Deshaun Watson 2023 NFL futures odds, props: Cleveland Browns quarterback taking heavy action to throw for at least 3,600 yards
Bettors expect a bounce-back season for Browns QB Deshaun Watson.
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The Deshaun Watson experiment didn't go very well for the Cleveland Browns in Year 1 as their new starting quarterback, with the biggest salary guarantee in league history, completed just 58.2% of his passes for 1,102 yards in his six games. The Browns went 3-3 in those six games. Yet despite those mediocre numbers, Watson Over 3,599.5 passing yards (-105) is the most-wagered NFL player statistical total at BetMGM so far for this upcoming season.
Having a full offseason to work with his coaches and teammates can only help Watson, who was suspended for 11 games in 2022 due to his off-field issues. He was allowed to play in the preseason but understandably looked rusty by the time his Cleveland regular-season debut rolled around in early December. Watson topped 200 yards passing only twice in his six games, with a high of 276 in Cincinnati.
"I think where he is right now, hard to compare to a year ago, but I certainly see a comfort level in what we're doing offensively," Cleveland coach Kevin Stefanski said this week of Watson. "I see a guy who's always going to be that guy leading from out in front. That's kind of who he is, and I don't see that wavering one bit."
Cleveland's wide receiving group could potentially be a lot better on paper this year than last if DeAndre Hopkins decides to reunite with Watson instead of signing with the Patriots, Chiefs, Bills or Titans. It seems as if Hopkins, a free agent, is going to choose one of those five teams. I'm sure the heavy Watson action and the Hopkins possibility are linked.
The Browns did already acquire Elijah Moore in a trade with the Jets. He was one of the top rookie receivers in 2021, totaling 34 catches for 459 yards and five touchdowns in his final six games of the season before an injury. Moore then fell out of favor in New York last year.
Cleveland also selected Tennessee wideout Cedric Tillman in the third round this year, which was the Browns' first pick of the draft (No. 74 overall). Over the past two years, Tillman had 22 end-zone targets, the 15th most in the FBS despite playing only six games last year due to an ankle injury. The Browns ranked just 19th (53.6%) in red-zone efficiency last season.
Watson has passed for more than 3,599.5 yards three times in his career, but that number has been topped in Browns history a scant seven times, most recently in 2019 by Baker Mayfield. Cleveland does run the ball a lot with Nick Chubb, which could hinder Watson's chances a bit of topping this number. Only four teams had more rush attempts in 2022: Atlanta, Chicago, Philadelphia and Cleveland.
The Browns host the Bengals in Week 1 and the SportsLine Projection Model forecasts Watson to finish with 247 yards through the air. Over 17 games, that equals 4,199 yards.
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