The NFL -- via Judge Sue Robinson -- has suspended Browns QB Deshaun Watson for the 1st 6 games of the season for violating the personal-conduct policy. The NFLPA has said it would not challenge her ruling. The league has 3 days to file an appeal. This is obviously a positive outcome for the fantasy football outlook of Watson and the Browns offense. Expect Jacoby Brissett to start the 1st 6 contests.
Multiple outlets report that Sue Robinson is expected to issue her ruling on league discipline for Browns QB Deshaun Watson on Monday. The NFLPA has announced that it will not appeal the decision. Now we just wait to find the specific number of games.
Citing a source close to the situation, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes that Deshaun Watson’s “currently expected range" of suspension is 2-8 games. Florio adds that it “remains to be seen” if the league would file an appeal in that situation. Fortunately, we should get a ruling from Judge Sue L. Robinson soon -- possibly around the start of training camp. Stay tuned.
Tony Rizzo of ESPN Cleveland says Browns QB Deshaun Watson may miss less than half the upcoming season as discipline for the mountain of sexual-misconduct allegations against him. "Right now, I'm hearing 4-6 games ... from reliable sources," Rizzo says. Watson has sunk into QB3 territory in best-ball tournament drafts on Underdog recently, with most people expecting a full-season suspension. If a mere 4-6 game ban materializes, he'd be a tournament-tilting value anywhere in that range. It's still tough to know, of course, just how much longer we'll have to wait to get the official word. So there will remain plenty of risk to Watson in the meantime.
Pro Football Talk reports that a decision on punishment for Browns QB Deshaun Watson might still be "weeks" away. A 3-day hearing wrapped up on Thursday night, but Judge Sue L. Robinson, who's overseeing this case and will make the final ruling, has asked both sides to submit written briefs by July 11. Pro Football Talk believes that it might be another couple of weeks after that before Robinson makes a decision. Then there's still a potential appeals process to play out. It's now looking like we might not know Watson's status for the 2022 season until August.
Browns QB Deshaun Watson will have a hearing before NFL disciplinary officer Sue L. Robinson beginning Tuesday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. There's no official limit to the length of the hearing. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler says it's expected to last 1-2 days. We'll see about the timeline for discipline to be handed down afterward, but it's another signal that such a step is finally approaching.
Pro Football Network reports that the NFLPA has "concern" that the league wants to suspend Browns QB Deshaun Watson for the whole 2022 season, "if not indefinitely." We'll see what finally happens, but we sure seem to be trending toward a decision before the regular season. And anything short of a year seems likely to get the NFL vilified. If you're drafting best-ball rosters right now, it's probably best to just pass on Watson. Of course, his stock is falling everywhere. Watson's currently QB24 in Underdog drafts. So there's obviously fantasy upside to taking a shot if you so choose and he plays at all.
20 of the 24 sexual assault lawsuits against Browns QB Deshaun Watson have been settled, attorney Tony Buzbee said Tuesday. The NFL's investigation remains ongoing. The lawsuits being settled "has no impact on the collectively bargained disciplinary process," league spokesman Brian McCarthy said. The Washington Post's Mark Maske reported last week that the league wants this situation settled before the start of training camp.
The Washington Post's Mark Maske hears that the NFL is seeking a "significant" suspension for Browns QB Deshaun Watson. A source from Watson's camp believes the league is "probably" aiming for a full-season ban. Watson is now facing 24 sexual assault suits, with 2 more potentially on the way. Maske also reports that the league wants this situation to be settled before the start of training camp near the end of July. Watson's ADP in Underdog drafts has plummeted into the 14th round over the past week.
Browns QB Deshaun Watson is scheduled to meet with NFL officials this week, insider Josina Anderson reports. The Athletic's Lindsay Jones adds that meeting with Watson is one of the last steps in the league's investigation into the sexual assault claims, so it looks like we might be nearing a resolution in that department. (Watson still faces 22 civil lawsuits.). Stay tuned.
Browns QB Deshaun Watson had a legal hearing on Monday to discuss remaining depositions and the scheduling of a trial. With lots of pre-trial work still to be done -- and both sides agreeing that a trial won't take place between August 1 and March 1, 2023 -- it's now looking unlikely that a trial will happen this year, according to Cleveland.com's Adam Ferrise. The NFL is conducting its own investigation into the sexual assault allegations levied against Watson but tends to wait until the legal process has played out before deciding on discipline. That could change in this case. But it now looks more likely than before that Watson will not be suspended in 2022. We just moved him up the QB Rankings.
Commissioner Roger Goodell confirmed Thursday that the league is still looking into the allegations against Browns QB Deshaun Watson. "We’re taking it very seriously," Goodell said. "Our investigators are working on that. There’s no timetable on it. The investigation is still ongoing.” It's confirmation that Watson is nowhere near out of the woods when it comes to a suspension from the NFL. We're currently projecting a 6-game suspension.
Texans QB Deshaun Watson has apparently changed his mind and chosen the Browns as his next team. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that Watson is getting a fully guaranteed 5-year, $230 million contract from Cleveland. The 2 sides will now need to finalize the trade details, but Watson heads to a team with scant receiving options. We'll see what the Browns add to that stable and whether the NFL hands out any discipline for the QB. Watson going to Cleveland, of course, should mean Baker Mayfield getting his wish for a trade. We'll keep adjusting as this whole situation plays out. A fresh start in a potentially more favorable pass offense could mean nice upside for Mayfield. He's a low-risk bet late in current best-ball fantasy football drafts.
Update: The Browns are sending 3 first-round picks, a 2023 third-rounder and a 2024 fourth-rounder to Houston. Cleveland will receive a 2024 fifth-rounder, in addition to Watson.
NFL Network reports that the Panthers have been told they're out of the running for QB Deshaun Watson. With the Browns also out, the race is now reportedly down to the Falcons and Saints. We'll be watching for the final decision -- and any ensuing moves.
ESPN's Dianna Russini reports that each of the teams meeting with QB Deshaun Watson -- the Saints, Panthers and Browns -- 1st had to present a trade package to Houston for approval. That indicates a Watson trade is merely waiting on the QB to select his destination. We'll be watching for the announcement. If you're drafting in the meantime, D.J. Moore, Michael Thomas and Amari Cooper -- along with later pass-catchers for each potential suitor -- are stackable with Watson on best-ball tournament entries.
ESPN's Kimberley A. Martin reports that the Browns plan to meet with QB Deshaun Watson on Tuesday and pursue a potential trade. Watson has also already met with the Saints and Panthers, while Houston has declined the Colts' request to jump into the process. Should the Browns win out, QB Baker Mayfield would certainly make for a sensible trade piece. We'll see how the rest of this plays out.
A grand jury did not find enough evidence to criminally charge QB Deshaun Watson in relation to the sexual assault allegations levied against him. Watson is still facing civil suits, but this development would seemingly make it easier for teams to justify trading for him. "Expect his trade market to ramp up quickly," NFL Network's Ian Rapoport tweets. "Teams have been waiting. This clears the path for a deal by the start of the league year [on March 16]."
Texans QB Deshaun Watson won't be traded before today's deadline, according to multiple sources. Miami was seemingly the only team really in the mix, but NFL Network's Ian Rapoport hears that Dolphins owner Stephen Ross didn't feel comfortable making the trade. So Watson will remain a healthy scratch for the Texans for the rest of the season. And QB Tua Tagovailoa will finish out this year as Miami's starter.
Trade talks between the Texans and Dolphins for QB Deshaun Watson are "heating up," according to insider Aaron Wilson. The 2 sides are hoping to get a deal done before the November 2 trade deadline. Watson will waive his no-trade clause for a move to Miami, which has been his preferred destination all along. Houston, meanwhile, is looking for three 1st-round picks and two 2nd-round picks or players, per Wilson. We'll see where this goes -- and then when Watson is cleared to play amid all his legal issues. We'd still only stash Watson on fantasy rosters at this point if you have a roster spot to play with.
The Texans are prepared to make QB Deshaun Watson a healthy scratch all season, insider Aaron Wilson reports. Watson isn't going to play for Houston -- and no trade is "imminent," per Wilson. This was always a distinct possibility, between Watson's issues with the Texans organization and his legal troubles. QB Tyrod Taylor will open the season as Houston's starter.
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