Should I Start Kirk Cousins or Deshaun Watson? Fantasy Football Outlook

Preseason football is finally over, and the 2023 NFL season kicked off on Thursday night with the Detroit Lions beating the defending Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs. Now, it's finally time for a full slate of games, which means it's also time for key start-or-sit decisions.

Kirk Cousins and Deshaun Watson are both intriguing Week 1 options. They have very different skill sets that can produce fantasy points in a hurry.

Should you start Cousins or Watson in Week 1? Let's dive in.

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Kirk Cousins Week 1 Fantasy Outlook

Kirk Cousins' Minnesota Vikings open the season at home against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the team's first game of the post-Tom Brady era. The veteran quarterback will have his full group of high-end pass-catchers including Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson.

Tampa Bay allowed the 10th-most fantasy points to quarterbacks last year. The Vikings will likely shift to even more of a pass-happy attack without Dalvin Cook this season.

Cousins always has a low floor and limited ceiling due to his lack of rushing upside, but he's in a good spot for Week 1.

Deshaun Watson Week 1 Fantasy Outlook

Deshaun Watson looked awful last year after missing the entire 2021 season and the first 11 games of the 2022 season. However, he presents real upside in 2023 if he has fully knocked off the rust.

Amari Cooper continued to look like a true No. 1 wideout last year, and the addition of Elijah Moore gives the Browns upside at the WR2 spot. The Browns host the Bengals in Week 1 and there should be plenty of points scored in this contest.

While both defenses have plenty of talent, a battle of two high-end quarterbacks usually yields shootout game conditions.

Should I Start Kirk Cousins Or Deshaun Watson in Week 1?

Cousins is the safer bet in Week 1. We generally know what to expect from him on a weekly basis, and his weapons are some of the best the NFL has to offer.

On the flip side, Watson has a higher ceiling because of his rushing upside and a potential shootout against Joe Burrow.

All that said, risk-averse fantasy managers should roll with Cousins. Ceiling-chasing dice rollers should opt for Watson. Both are strong low-end QB1 plays in Week 1.

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