WR Christian Watson, GB (1 Viewer)

[The Future Champs]

I found some fun numbers with Watson. All napkin math, but it boils down to this.

In Watson's entire career:
Weeks PPR PPG (games)
1-9 6.025 (20)
10-18 17.883 (12)

Fire him up boys, our playoff hero has arrived*

*I really don't think this is predictive

I am still trying to figure out why he is not more consistently involved. He should be getting a couple of deep opportunities a game and 4-5 crossers where he has been proven dangerous. He has limitations for sure, but is a dangerous weapon with his strengths.

Lol I say the same thing about Jayden Reed too. Reed is one of the most efficient fantasy players out there, however he never sees the targets. It sounds like Doubs and Watson owners say the same thing.

The Packer O spreads it around way too much for my liking.

Reed and Watson can provide this team great one two punch for years to come. It's the playcaller's fault Doubs and Wicks are involved as much as they are, there's no reason for it. Doubs can't get separation and Wicks can't catch. Doubs is a poor man's Keon Coleman. Wicks is the second coming of Valdez-Scantling.

Watson is great at what he does. Reed needs to be the volume guy. Watson is the big play guy. Watson is a monster in the red zone. If he's truly shaken the hamstring issues, he's going to be a great player in this league. He's got hands, he's got speed, he's got moxie. He's borderline uncoverable in 1 on 1.

ETA - This could have easily been his second huge week in a row. The wind played games with the receivers all day against the Lions. I feel like we're at the beginnings of another Watson heater.

Yeah, about those hands…

 

[King of the Jungle]

I found some fun numbers with Watson. All napkin math, but it boils down to this.

In Watson's entire career:
Weeks PPR PPG (games)
1-9 6.025 (20)
10-18 17.883 (12)

Fire him up boys, our playoff hero has arrived*

*I really don't think this is predictive

I am still trying to figure out why he is not more consistently involved. He should be getting a couple of deep opportunities a game and 4-5 crossers where he has been proven dangerous. He has limitations for sure, but is a dangerous weapon with his strengths.

Lol I say the same thing about Jayden Reed too. Reed is one of the most efficient fantasy players out there, however he never sees the targets. It sounds like Doubs and Watson owners say the same thing.

The Packer O spreads it around way too much for my liking.

Reed and Watson can provide this team great one two punch for years to come. It's the playcaller's fault Doubs and Wicks are involved as much as they are, there's no reason for it. Doubs can't get separation and Wicks can't catch. Doubs is a poor man's Keon Coleman. Wicks is the second coming of Valdez-Scantling.

Watson is great at what he does. Reed needs to be the volume guy. Watson is the big play guy. Watson is a monster in the red zone. If he's truly shaken the hamstring issues, he's going to be a great player in this league. He's got hands, he's got speed, he's got moxie. He's borderline uncoverable in 1 on 1.

ETA - This could have easily been his second huge week in a row. The wind played games with the receivers all day against the Lions. I feel like we're at the beginnings of another Watson heater.

Yeah, about those hands…

Brutal drop for a guy who does not see a lot of opportunities. Impossible to start this guy at this point. Which means he will blow up next week on the bench or waivers.

 

[Jacob's Ladder]

I found some fun numbers with Watson. All napkin math, but it boils down to this.

In Watson's entire career:
Weeks PPR PPG (games)
1-9 6.025 (20)
10-18 17.883 (12)

Fire him up boys, our playoff hero has arrived*

*I really don't think this is predictive

I am still trying to figure out why he is not more consistently involved. He should be getting a couple of deep opportunities a game and 4-5 crossers where he has been proven dangerous. He has limitations for sure, but is a dangerous weapon with his strengths.

Lol I say the same thing about Jayden Reed too. Reed is one of the most efficient fantasy players out there, however he never sees the targets. It sounds like Doubs and Watson owners say the same thing.

The Packer O spreads it around way too much for my liking.

Reed and Watson can provide this team great one two punch for years to come. It's the playcaller's fault Doubs and Wicks are involved as much as they are, there's no reason for it. Doubs can't get separation and Wicks can't catch. Doubs is a poor man's Keon Coleman. Wicks is the second coming of Valdez-Scantling.

Watson is great at what he does. Reed needs to be the volume guy. Watson is the big play guy. Watson is a monster in the red zone. If he's truly shaken the hamstring issues, he's going to be a great player in this league. He's got hands, he's got speed, he's got moxie. He's borderline uncoverable in 1 on 1.

ETA - This could have easily been his second huge week in a row. The wind played games with the receivers all day against the Lions. I feel like we're at the beginnings of another Watson heater.

Yeah, about those hands…

He's an enigma. Seems to drop too many routine catches while making some impossible ones. I chalk it up to a confidence or concentration issue, but who knows? If he doesn't fix it soon, he'll go the way of the dodo. The NFL doesn't have time for guys who aren't reliable.

 

[togo]

Now with Doubs having a concussion does this boast Watson’s value??
More on field time and the possibility of more production?
So now the dreaded question of should I actually start him?
Or do we stay way clear of this guy unless you are desperate??

 

[King of the Jungle]

Now with Doubs having a concussion does this boast Watson’s value??
More on field time and the possibility of more production?
So now the dreaded question of should I actually start him?
Or do we stay way clear of this guy unless you are desperate??

Russian roulette…except there are 5/6 slots loaded with bullets

 

[kewin316]

Call it what it was, a terrible drop. Probably the worst of 2024. The stars are aligned for a Watson return to late 2022 form and hopefully without the injuries that hurt him then. Watson holds WR3 value with WR1 upside.

 

[The Gator]

Now with Doubs having a concussion does this boast Watson’s value??
More on field time and the possibility of more production?
So now the dreaded question of should I actually start him?
Or do we stay way clear of this guy unless you are desperate??

Russian roulette…except there are 5/6 slots loaded with bullets

 

[ukblue35]

Call it what it was, a terrible drop. Probably the worst of 2024. The stars are aligned for a Watson return to late 2022 form and hopefully without the injuries that hurt him then. Watson holds WR3 value with WR1 upside.

Very true. I dropped Wandale yesterday and picked up Watson and about lost it on that drop. Still, I know what he can do and hes always had the talent. He's just got to stay healthy and catch those kind of passes that he dropped yesterday.

 

[efactor]

Now with Doubs having a concussion does this boast Watson’s value??
More on field time and the possibility of more production?
So now the dreaded question of should I actually start him?
Or do we stay way clear of this guy unless you are desperate??

Russian roulette…except there are 5/6 slots loaded with bullets

Good one

 

[BassNBrew]

Call it what it was, a terrible drop. Probably the worst of 2024. The stars are aligned for a Watson return to late 2022 form and hopefully without the injuries that hurt him then. Watson holds WR3 value with WR1 upside.

Mind passing me the bong?

 

[Faust]

Around the NFL
Packers' Christian Watson was matched up against Carlton Davis on eight of his 19 routes (42.1%) in loss to Lions, catching three of his five targets for 108 yards (62.5% target rate), per @NextGenStats

nfl.com/news/packers-l…

x.com

x.com

 

[Faust]

Packers' Matt LaFleur: Christian Watson's knee injury a bruise

 

[Drake Hater]

Likely avoiding this guy totally in redraft next season. Thought the improved hammy would help with consistency but it's just not there in this current offensive scheme.

 

[Faust]

Packers' Christian Watson carted off; Jordan Love hurts elbow

 

[Faust]

Packers WR Christian Watson believed to have suffered torn ACL vs. Bears in Week 18

 

[CletiusMaximus]

No great surprise - Christian Watson's dad (former Packer Tim Watson, who is *very active* on Twitter) predicts his son will be back around week 12 next season:

He’ll have his surgery soon, and should be back around Week 12, with a normal rehab. There’s nothing outside of what’s typical with his injury. Simple ACL and minor cleanup. He’s just doing usual pre-surgery strengthening prehab to get ahead of any post-surgical atrophy! He remains in good spirits and ready to attack this with everything he’s got!

x.com

x.com

 

[King of the Jungle]

Tough way to enter a contract year for Watson whose stock continues to decline since his rookie season. Makes me wonder if GB will be able to reasonably extend him at this point (if they even have that interest), more likely to hit the market the following year on a one year prove it deal with someone else I assume.

 

[rockaction]

Makes me wonder if GB will be able to reasonably extend him at this point (if they even have that interest), more likely to hit the market the following year on a one year prove it deal with someone else I assume.

I can’t figure out the Green Bay situation at WR at all. I just sort of . . . everything I thought I knew about them I didn’t. They not only underperformed—it looked like LaFleur didn’t want to throw the ball this year. Certainly not enough five or seven step drops for Watson to get loose deep very often.

If I’m Green Bay or another enterprising team, I give him a Will Fuller-type deal. Buy the dip and hope you reap the rewards.

 

[King of the Jungle]

Makes me wonder if GB will be able to reasonably extend him at this point (if they even have that interest), more likely to hit the market the following year on a one year prove it deal with someone else I assume.

I can’t figure out the Green Bay situation at WR at all. I just sort of . . . everything I thought I knew about them I didn’t. They not only underperformed—it looked like LaFleur didn’t want to throw the ball this year. Certainly not enough five or seven step drops for Watson to get loose deep very often.

If I’m Green Bay or another enterprising team, I give him a Will Fuller-type deal. Buy the dip and hope you reap the rewards.

He could be an interesting addition to many teams, definitely has the ability to put pressure on the backend of a defense. I agree about GB receivers, especially Reed who seems like a guy you would want to consistently touch the ball at a much higher rate than he has. Watson seems like a guy you should be giving a chance down the field 2-3 times a game but that was not consistent either. I historically have held LaFleur in high regard although this year the offense seemed very out of sync and much less dynamic than years past. Wicks was another one who had a lot of preseason hype and he was practically invisible from a production standpoint.

 

[rockaction]

Wicks was another one who had a lot of preseason hype and he was practically invisible from a production standpoint.

I’ve been a huge Wicks supporter and I think a lot of his non-production was on him. Drops won’t earn you looks. But that whole offense seemed wrong this year, as if the coach lost confidence in his offense or something. How you could end the year before this one like they did by pasting Dallas and playing SF (?) wicked tough and then doing what they did this year (all year, it seemed) is . . . confusing.

 

[Drake Hater]

Agree on the GB offense. They really had some weird play calling that involved head scratching sequences and weird personnel usage. I've lost a lot of confidence going forward into next season for anyone on GB not named Jacobs or Kraft.

 

[InDitkaWeTrust]

Wicks was another one who had a lot of preseason hype and he was practically invisible from a production standpoint.

I’ve been a huge Wicks supporter and I think a lot of his non-production was on him. Drops won’t earn you looks. But that whole offense seemed wrong this year, as if the coach lost confidence in his offense or something. How you could end the year before this one like they did by pasting Dallas and playing SF (?) wicked tough and then doing what they did this year (all year, it seemed) is . . . confusing.

DCs around the league had a full offseason to figure out all of Love's tells. It'll be interesting to see if Love can bounce back from a very mediocre season.

 

[Gjallarhorn]

This guy reminds me so much of Byron Buxton. It always feels like he is on the verge of breaking through, and then he gets injured...again.

 

[BassNBrew]

Wicks was another one who had a lot of preseason hype and he was practically invisible from a production standpoint.

I’ve been a huge Wicks supporter and I think a lot of his non-production was on him. Drops won’t earn you looks. But that whole offense seemed wrong this year, as if the coach lost confidence in his offense or something. How you could end the year before this one like they did by pasting Dallas and playing SF (?) wicked tough and then doing what they did this year (all year, it seemed) is . . . confusing.

They added Jacobs and upgraded the running game. Packers finished 5th in total offense, 5th in rushing, 12th in passing. Last year they were 11th overall, 15th rush, 12th passing. That's a pretty big improvement. Also moved from 12th to 8th in pts.

 

[Drake Hater]

Wicks was another one who had a lot of preseason hype and he was practically invisible from a production standpoint.

I’ve been a huge Wicks supporter and I think a lot of his non-production was on him. Drops won’t earn you looks. But that whole offense seemed wrong this year, as if the coach lost confidence in his offense or something. How you could end the year before this one like they did by pasting Dallas and playing SF (?) wicked tough and then doing what they did this year (all year, it seemed) is . . . confusing.

They added Jacobs and upgraded the running game. Packers finished 5th in total offense, 5th in rushing, 12th in passing. Last year they were 11th overall, 15th rush, 12th passing. That's a pretty big improvement. Also moved from 12th to 8th in pts.

Good signs of improvement but reviewing 2024's schedule it looks like they beat all of 2 playoff teams. Not sure where the defenses they faced ranked though. If they faced poor defenses all year then are those offensive improvement rankings worth much?

 

[rockaction]

Wicks was another one who had a lot of preseason hype and he was practically invisible from a production standpoint.

I’ve been a huge Wicks supporter and I think a lot of his non-production was on him. Drops won’t earn you looks. But that whole offense seemed wrong this year, as if the coach lost confidence in his offense or something. How you could end the year before this one like they did by pasting Dallas and playing SF (?) wicked tough and then doing what they did this year (all year, it seemed) is . . . confusing.

They added Jacobs and upgraded the running game. Packers finished 5th in total offense, 5th in rushing, 12th in passing. Last year they were 11th overall, 15th rush, 12th passing. That's a pretty big improvement. Also moved from 12th to 8th in pts.

I get what you’re saying, and those look like numbers that should be definitive. But my eyes were telling me something different and if DVOA wasn’t behind a damn paywall now instead of being with Football Outsiders where it rightfully belongs, we’d have a better stat to go by. But we don’t, so total offense and arguing about SoS will have to suffice.

Darn it. Wait, hold up. I think you’re looking at this in a way where the premises aren’t leading to the proper conclusion. We’re talking about Christian Watson and the pass offense, not the efficacy of the GB rushing attack.

I mean, it’s easy to see they ran the ball more with Jacobs and chose to dominate that way. I get that. But how much they ran him should probably factor into the analysis as a negative for the passing game. When you’re playing a ball-control and dink and dunk offense, you’re not taking the shots down the field that a guy like Watson would benefit from. (You didn’t think I wasn’t going full-circle with that comment, did you?)

So you’ve got to look at the renewed emphasis on the running game vs. the passing game (generally, coaches tend to play at the same pace as years prior unless they have a new QB or something) and how running the ball more affected the total amount of passes by the team. Here, let me look at last year’s passing attempts by team:

2024 - 479
2023 - 581

Then the rushing attempts

2024 - 526
2023 - 441

It’s pretty clear when looking at that as your premise where the concern about the passing game comes from.

So these are regular season stats and there’s pretty much no doubt left that the Packers threw the ball less than the year before (102 fewer times), or 17.5% less than they did the year prior. That’s a lot. Add to that the Packers played a more ball-control offense in philosophy from the eye test and you’ve got a significant change there.

 

[Faust]

Christian Watson "in a really good spot" in ACL rehab

 

[Ministry of Pain]

Christian Watson "in a really good spot" in ACL rehab

Thanks because I was unaware or forgot he tore it Week 18
I already had him way low with the new WRs coming in but I would assume he starts on the PUP at best now
I don't see him in Green Bay past this season

 

[Faust]

Packers coach Matt LaFleur believes Christian Watson is ahead of schedule in returning from torn ACL

 

[The Longtime Lurker]

Packers coach Matt LaFleur believes Christian Watson is ahead of schedule in returning from torn ACL

This won't matter. The minute he hits the field a body part will explode. Discount Will Fuller......

I really liked what he brought to the Packer O, but his replacement was drafted and he'll be proving he can stay healthy elsewhere after this season if he really does see the field later in the year. Bummer because he did flash some nice ability to take the top off a D.

 

[Faust]

zach jocobson
Christian Watson just posted this on his Instagram story. He’s running routes, cutting and hitting pretty close to full speed.

https://x.com/zacobson/status/1936133977733316801?s=61

 

[Alex P Keaton]

zach jocobson
Christian Watson just posted this on his Instagram story. He’s running routes, cutting and hitting pretty close to full speed.

https://x.com/zacobson/status/1936133977733316801?s=61

I really hope he recovers fully and somehow stays healthy. Seems like a good kid. Just so so injury prone. And he can’t catch.

 

[Faust]

Dave Schroeder
Christian Watson hit 22 mph running sprints in his rehab.

Today at Packers camp, Watson was really cutting it loose running sprints as he continues to rehab from ACL surgery. I asked him how fast the GPS tracker said he was running. 22 mph! He says his career-best is 23 mph.

https://x.com/schroederwbay/status/1951032248125313419?s=61

Jesse Morse, M.D.
That’s quite impressive but until he is able to cut laterally and make aggressive cuts, he won’t be returning to the field.

Straight line speed is the first thing that returns post-ACL.

Good news though!

https://x.com/drjessemorse/status/1951032854210592772?s=61

 

[⚡DEADHEAD⚡]

I'll always associate this guy with the dropped 75 yard pass from Rodgers to open the 2022 season. That moment signaled a huge change for the franchise and I'm not sure the transition to Love is going to be the story we fans hope it will be. I wish him well.

 

[Boston]

Interesting move:

Packers agree to terms with WR Christian Watson on one-year extension

The Packers are signing wide receiver Christian Watson to a one-year, $13.25 million contract extension, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

www.nbcsports.com

 

[Jppaul]

Interesting move:

Packers agree to terms with WR Christian Watson on one-year extension

The Packers are signing wide receiver Christian Watson to a one-year, $13.25 million contract extension, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

www.nbcsports.com

Any guess why?

 

[rockaction]

Interesting move:

Packers agree to terms with WR Christian Watson on one-year extension

The Packers are signing wide receiver Christian Watson to a one-year, $13.25 million contract extension, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

www.nbcsports.com

Any guess why?

I don’t really have a good one other than he’s one of the few guys that can be that kind of difference maker that cheaply. He doesn’t have to catch more than thirty passes to be a seismic difference maker.

 

[dblock05]

Only thing I can think of is that they all are “all in” and they want him ready for the playoffs since they are thin at WR and don’t want him to feel pressure in coming back too early….

 

[rockaction]

Only thing I can think of is that they all are “all in” and they want him ready for the playoffs since they are thin at WR and don’t want him to feel pressure in coming back too early….

This also sounds pretty good.

It's probably a combination of being a players' organization, that they like the young man, that they're betting on a full recovery, and that 13 million dollars for somebody who runs in the 4.3s and is a deep ball tracker and threat is very reasonable given that the risk is only one year.

I don't know if you guys remember what Will Fuller, who wasn't as good as Watson was but was hurt an awful lot (just like Christian), got at the end of his career but it was significant and this was five years or so ago. Actually, it was four years ago and Fuller, who was even more of a health risk, got twenty million over two years back then! So this is a good deal for the Packers and they get to do right by the young man, who by most accounts is a good guy.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

It’s a weird extension. Maybe it tells us more what they think of Wicks or Doubs. But hey, good got Watson. It’s good work if you can get it.

 

[The Longtime Lurker]

It’s a weird extension. Maybe it tells us more what they think of Wicks or Doubs. But hey, good got Watson. It’s good work if you can get it.

i think you're right and this signals the end of Doubs.

 

[The Longtime Lurker]

Only thing I can think of is that they all are “all in” and they want him ready for the playoffs since they are thin at WR and don’t want him to feel pressure in coming back too early….

This also sounds pretty good.

It's probably a combination of being a players' organization, that they like the young man, that they're betting on a full recovery, and that 13 million dollars for somebody who runs in the 4.3s and is a deep ball tracker and threat is very reasonable given that the risk is only one year.

I don't know if you guys remember what Will Fuller, who wasn't as good as Watson was but was hurt an awful lot (just like Christian), got at the end of his career but it was significant and this was five years or so ago. Actually, it was four years ago and Fuller, who was even more of a health risk, got twenty million over two years back then! So this is a good deal for the Packers and they get to do right by the young man, who by most accounts is a good guy.

Will Fuller is my comp to Watson aswell. He can really take the top off the D and has a skill set that makes the Packers better when he's healthy.

I think your takes here are probably right.