🏆 Should You Draft Deshaun Watson?

[Footballguys Email Updates](=) [Go PRO]( | [View Online](=) [Unsubscribe]( | [Sign Up]() [Footballguys.com](=)Daily Email Update • Vol. 24, #131 • Aug. 18th[,](=) 2022 --------------------------------------------------------------- Thanks To Our Sponsor, [The 2022 Footballguys Players Championship]() Howdy {NAME}, Welcome to Friday. Finally. Clarity on the Deshaun Watson suspension. And our Sigmund Bloom has the details on the implications and what it means for Watson and the other Cleveland players. And a word on what it may mean for you. The beauty of Fantasy Football is you get to be the GM. Play the game the way it feels best to you. Plus we've got a sweet feature from Matt Waldman as he gives you his "From The Gut" takes. Plus the Ultimate Strength Of Schedule returns, IDP goodness, and more. Let's Go. J --------------------------------------------------------------- [Footballguys Players Championship]() Sponsored by [The 2022 Footballguys Players Championship]() [Enter Now For Your Chance At The $500,000 Grand Prize]() [The 2022 Footballguys Players Championship]() features a $500,000 grand prize, a $150,000 runner-up prize, and a $4,395,750 fully-guaranteed total prize pool. Teams are $350 each or -- our best value -- $1,000 for a three-pack. Only 15,000 teams are available, so don't miss out. [Sign Up Now]() --------------------------------------------------------------- SITE NEWS A. [Make This Year Your Year With A Footballguys Premium Subscription]( Consistently winning at Fantasy Football is hard. And losing sucks. We have the secret weapon you need in a [Footballguys Premium Subscription](. We do the work so you can do the winning. And as always, we have a 30-day Moneyback Guarantee so there's zero risk. B. [Win $10,000 plus $5,000 For A Food Bank In The Footballguys Subscriber Contest]( If you purchase one of our annual [Premium Subscriptions](, you get an entry into the Subscriber Contest. It's that easy. We have a $35,000 prize pool up for grabs this year. Including, new for this year, $5,000 to be donated in the 1st Place Winner's name to a food bank in the city of their choice. Lots of people tell us the Subscriber Contest is the main reason they buy a premium subscription. I can see why. C. [Should You Draft Deshaun Watson?]() Our Sigmund Bloom with a look at the fantasy football implications of Deshaun Watson's suspension. D. [From the Gut]() Our Matt Waldman has studied the film and the data, but it's time for a real gut check. E. [Ultimate Strength of Schedule]( Our Clayton Gray with an overview of the 2022 strength of schedule. F. [Linebacker Tiers](=) Our Aaron Rudnicki takes a look at the landscape for fantasy linebackers in 2022 and breaks them up into tiers to help with your IDP draft. [] INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1. [CLE - QB Deshaun Watson suspended 11 games](#1) 2. [TB - QB Tom Brady's return date still up in the air](#2) 3. [CAR - QB Baker Mayfield expected to start](#3) 4. [JAX - RB James Robinson expected to be ready](#4) 5. [KC - WR JuJu Smith-Schuster could return to work next week](#5) 6. [DEN - KJ Hamler returns to practice](#6) 7. [DEN - Greg Dulcich returns to practice](#7) 8. [MIN - TE Irv Smith on track for Week 1](#8) 9. [PIT - Pittsburgh swaps out running backs](#9) 10. [KC - WR Mecole Hardman could play Saturday](#10) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 1. [CLE - QB Deshaun Watson suspended 11 games]() Source: ProFootballTalk.com Cleveland Browns QB Deshaun Watson was suspended for 11 games and fined $5 million by the NFL, according to a source Thursday, Aug. 18. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] The NFL wanted an indefinite suspension, but when Judge Sue Robinson ruled a six-game suspension for Watson that notion had to change. The league gets a longer suspension, and they get a multi-million dollar fine for Watson. His suspension will begin after the final roster cuts before the start of the regular season. His first game back will be Week 13 against the Houston Texans. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 2. [TB - QB Tom Brady's return date still up in the air]() Source: The Athletic - Greg Auman Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Tom Brady (personal) does not have a 'definitive date' to return to the team after being excused from practice for personal reasons last week, according to head coach Todd Bowles.'We'll see. We'll talk about it next week. I'm not concerned about it right now. We're trying to practice against Tennessee and play a game. I said sometime after Tennessee. There's no definitive date for me. We'll keep in touch and find out,' Bowles said. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] This was the plan all along. Brady needs some time away, and we'll have more of an update in the next week or two. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 3. [CAR - QB Baker Mayfield expected to start]( Source: The Athletic - Jeff Howe and Joseph Person Carolina Panthers QB Baker Mayfield is expected to be named starting quarterback for Week 1, according to sources. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Zero surprise here. The Panthers traded for Mayfield, and they were looking for an upgrade over Sam Darnold. Mayfield would have to fall on his face for the team to stick with Darnold as their starter. The Panthers staff is in a make-or-break year, and head coach Matt Rhule needs to win - and win often. Mayfield is not a great starting option, but he's the best they have. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 4. [JAX - RB James Robinson expected to be ready](=) Source: 92.5 FM - Mia O'Brien Jacksonville Jaguars RB James Robinson (Achilles') is expected to be ready for Week 1, according to head coach Doug Pederson. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Great news for Robinson here. He's been trending in that direction, and Robinson has been getting first-team reps in training camp. The team trusts him in pass protection, so he'll get plenty of work in tandem with second-year RB Travis Etienne. We like drafting Robinson in the RB35-45 range. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 5. [KC - WR JuJu Smith-Schuster could return to work next week]( Source: Chiefs.com - Matt McMullen Kansas City Chiefs WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (knee) has a 'good chance' to return to practice next week, according to head coach Andy Reid. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Smith-Schuster has been managing this knee problem for some time, and expect the Chiefs to continue that into the regular season. If healthy, Smith-Schuster should be QB Patrick Mahomes' favorite target...in an offense that should spread things around more. From a fantasy perspective, we like him in the WR25-35 range. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- FOOTBALLGUYS PICKS DOMINATE YOUR FRIENDS WITH A FOOTBALLGUYS PREMIUM SUBSCRIPTION - Consistently winning at Fantasy Football is hard. And losing sucks. We have the secret weapon you need in a Footballguys Premium Subscription. We do the work so you can do the winning. And as always, we have a 30-day Moneyback Guarantee so there's zero risk. [Join Now](=) --------------------------------------------------------------- YOUR QUEST FOR $500K AWAITS - The 2022 FOOTBALLGUYS PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP is filling up fast. The $500,000 grand prize and the $4,395,750 total prize pool are fully guaranteed. Drafts are already underway so you can compete right away. But don't miss out -- this contest has limited space. [Sign Up Now]() --------------------------------------------------------------- LOOKING FOR EVEN MORE FANTASY FOOTBALL CONTENT? - Matthew Berry's RotoPass bundles together premium subscriptions from Footballguys, RotoWire, RotoViz, ESPN+, and more. [Sign Up Now](=) --------------------------------------------------------------- FOOTBALLGUYS GEAR IS HERE! - We're proud of what we put together here for you and we're thankful and appreciative when folks represent. And if you're reading this, it's a safe bet to assume you've dominated your league. Now you can look the part too. [Shop Now]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 6. [DEN - KJ Hamler returns to practice](=) Source: DenverBroncos.com - Aric DiLalla Denver Broncos WR KJ Hamler (knee) returned to practice Thursday, Aug. 18. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Hamler began training camp on the PUP list due to this knee/hip injury that required surgery last year. They brought him off the PUP, and Hamler has been out there practicing. He did seem to have a setback and missed some time over the last week or so. Now, Hamler is back out there and he still looks fast. We'll see if Hamler can stay healthy and be the no.3 receiver for the Broncos behind Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 7. [DEN - Greg Dulcich returns to practice](=) Source: DNVR Sports - Zac Stevens Denver Broncos TE Greg Dulcich (hamstring) returned to practice Thursday, Aug. 18. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Dulcich is listed as the no.2 tight end behind Albert Okwuegbunam. We love Dulcich in dynasty formats, but this hamstring injury has been lingering since OTAs and minicamp. He's behind in learning the offense and the pro game. Dulcich is a fast receiving weapon, but he needs to be a better blocker to get on the field more for the Broncos. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 8. [MIN - TE Irv Smith on track for Week 1]() Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter Minnesota Vikings TE Irv Smith (thumb) is on track to be available for Week 1, according to head coach Kevin O'Connell on Thursday, Aug. 18. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Smith's thumb surgery in early August means he's going to come into the offense with little work leading up to the season. The Vikings expected big things from Smith last year, but a meniscus injury derailed his season. Now, Smith has a chance to do good things in O'Connell's system. We like drafting Smith around the TE11-16 range. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 9. [PIT - Pittsburgh swaps out running backs]( Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Brian Batko Pittsburgh Steelers RB Master Teague (undisclosed) was waived with an injury designation Thursday, Aug. 18. Free-agent Max Borghi (Broncos) was signed to an undisclosed contract to replace him on the roster. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Borghi has been on three teams now since being an undrafted free agent earlier this year. He's a poor man's Christian McCaffrey, and Borghi has to make his living in space or on the edge as a runner and receiver out of the backfield. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 10. [KC - WR Mecole Hardman could play Saturday](=) Source: Chiefs Digest - Matt Derrick Updating previous reports, Kansas City Chiefs WR Mecole Hardman (groin) suffered a groin spasm Wednesday, Aug. 17, but is making progress and could end up playing in preseason Week 2 against the Washington Commanders, according to head coach Andy Reid. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Hardman was carted off, but it seems like this injury may be more minor than originally feared. We doubt he plays against the Commanders, but early reports seem to indicate he will be fine for Week 1. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- That'll do it for today, Folks. Thanks for reading and thanks for being part of the Footballguys Family. We'll see you tomorrow with the Update. Peace, J [Crush Your Draft With A Premium Subscription From Footballguys.com]( [Joe Bryant - Guide - Footballguys.com](=) Thank you for subscribing to our Footballguys Daily Update Email! You're subscribed as {EMAIL} To unsubscribe, click [here](. * Sportsguys * 118 N. Peters Rd., Suite 208 * Knoxville[,]( TN 37923 * News Items Powered By: [USA Today Fantasy Sports](=)