Should I drop Deshaun Watson for Gardner Minshew II?

One scoring page covers these positions; reception points do not affect this comparison.

THE DROP / ADD CALL

Ultra Smash: add Gardner Minshew II for Deshaun Watson

This week’s projections are 8.1 FP for Deshaun Watson and 10.4 FP for Gardner Minshew II. Gardner Minshew II leads by 41.3 FP across the evaluated weeks and holds up in the Weeks 15–18 outlook. These are player forecast totals. Use your league’s playoff weeks and roster needs to make the final call. Deshaun Watson is questionable; an injury designation alone is not a reason to drop him.

Forecast updated Nov 7, 12:09 PM ET

PLAYER TO DROP

Deshaun Watson

QB · CLE · vs NO

Stats & schedule ›

8.1FF projected FP

Nov 8, 1:00 PM ET

Check current availability

Planning a bid? Deshaun Watson FAAB guide ↗

10.9%rostered on ESPN-0.27 pp recent change

PLAYER TO ADD

Gardner Minshew II

QB · ARI · vs SEA

Stats & schedule ›

10.4FF projected FP

Nov 8, 4:25 PM ET

Planning a bid? Gardner Minshew II FAAB guide ↗

3.1%rostered on ESPN-0.02 pp recent change

WHY THIS MOVE?

A better week is only part of the decision.

Deshaun Watson is 10.9% rostered; Gardner Minshew II is 3.1% rostered on ESPN. Ownership describes availability across leagues, not yours. Compare the weeks you need covered and the value you give up. A replacement can help now while weakening a later lineup.

Deshaun Watson

Deshaun Watson projects for 8.1 Standard points against NO this week. His recent scoring average is 12.9 FP. He is rostered in 10.9% of ESPN leagues, with a reported decline of 0.27 percentage points. His injury designation needs monitoring; it does not by itself justify dropping him. Roster trends measure manager activity, not a guarantee of playing time or availability in your league.

FF projection: 8.1 FP
Sleeper: 0.0 FP
FantasyPros: 0.0 FP
Boosted Trees: 15.7 FP; Experimental · saved Oct 27, 12:03 AM ET

Gardner Minshew II

Gardner Minshew II projects for 10.4 Standard points against SEA this week. His recent scoring average is 9.8 FP. The defensive matchup reduces the FF estimate by 8.75%. He is rostered in 3.1% of ESPN leagues, with a reported decline of 0.02 percentage points. Roster trends measure manager activity, not a guarantee of playing time or availability in your league.

FF projection: 10.4 FP -1.3vs ESPN
ESPN: 11.7 FP
Sleeper: 10.4 FP
FantasyPros: 12.4 FP

Roster snapshot Nov 7, 11:30 AM ET. Saved models support the assessment; they are not independent votes. A full roster and league settings are needed to evaluate starter impact.

THE HOLD, NOT JUST THE CLAIM

What comes after this week?

The Drop / Add assessment uses the immediate and future FF outlook together. For a bye replacement, the hold decision starts after the bye. Totals describe the player, not extra points for your roster. Weeks 15–18 are a calendar view; your league’s playoff weeks may differ. Green highlights the higher displayed projection when both outlooks are known; ties and incomplete comparisons stay neutral.

Window	Deshaun Watson	Gardner Minshew II
Next 3 weeks	22.4 FP2/2 scheduled games projected · Bye Week 11 · cover needed	36.0 FPHigher projection3/3 scheduled games projected
Remaining regular-season schedule	86.3 FP9/9 scheduled games projected · Bye Week 11 · cover needed	127.7 FPHigher projection9/9 scheduled games projected · Bye Week 14 · cover needed
Weeks 15–18	35.8 FP4/4 scheduled games projected	60.5 FPHigher projection4/4 scheduled games projected

Weekly Drop / Add outlook

Week	Deshaun Watson	Gardner Minshew II
Week 9	8.1 FPvs NO	10.4 FPvs SEAHigher projection
Week 10	14.3 FPvs HOUHigher projection	13.1 FPvs LAR
Week 11	BYE	12.5 FPvs KCHigher projection
Week 12	10.4 FPvs LV	16.6 FPvs WASHigher projection
Week 13	9.0 FPvs CIN	14.6 FPvs PHIHigher projection
Week 14	8.7 FPvs ATLHigher projection	BYE
Week 15	9.0 FPvs NYG	15.3 FPvs NYJHigher projection
Week 16	8.3 FPvs BAL	15.3 FPvs NOHigher projection
Week 17	9.9 FPvs IND	16.6 FPvs LVHigher projection
Week 18	8.6 FPvs CIN	13.3 FPvs SFHigher projection