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Following an 11-game suspension for violating the NFL's personal-conduct policy, Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson made his season debut in Week 13 against his former team, the Houston Texans. It was the first time Watson stepped onto the field since the end of the 2020 season.
As expected, there was some rust. Watson only threw 1,102 yards and seven touchdowns with five interceptions in six games for the Browns last year. He wasn't efficient under center and Cleveland went 3-3 in those games.
But can Watson get back to being a top-10 fantasy quarterback in 2023? What's his fantasy outlook? Let's dive in.
Deshaun Watson's Career Fantasy Numbers
Despite fantasy managers stashing Watson all season on their bench, the Browns' quarterback didn't contribute much fantasy value. He had only two top-10 quarterback finishes in Weeks 17 and 18. The 27-year-old veteran averaged just 12.3 fantasy points per game over his first four starts.
Watson missed the entire 2021 season with the Texans and the first 11 games of the 2022 season due to multiple sexual assault allegations against him. After missing one and a half years, the former 2017 first-round pick looked like a rookie on the football field.
The key for the Browns' quarterback in fantasy will be returning to his former self. Between 2018 and 2020, Watson finished top-five at the quarterback position in all three seasons. He threw for over 3,800 yards and 25 touchdowns and also ran for 410-plus yards every year during that span.
Will Deshaun Watson Be A Top-10 Fantasy Quarterback In 2023?
Watson surely has all the talent to finish top-10 at the quarterback position this year. He also has a solid receiving group around him, which should help his fantasy value. Wide receiver Amari Cooper has six 1,000-yard seasons in his career, Donovan Peoples-Jones is coming off a career-best 839-yard season, and newcomer Elijah Moore has the skill set to fit in perfectly.
The question now becomes, which Watson will we see in 2023? The 2022 version that didn't look like a Pro Bowl quarterback or the 2018-2020 version was one of the game's best quarterbacks.
It's easier to bank on the latter, given the fact that Watson will have a full offseason to absorb Cleveland's offense. He started to get going in his final two games last season, averaging 20.73 points across Weeks 17 and 18. If that quarterback shows up in 2023, he'll easily finish as a top-10 option. He's definitely worth a gamble in fantasy drafts this year because of his upside at the position.
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