Watson's speed combined with his large size and huge catch radius makes his Fantasy profile desirable, but he could be limited by how accurate Jordan Love is in the Packers' retooled offense. Watson caught just three of four targets from Love in 2022 but turned one of them, a short slant off play-action, into a 63-yard catch-and-run touchdown. Those other two receptions went for at least 15 yards each, a promising result even if as a small sample size. Ultimately, Watson is assumed to be the top target-getter in this offense, and even if the quality of targets he'll get isn't like what it was last year, he should still have some jaw-dropping plays. At least, we better hope so: Four of his seven touchdowns as a rookie came on throws of 14 or more Air Yards, tied for ninth-most among WRs. Expect Watson to go between 40th and 50th overall in all leagues.
Packers' Christian Watson: Unsure of Week 14 status
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Watson, who officially didn't practice Thursday, said he isn't sure whether he'll be able to play Monday at the Giants, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com reports.
Watson added that he'd like to return as soon as he can, but the right hamstring injury that he suffered this past Sunday against the Chiefs likely will require too much time to recover ahead of Week 14 action, per Ryan Wood of USA Today. If Watson ends up sitting out Monday, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed (chest), Dontayvion Wicks and Malik Heath will serve as the Packers' primary wide receivers.
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Packers' Christian Watson: Dealing with hamstring issue
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Coach Matt LaFleur relayed Monday that the Packers expect to know more about Watson's right hamstring injury Tuesday, Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
The report indicates that Watson will probably undergo tests to determine the extent of his injury, but on the plus side, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com noted that the wideout "did seem to be moving better (Monday) during a brief sighting in the locker room." Prior to suffering his injury in Sunday's 27-19 win over the Chiefs, Watson caught seven of his nine targets for 71 yards and two TDs while adding two carries for 15 yards.
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Packers' Christian Watson: Hurts hamstring after two TDs
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Watson (hamstring) is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Chiefs.
Watson went down clutching his hamstring after picking up a key first down for the Packers in the fourth quarter. He was quickly examined in the blue medical tent and stayed on the sideline without his helmet after exiting the tent, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com reports. Prior to the injury, Watson caught seven of nine targets for 71 yards and two touchdowns while adding two rushing attempts for 15 yards.
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Packers' Christian Watson: Week 13 Early Waiver Targets (Add/Drop)
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Among those young weapons of Love's, I still think Watson's is the most intriguing skill set, given his size, athleticism, and proven ability to create big plays both down the field and after the catch. This has been a trying season for sure, and his breakout in Week 12 may end up being a foot note in an otherwise disappointing season. However, given that skill set and Love's recent growth, Watson still has a ton of upside, and I want to have him on my bench for the stretch run, just in case.
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Packers' Christian Watson: Comes up big in Thanksgiving win
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Watson caught five of seven targets for 94 yards and a touchdown in Thursday's 29-22 win over the Lions.
The second-year wideout looked as healthy as he's been all season and produced new season highs in catches and receiving yards, capping his performance with a 16-yard TD from Jordan Love late in the third quarter for Green Bay's final points of the day. Watson has gotten into the end zone in back-to-back games, but he could have a hard time extending that streak in Week 13 against a stingy Kansas City secondary.
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Packers' Christian Watson: Listed as full Tuesday
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Watson (shoulder) was listed as a full participant on Tuesday's estimated practice report.
After showing up as limited on Monday's report, Watson upgraded his activity level one day later as he deals with a shoulder issue that also impacted his on-field reps last week. He's trending toward playing Thursday at Detroit, and Watson posted a 2-25-1 line on four targets against the Lions in his season debut back in Week 4. Considering Jayden Reed (chest) was added to the Packers' report Tuesday as limited and Dontayvion Wicks (concussion/knee), Luke Musgrave (abdomen) and Josiah Deguara (hip) have been listed as DNPs on both occasions, Watson figures to be one of Jordan Love's top Thanksgiving options.
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Packers' Christian Watson: Set to play Sunday
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Watson (shoulder) doesn't have a designation for Sunday's contest against the Chargers, Wes Hodkiewicz of the Packers' official site reports.
The Packers implemented restrictions on Watson's workload this week due to a shoulder injury, which was a change from one week prior when he tended to back and chest issues due to the hard fall he took late in the team's Week 9 win against the Rams. The newest concern may be related to that play, but it nonetheless won't impact his availability for Week 11, allowing him to face a Chargers defense that has allowed the second-most yards per target (9.5) and seventh-most touchdowns (10) to opposing wide receivers in nine games this season.
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Packers' Christian Watson: Tending to shoulder issue
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Watson was listed as limited on Wednesday's practice estimate due to a shoulder injury, Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
Watson suffered back and chest injuries in the fourth quarter of the Packers' Week 9 win against the Rams, but neither issue affected his practice reps last Wednesday through Friday. Following Green Bay's Week 10 loss to PIttsburgh, he's tending to a new health concern, so his status should be watched as the week continues to see if he may be in danger of sitting out Sunday against the Chargers.
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Packers' Christian Watson: Logs full practice Wednesday
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Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said Watson (back/chest) was "full go" at practice Wednesday, Ryan Wood of USA Today reports.
On Monday, LaFleur relayed that Watson didn't enter the concussion protocol after the hard fall and tackle that he endured on a 37-yard contested catch in the fourth quarter of this past Sunday's win against the Rams. LaFleur's comments two days later indicate Watson also is past the back and chest injuries that he sustained on that same play. Watson thus will set his sights on Sunday's road matchup with a Steelers defense that has yielded the sixth-most yards per target (8.7) to opposing wide receivers this season.
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Packers' Christian Watson: Practicing to start week
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Watson (back/chest) is practicing Wednesday, Ryan Wood of USA Today reports.
Watson was checked for a concussion and was reported to have back and chest injuries following his departure in the fourth quarter of Sunday's 20-3 win over the Rams. Head coach Matt LaFleur confirmed Monday that Watson avoided a concussion, and given his ability to practice Wednesday, the receiver's two injuries don't appear to be serious concerns either.
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Packers' Christian Watson: Makes key play
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Watson (upper body) caught one of two targets for 37 yards in Sunday's 20-3 win over the Rams.
Watson's lone reception was a huge play late in Sunday's contest, as he came down with a leaping, contested catch for Green Bay's longest gain of the game. After his acrobatic effort, however, Watson was shaken up and subsequently sent to the locker room with what were labeled chest and back injuries. Watson was also set to undergo a concussion evaluation, leaving his status to be monitored in the coming days.
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Packers' Christian Watson: Exits late Sunday
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Watson suffered chest and back injuries and is under evaluation for a concussion during Sunday's game versus the Rams.
Watson connected with quarterback Jordan Love on a deep ball that the wide receiver had to go up for. At the end of the 37-yard play, Watson landed hard on his upper body and stayed down for a spell before making his way to the sideline. After he went to the locker room, the potential trio of health concerns were revealed.
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Packers' Christian Watson: Full practice Wednesday
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Watson (knee) logged a full practice Wednesday, Matt Schneidman of The Athletic reports.
Watson came up favoring his right knee on the Packers' second-to-last offensive snap this past Sunday at Denver, but after a few days to rest up, the second-year wideout is good to go following an uncapped session. Because of injuries, he's been limited to just three appearances this season in which he's put together an 8-143-1 line on 16 targets and also rushed once for minus-5 yards.
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Packers' Christian Watson: Practicing to start week
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Watson (knee) is set to practice Wednesday, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com reports.
Even if he's merely a limited participant, Watson's presence on the field to begin Week 8 prep is a strong indication that he avoided a major injury when he limped off the field at the end of Sunday's 19-17 loss to Denver. He was hurt on Green Bay's second-to-last offensive snap and thus missed just one play (a game-sealing Denver interception).
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Packers' Christian Watson: Injures knee on final drive
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Watson appeared to injure his right knee on the final drive of Sunday's 19-17 loss to Denver, Field Yates of ESPN reports.
The injury wasn't reported by Green Bay because it happened on the team's penultimate snap, one play before Jordan Love threw a game-sealing interception. Watson had minor surgery on his right knee last June and has missed time on multiple occasions due to hamstring/thigh injuries to that same leg.
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Packers' Christian Watson: Makes three grabs
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Watson caught three of five targets for 27 yards in Sunday's 19-17 loss to the Broncos.
Watson's output largely came from a 23-yard reception during the second half. Although he's made a catch of 20-plus yards in each of his three appearances this season, Watson hobbled off the field and was being attended to by trainers after bending awkwardly on his final target late in the game. That situation leaves some monitoring to be done ahead of the Week 8 contest versus the Vikings.
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Packers' Christian Watson: Sleeper WRs
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The last time we saw Watson in Week 5 at Las Vegas he showed off his play-making ability with three catches for 91 yards on seven targets, including a 77-yard reception. I'm hoping he can build off that performance after the bye at Denver this week. The Broncos have allowed every opposing receiver who has led his team in targets except one this season (Garrett Wilson in Week 5) to score a touchdown or gain at least 100 receiving yards, including Jakobi Meyers, Terry McLaurin, Tyreek Hill, D.J. Moore and Kadarius Toney. In total, six receivers have scored at least 12.9 PPR points against Denver this year, and I like Watson as a No. 2 Fantasy receiver in all leagues. I also like Romeo Doubs as a high-end No. 3 receiver, and he has scored at least 18.3 PPR points in three of five games this year.
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Packers' Christian Watson: Limited in practice Friday
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Watson (hamstring) was a limited practice participant Friday, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com reports.
Watson returned for Thursday Night Football in Week 4 and put up a 2-25-1 line on four targets in a part-time role. He figures to get a lot more playing time -- and probably more targets -- with an 11-day gap between games ahead of Monday's contest in Las Vegas. If Watson does handle a full-time role for the first time since late last season, it'll likely mean less playing time for rookies Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks.
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Packers' Christian Watson: Likely to suit up Thursday
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Watson (hamstring), who is listed as questionable, is expected to suit up for Thursday's contest against the Lions, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Along with Watson, running back Aaron Jones (hamstring) carries a questionable tag into the NFC North showdown, but both playmakers look on track to suit up Thursday. If Watson is cleared to play when the Packers release their inactive list 90 minutes prior to the game's 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff, he could have his snap count managed, though the team hasn't formally clarified its plans for the wideout. Though he had the benefit of seeing most of his snaps with Aaron Rodgers rather than Jordan Love under center, Watson finished his rookie season with a bang, turning in a 31-523-7 receiving line while adding a rushing score over his last eight games of the 2022 campaign.
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Packers' Christian Watson: Not yet medically cleared
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Coach Matt LaFleur said that Watson (hamstring) hasn't been medically cleared as of Tuesday, Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
The wideout was listed as limited at Tuesday's walkthrough, but Watson relayed to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic that he plans to be active Thursday against the Lions. Considering LaFleur's comments, Watson still has a hurdle or two to clear before the Packers will feel comfortable allowing him to make his season debut. There's a chance his Week 4 status will be a game-time decision.
