in each of his two Browns seasons so far. Any arm issue is especially noteworthy, with the QB coming off shoulder surgery.

For now, we'll assume no regular-season impact from this issue. But we'll be tracking Watson's status.

Other Winners & Losers

Any physical issue for Watson adds at last some value to backup QB Jameis Winston. He looks like one of the best bench stashes at the position in superflex -- both for Watson's risk and Winston's upside.

Matt Schauf Author Image
Matt Schauf, Editor
Matt has earned two Fantasy Pros accuracy awards for IDP rankings and won thousands of dollars as a player across best ball, dynasty, and high-stakes fantasy formats. He has been creating fantasy football content for more than 20 years, with work featured by Sporting News, Rotoworld, Athlon, Sirius XM, and others. He's been with Draft Sharks since 2011.
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