Each Friday during the 2022 NFL and fantasy football season, Eric Karabell will bring his always-reasonable perspective to highlight the biggest storylines heading into the weekend's games.
Cleveland Browns QB Deshaun Watson had a three-season run for the Houston Texans, from 2018 to 2020, in which he was a top-five fantasy quarterback each year, producing impressive passing totals in combination with his unique running ability. That version of Watson was not on display last Sunday when he made his season debut against his former, tattered franchise, scoring 5.3 fantasy points against the worst team in the league. Marcus Mariota and Kyle Allen, now benched QBs, scored more. Browns WR Donovan Peoples-Jones, on one punt return alone, scored more.
The Browns won easily because the Texans are the Texans. The Cleveland offense scored nary a touchdown. Why exactly are we assuming the old, productive Watson, who before last Sunday hadn't performed in an NFL game in 23 months, returns this week? The Browns play a critical game Sunday against a Cincinnati Bengals team that has not only won four games in a row to tie for first place in the AFC North, but boasts a defense among the top five in preventing fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks and wide receivers.
Watson is not a top-10 quarterback in my Week 14 rankings and yes, with six teams on their bye week, it removes depth from the position and means some quarterbacks we may not want to rely on (Jared Goff, Tyler Huntley, etc.) ended up ranked better than Watson. The Bengals are really good, with an improving secondary and pass rush that flustered the great Patrick Mahomes on Sunday. Watson has a running game and Amari Cooper, but ... it seems optimistic to presume all the rust acquired from a nearly two-year absence is gone after one game.
Perhaps fantasy managers would feel better about the situation had Watson struggled against a stronger defense, but he missed open receivers with passes that bounced and also threw wide of the target with some regularity. He also tossed a goal-line interception that should not have been thrown. The Browns generally rely on their running game and Nick Chubb -- second in the NFL in rushing yards -- has a game with 163 total yards and two touchdowns and another with 133 yards and two touchdowns over the past two seasons against the Bengals. That would seem to be the way to go this week.
This hardly means anyone should truly panic and drop Watson, the most-added quarterback in ESPN leagues entering last week and still No. 3 on that list for this week. It is reasonable to sit him as we approach the fantasy playoffs. Watson is under immense pressure to perform well in a divisional game versus a huge rival as the Browns must win to stay in contention, and despite reports that he is looking strong in practice this week -- what would the reports say anyway? -- he is a risk and clearly, even after one game, on the proverbial hot seat. The Browns may have to rely on him this week, but you, wise fantasy managers, do not.
Other quarterbacks on the fantasy hot seat
Minnesota's Kirk Cousins has provided fewer than 17 fantasy points in four of five games against tougher competition, but now he gets the Lions, a team he scored 18.3 points against in Week 3. Cousins has his team ready to clinch its division, but in fantasy he needs a big game this week. ... His opposing QB, the Lions' Jared Goff, has nearly as many fantasy points as Cousins this season. I ranked him well this week, but next week -- the playoffs for many in our world -- the Lions will face the Jets, so it would be nice to see a strong outing Sunday.
Baltimore backup Tyler Huntley performed capably when thrust into starting duty for Lamar Jackson late last season, but if he struggles against the Steelers this week, it could dissuade fantasy managers for Week 15 at Cleveland. ... Yeah, new Jets starter Mike White will be on the hot seat every week, as Zach Wilson still lurks, and the Jets can't just forget about Wilson. ... Bucs legend Tom Brady probably gets a pass if he struggles at San Francisco this week, but it would be nice if he provided midteens fantasy points. ... Denver's Russell Wilson was on the hot seat months ago and there is no seat left for him anymore. Move on for your own good.
Running backs
Nobody seems too concerned about Titans star Derrick Henry, despite consecutive performances of fewer than 40 rushing yards, but he always has fun against the Jaguars, so he'd better do it again. ... Are the Lions' playcallers on a hot seat to continue keeping D'Andre Swift more involved? After all, can we really blame Swift's low touches for months on him? ... Miami RBs Jeff Wilson Jr. and Raheem Mostert, not too surprisingly, did little in their revenge game at San Francisco. More is expected for another West Coast matchup, now with the Chargers. If they don't perform well, fantasy managers may run away. ... Now it's Tampa's Leonard Fournette and Rachaad White trying to run on the 49ers in Cali. Maybe not hot seat worthy, but we're paying attention. ... Buffalo's Devin Singletary has to realize James Cook is pushing him for touches. Is this already a timeshare? ... The Rams' Cam Akers scored two touchdowns in Week 13 and, just that quickly, everyone wants to rely on him again. His seat will be hot the rest of the way.
Wide receivers
We didn't discuss Amari Cooper and Donovan Peoples-Jones in the lead, because they didn't struggle against the Texans. It was their QB. We should downgrade them this week, though. ... If we're going to pick on a Buccaneers player, it should be Mike Evans. Chris Godwin is getting numbers. Evans last scored a TD in Week 4 and last reached 60 receiving yards in Week 8. His seat is relatively hot as a WR2 for fantasy. ... None of the Chiefs' pass-catchers, including TE Travis Kelce, did much in Week 13. Kelce will be fine, but what about JuJu Smith-Schuster and the WRs? ... We don't have to rely on Denver's Wilson, but some will do so with Jerry Jeudy, especially with Courtland Sutton out. Seems like a trap! ... Speaking of traps, Jaguar Zay Jones starred in Week 12, got everyone excited, then did little against the Lions. Important outing this week against the Titans for his fantasy value. ... You bet I'm higher on Steelers rookie George Pickens than most this week, as his sideline tantrum figures to get him a large target share moving forward. I even ranked him ahead of zero-TD partner Diontae Johnson, so it had better happen (lol).