# Who is winning the Browns QB battle between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders?

# Browns QB Battle: Still No Clear Winner

Neither Deshaun Watson nor Shedeur Sanders has won the job yet — and coach Todd Monken has made it clear this will be a battle that **bleeds into training camp and preseason games**. Here's the full picture:

## Where Things Stand

- **Late May OTAs:** Watson had an early edge, looking sharp on explosive plays downfield to Jerry Jeudy and Denzel Boston (from the Deshaun Watson page).
- **Mandatory Minicamp (June 10-11):** First-team reps were split *evenly*. Monken refused to name a starter, saying: *"I'm not going to name a No. 1. I can't differentiate the two without pads or live action."* He'll need to see preseason games before deciding.
- **Stats from minicamp:** Watson went 90/133 (13 TDs, 3 INTs) — nearly double Sanders' TD rate. Sanders threw 79/113 (5 TDs, 3 INTs) but showed late-week momentum.
- **The concerning part:** Monken used the word **"embarrassing"** to describe interceptions thrown by *both* QBs in 7-on-7 drills. Accuracy issues plagued both throughout.
- **Timeline:** The decision likely won't come until **late August**, just before the regular season. The Browns' first preseason game is August 15 against Chicago.

## What the Experts Say

**Sal Vetri** noted that Watson is "currently the favorite to start" but added: "if he struggles — which he probably will at this point — Shedeur Sanders is there. It's not great." ([hear the clip](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOcgMOGm20E&t=494s))

**Underdog Fantasy's Josh & Hayden** described the QB room as "Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders" with Sanders remaining a "lightning rod of a topic" — acknowledging the uncertainty. ([hear the clip](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vt7G74FxavQ&t=2638s))

## Fantasy Takeaway

For fantasy purposes, **neither QB is a confident target right now**. Watson has the veteran experience and a slight statistical edge from minicamp, but his durability is a massive red flag (he's missed 38+ games in three seasons with Cleveland). Sanders is a fifth-round rookie who threw 10 INTs in 7 starts last year. The Browns' offense has some intriguing young weapons (KC Concepcion, Denzel Boston, Harold Fannin Jr.), but the QB uncertainty makes this a situation to avoid in redraft leagues until a starter is actually named.

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Answered 2026-07-24 by ChatFFB — fantasy football answers from a live news wiki.
Source: https://chatffb.com/ask/who-is-winning-the-browns-qb-battle-between-deshaun-watson-and-shedeur