Player Spotlight: Ben Watson (1 Viewer)

[Jason Wood]

2007 Player Spotlight Series

Over the course of the offseason, we will be evaluating a multitude of players at every fantasy position. One such way we go about that is through the Player Spotlight series. Think of the Spotlights as a permanent record on some of the more intriguing players for the upcoming season. Each Spotlight will be featured in an article on the main website.

Thread Topic: Ben Watson, TE, New England Patriots

Player Page Link: Ben Watson Player Page

Each article will include:

Detailed viewpoint from a Footballguys staff member
Highlighted member commentary from the message board threads
FBG Projections
Consensus Member ProjectionsThe Rules

In order for this thread to provide sustainable value, we ask that you follow a few simple guidelines:

Focus commentary on the player in question, and your expectations for said player
Back up your expectations in whatever manner you deem appropriate; avoid posts that simply say "I hate him" or "He's the best"
To be included in the final synopsis and consensus outlook, you MUST provide projections for the playerProjections should include (at a minimum):

For QBs: Passing Yards, Passing TDs, Ints, Rush Yards, Rush TDs
For RBs: Rushes, Rushing Yards, Rush TDs, Receptions, Receiving Yards, Receiving TDs
For WRs & TEs: Receptions, Receiving Yards, Receiving TDsBest of Luck and ENJOY!

 

[BLOX]

65 Rec, 875 yards, 6 TD

Definitely top 5 TE.

 

[Winning IS Everything]

In a matter of a month or so, Watson went from being the #1 option in the NE passing game to now being possibly #3. I am not sure if this heps or hurts him. Watson has average size for a TE and good speed to stretch the field. If Moss and Stallworth are healthy I am afraid not too much will be left for Ben. Watson has not proven to be a good redzone target yet. I will keep expectations tempered for this year.

45 - 550 - 3.

 

[Sabertooth]

Looks like Tarzan, plays like somebody who is not quite as good as Tarzan but not as bad as Jane.

I think he's pretty much what he is. Plus he'll be like the 15th best option out there now.

46 catches. 490 yards 1 touchdown

 

[jurb26]

The additions of Moss and all the other WRs for NE is going to be bitter sweet for Watson. It will make his life as a NFL football player 10x easier, but it will more than likely have a negative impact on his state line. I think Watson was the most targeted player on NE last year. Well, kiss those days goodbye in a hurry. There was also talk this time last year that Watson was going to be the best redzone option for NE. I think that discussion can be dead and buried now as well. Moss is immediately the best redzone option on this team and Maroney is 2nd. I'm sure that all the added weapons and newly found space to roam will help create a few big plays for Watson, who has the ability to make them. He just isn't a consistent enough player to make them frequently enough to be one of the better TEs in FF IMO.

40 rec., 585 yds, 3 TDs

 

[Otis]

dackblot

 

[Yitbos69]

43/600/3

 

[Boston]

Watson has a ton of raw physical talent but there's just something missing from his game. He's a solid TE but I have doubts his actual play will meet up with his raw talent. Right now he's just making too many mental/easy mistakes like dropped balls and not being able to secure the ball after the catch. Until he corrects those flaws he's going to be limited. Also, I believe David Thomas has the potential to become a more effective weapon in the passing game (although I'm not sure how his foot injury will effect him in 07). He just seems more natural and in limited action last year looked to have much more reliable hands.

Overall I don't see Watson being anymore than a backup fantasy TE. With all the Patriot additions it will probably be very difficult for him to put up consistent numbers. He may have one monster week and follow it up with a zero. Hopefully he comes into camp and shows he can put it all together because the guy is a freak and the dreaded upside is tremendous. Yet, until I see more reliable hands and less of a penchant to fumble I'll look at him as a solid TE who presents serious matchup problems who can't be trusted on a weekly basis.

IMO a lot of his numbers will depend on how good Thomas is this year. Overall I expect a spike in the the Pats passing game but I find it difficult to predict Watson without seeing how much of a jump Thomas will make from year one to year two. To be safe I'll go with...40-550-4.

 

[shadyridr]

Watson went from the team's #1 target to the teams #3 or 4 target. Plus he wasn't much of a TD scorer last year and Moss' arrival hurts him even more. Stallworth takes away some of his deep routes and Welker takes away some of his slot work and 3rd down receptions. Call me crazy but I dont think he finishes in the top 10 and he will be taken early by most people.

48 rec, 624 yds, 3 TDs, 5 FP/pg

 

[PatsWillWin]

Ben Watson, for me, is probably the most frustrating player to watch on the Patriots. The speed is there. The talent is there. The consistency is not. He can block, he makes great catches sometimes, but other times it looks like he's trying to catch the ball with a couple of frying pans. There's just something about him receiving that doesn't always look natural. I think this will be the year we find out what Watson is for good - there's been a lot of expectations on him going into every year, and at the end of every year, we're left with a lot of excuses.

The one thing I will say for Watson is that it was clear that defenses regarded him as the Patriots' #1 receiving threat last year. They really did focus on him. But this year, there will not be that excuse. Either he puts together an all around game and get's open with Stallworth and Moss and Welker opening things up like no other WR group the Patriots have had during Brady's tenure...or, Watson remains a good player - a quality starter when you consider how well he blocks, but never becomes a great player or cashes in on all that potential.

 

[Byron_nyc]

Ben Watson broke my heart last year. For a minute, he was, as hoped, the #1 target in NE. Then, some average play, and he was #3. Brady does mix it up, but Watson also did not deliver. Now Bellichek has brought in Moss, Wekler, and Stallworth. Do the math -- Watson's numbers weren't great and they are going down.

39 / 450 / 3

 

[TD Ryan]

Just some random thoughts on Watson from a Pats homer:

- Watson was NE's #1 receiving option in the first half of last season. He was getting the looks and the catches. He was **thisclose** to a couple of TDs and big catches early on but Brady was struggling and over/underthrew him (Watson's stat line was usually something like 5 catch, 70 yards... not awful and pretty consistent but that one TD or one more big gainer would have made all the difference).

- Defenses keyed on Watson (double team) and by mid season, Ben was taking a pounding. I don't remember the exact games, but he was popped (very hard) and fumbled in back-to-back games. After those hits and fumbles, he really disappeared... Caldwell, Gaffney, T Brown, and Faulk seemed to take on a large role (Faulk was actually lining up as a slot receiver). This is when all the "NE has finally developed some chemistry" talk erupted.

He has the size and speed to make plays, but last year he showed that being the focal point isn't something he can do. IMO, he'll see fewer looks/opportunities in '08, but he'll be able to do more when he does get the ball.

And, it doesn't hurt that Dan Graham is gone. Kyle Brady is the TE that replaced Graham and Brady is even less of a receiving threat that Graham.

 

[Workhorse]

I'm envisioning Marcus Pollard circa 2003 type production from Watson this season. With two outside threats, good slot targets and receiving options out of the backfield, as well as the potential of an emerging target in Dave Thomas, I see an inconsistent fantasy season for Watson. He'll have some games where he's wide open as teams roll coverage to Moss and Stallworth and other games where he won't be needed much at all.

40 catches, 570 yards, 5 TDs

 

[Iwannabeacowboybaby!]

50 receptions 650 yards 5td's

The addition of Moss will only open things up for this guy to grab some balls.

 

[Buckle]

Assuming Maroney is healthy and NE is able to run with some consistency, I see Watson getting:

40ish/500ish/9-11 TDs

I think Moss and Stallworth are going to open up plays for this big guy to snatch some easy scores, but limited to a few catches a game (1-3 at most).

 

[Verbal Kint]

Put me in the camp that thinks Watson will end up being good value this year. Sure the Pats brought in Moss, Stallworth, Welker & Washington, in addition to Troy Brown & Caldwell. Its not like they're not going to be running 6 WR sets, which means Watson will still get his looks, particularly with Graham gone. If anything, the decreased coverage will help him create more mismatches with Moss and Stallworth in there. Plus, he's going at TE10, with an overall ADP ~ 112, so there's potentially alot more upside this year than last when he was being drafted much earlier.