Cleveland Browns fans might have been shocked (and maybe disappointed) on Monday that Deshaun Watson was named the starting quarterback just days after he was booed by the home crowd, but oddsmakers weren’t surprised.
Key Takeaways
- DraftKings’ futures odds on the Browns included the presumption that Watson would start Week 1.
- BetMGM’s most recent insights showed little love for Cleveland to win it all.
- Watson has double the odds to win MVP than Shedeur Sanders at one sportsbook.
Shortly after head coach Todd Monken announced Watson over Shedeur Sanders for Week 1 of the regular season, a DraftKings spokesperson told Covers there were no changes to the Browns’ odds in multiple futures markets. Watson starting was already baked into their numbers, including Cleveland’s +20,000 odds to win the Super Bowl, tied for third-longest in the market.
BetMGM’s +25,000 for the Browns to win it all was also unchanged on Monday afternoon compared to the operator’s Super Bowl odds released when the preseason began.
Only six teams had received fewer bets (1.2%) and seven teams a lower handle (0.6%) than the Browns to win the Super Bowl when BetMGM released insights earlier this month.
|
Futures market |
BetMGM | DraftKings | FanDuel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Browns to win Super Bowl | +25,000 | +20,000 | +22,500 |
| Browns to win AFC | +10,000 | +8,600 | N/A |
| Browns to make the playoffs |
Yes +600 No -900 |
Yes +570 No -850 |
Yes +610 No -900 |
Controversial decision
Numerous NFL analysts questioned whether or not the organization should put Watson back on the field after fans showed their displeasure with the 10-year veteran on Saturday in a 31-7 loss to the Bills. It was Watson’s first appearance at Huntington Bank Field since tearing his Achilles in October 2024.
Sanders started the Week 2 preseason game after Watson began Week 1 against the Bears. Watson was booed when he took the field to start the second half on Saturday, and he finished 5-of-12 passing for 35 yards and threw one interception in four scoreless drives, which didn’t help his standing with the fans.
Browns QB Deshaun Watson said he believes the boos he received from Cleveland fans during Saturday’s preseason game were “personal” and had nothing to do with his performance.
— ESPN (@espn) August 23, 2026
Full story: https://t.co/lTnjnRcO6X pic.twitter.com/fb9eL320MG
After the game, Watson said he felt disrespected by the home crowd.
“I think the whole world knows it has nothing to do with the performance,” Watson said on Saturday. “It's a little bit (more) personal than that. So I think it's a disrespectful thing. I'm going to keep whatever I feel with me and my family internally on how I feel about that. And yeah, just move on.”
Monken, who’s in his first year at the helm, said Sunday that he would announce a regular-season Week 1 starter by Monday and the booing of Watson wouldn’t factor into his decision. Fans and media members thought it should be Sanders based on Saturday's reaction to Watson.
Long odds
Instead, the Browns head into the season with controversy and the longest NFL odds at DraftKings (+2,100) to win the AFC North. Only the Miami Dolphins are listed behind Cleveland in the AFC winner market.
Neither Watson nor Sanders were among the two dozen quarterbacks with regular-season over/under passing yards and touchdowns listed on BetMGM’s player props markets.
Surprisingly, Watson’s odds to win NFL MVP (+50,000) are double Sanders’ +25,000 at BetMGM. DraftKings lists Watson and Sanders at +20,000 each, while Watson is +4,000 to win the Comeback Player of the Year award. There are 16 players listed ahead of him in that futures market.
FanDuel has Watson (+30,000) slightly ahead of the second-year backup Sanders (+40,000), who threw for 1,400 yards with seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions in eight games (seven starts) as a rookie in 2025.
