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NFL - The Athletic fantasy football takes on Shedeur Sanders
Every source-backed article insight STACKED has extracted from NFL - The Athletic about Shedeur Sanders.
12
Insights
5
Positive
3
Negative
Insight ledger
All NFL - The Athletic insights about Shedeur Sanders
NegativeRoleAug 18, 2026
Sanders' success this season will likely depend on the playmakers around him rather than his own performance; the source frames quarterback success as contingent on supporting cast quality.NegativeRoleAug 12, 2026
Sanders will start the second preseason game for Cleveland as part of the ongoing quarterback competition with Deshaun Watson.NegativeProjectionAug 4, 2026
Sanders enters his second season under new Broncos coach Todd Monken with a fresh start, though without guarantees of Week 1 starter status. One offensive coach drew parallels to Caleb Williams' 2025 turnaround under Ben Johnson: 'Todd Monken is a great reset in the same way Ben Johnson was a great reset in Chicago. Shedeur gets a fresh start with a no-nonsense, offensive-oriented coach who did a really good job with Lamar Jackson.' However, the same voter cautioned that Sanders must demonstrate professional development: 'If Shedeur has really invested in himself to be a professional quarterback, studying the playbook and knowing his assignments and being able to get the offense in and out of the huddle at an efficient clip, which he could not do last year, then there might be some upside.' Sanders ranked last in EPA per pass play among 37 QBs who started at least seven games last season, just behind McCarthy and Ward. An exec assessed: 'He's inaccurate at all three levels. I can't tell if he is going to get better, but there's a huge gap between him and competent QB play.' A dozen voters placed Sanders in Tier 5. Defensive coordinators offered critical evaluations: one stated 'I'd sleep like a baby if I got to play him every week,' while another noted 'He's not an on-time player, can't really read through the coverages, is a little bit heavy-footed. He is thicker and harder to tackle than expected, but you shouldn't lose to him.' One head coach offered a more measured take: 'I thought he was all right, better than expected. They did a good job with him of making the game simple. And I thought Shedeur played with a chip on his shoulder.'PositiveRoleJul 30, 2026
Shedeur Sanders is running Cleveland's No. 1 offense on his first day of training camp, indicating he has secured the starting quarterback role for the Browns.PositiveRoleJul 29, 2026
The source indicates Shedeur Sanders wins the quarterback competition by default over Deshaun Watson, suggesting he will secure the starting role for the Browns despite the team's roster improvements elsewhere.PositiveRoleJul 29, 2026
The source indicates Shedeur Sanders wins the quarterback competition by default over Deshaun Watson, suggesting he will secure the starting role for the Browns despite concerns about overall quarterback play.PositiveRoleJul 29, 2026
The source indicates Shedeur Sanders wins the quarterback competition by default over Deshaun Watson, suggesting Sanders has secured the starting role despite the Browns' roster improvements elsewhere.NegativeProjectionNo date
Sanders fell to No. 144 overall (sixth QB selected) in the 2025 draft despite the source arguing he deserved to be drafted toward the end of the third round. As a rookie starter in Cleveland, he earned seven starts and threw for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions. His -.25 EPA/attempt ranked 26th among 32 rookie starters since 2020, and he ranked No. 1 in pressure rate (55.3 percent). His biggest flaw remains playing on 'Shedeur Sanders time' rather than on time with the offense; he ranked dead last among NFL rookie starters since 2020 in average time to throw (3.20 seconds). His processing from the pocket was problematic—he tended to be either too indecisive or in search of the fastest possible outlet regardless of coverage. Unlike supremely gifted passers such as Caleb Williams or Josh Allen, the source emphasizes Sanders cannot sustain a career playing with such a high margin for error. However, Sanders displayed above-average aptitude for sensing the rush and smoothly evading it; when playing fast and on the move, he delivered catchable and accurate throws with anticipation. His game versus Tennessee (23-for-42, 364 yards, three passing TDs, one rushing TD, one pick in a narrow loss) demonstrated he is capable of being a solid No. 2 NFL quarterback. The source projects Sanders as a reliable backup who can hold the fort for a few weeks if a starter gets hurt—comparable to Andy Dalton or Teddy Bridgewater—and notes there is still a role for Sanders in Cleveland and in the NFL at large if his grasp of NFL offenses and defensive speed continues to improve.NegativeProjectionNo date
The Browns have quietly been sending messages that Shedeur Sanders is not viewed as the long-term answer at quarterback. The source notes that the Garrett trade signals this loudly, as the team continues to pursue additional first-round draft picks in the 2027 draft—expected to have a bounty of quarterbacks—rather than committing to Sanders as their franchise solution.NegativeRoleNo date
The source groups Sanders with Watson as a potential long-term solution the Browns do not actually believe in; the Garrett trade implies the Browns are not confident Sanders is the ultimate answer, and if they were, there would be no plans to start Watson and no reason to trade Garrett.NegativeRoleNo date
Competing for the Browns' starting quarterback role in preseason Week 3 on Aug. 27, when the defending AFC champion New England Patriots visit Cleveland, alongside Dillon Gabriel and Deshaun Watson.PositiveRoleNo date
Browns QB likely to get an opportunity to start at some point this season if not Week 1 starter. The source prefers Sanders over Watson and Sorsby, stating 'if forced to choose between the two, it isn't close. I'd take Sanders every time' when comparing Sanders to Watson; positioned as the more viable QB option despite the Browns' overall QB room dysfunction.