Christian Watson Fantasy Outlook
Christian Watson couldn’t have landed in one of the better teams in the NFL as a rookie wide receiver. Being drafted by the Green Bay Packers 34th overall during the 2022 NFL Draft, the Packers are looking for life after Davante Adams and Marquez Valdez- Scantling. The Packers did get a bit active in free agency, signing Sammy Watkins and Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb are still on the team.
Aaron Rodgers and Jordan Love working with Randall Cobb and Christian Watson on goal-line package. pic.twitter.com/jVUTZrkUvJ
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) June 8, 2022
Christian Watson was the 11th-ranked rookie on the Fantasydata site. The opportunity is certainly for Watson to hit the ground running for the “cheese heads” this season. Listed at 6’4”, 208lbs, Watson is a big-bodied receiver with exceptional speed. Clocked at a 4.36 on the 40-yard is a big plus allowing him to get away from defenders and open up the passing game with his speed, but his ability to get YAC yardage is also impressive.
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During his collegiate career at North Dakota State, Watson would average no less than 18.3 yards per reception over a four-year career with his highest total being 23.3 during the 2020 season. Some still consider Christian Watson a bit of a raw prospect heading into the NFL despite his considerable measurables in size and speed.
Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer made a comparison of Watson to the late Vincent Jackson stating that the North Dakota State wide receiver reminded him of what people said about Jackson when he was heading into the NFL:
“The more I heard about North Dakota State’s Christian Watson in the fall, the more it reminded me of what people said about the late Vincent Jackson when he was coming out in 2005 – from how raw Watson is, to the size/speed potential he possesses, to his non-FBS roots. And I’m told he had a real solid spring with the Packers, which only bolsters that thought.” ~ Albert Breer
Watson continuing to make strides in the offseason to be an instant contributor for the Packers would certainly be a plus for both the team and fantasy managers alike.
Opportunity And Strengths
Watson lands in a Packers wide receiver room in a bit of flux after the departures of lead wide receiver Davante Adams and speedster Marquez Valdez-Scantling left the team during the offseason. With Adams being traded and Valdez-Scantling landing with the Kansas City Chiefs as a free-agent signing, combined both leave a huge target vacuum for Watson to take a substantial chunk out of. Adams and Valdez-Scantling combined for a 39.4% target share. That’s a combined 224 targets that are now available to the Packers’ remaining wide receivers.
The investment that the Packers made by taking Watson high in the draft, it could lend to the belief that he could be the new number one receiver for the team eventually. As stated earlier, Watson’s big frame at 6’4” and his 4.36 speed are nothing to sneeze at. Using that speed to create space at the NFL level will be key and will allow Aaron Rodgers to target him not only downfield but in shorter areas of the field as well. Watson’s versatility and usage on the field are other pluses. While at North Dakota State, Watson was not only used as an outside receiver but even in the slot and the backfield too. He’s just that dangerous with the ball in his hands.
Here comes your 𝓈𝓊𝓅𝑒𝓇𝓈𝓉𝒶𝓇 @packers fans 🤩#ProBison | #PackersDraft pic.twitter.com/XXkgUNONys
— NDSU Football (@NDSUfootball) April 30, 2022
Not only that, but getting to work with the NFL’s reigning MVP should add some fuel to the fire. Rodgers led the league in TPR (True Passer Rating) at 111.46. Rodgers also tied for third in Redzone Pass Attempts with 116 with a 58.6% completion percentage.
Starting your young NFL career with arguably one of the best passers in NFL history is not a bad way to start especially when you consider the fact that he dominates in his division too.
Best Pass TD/INT ratio in a division game since start of 2020
(min. 200 attempts)Aaron Rodgers 38/0*
Josh Allen 25/4
Kirk Cousins 24/5
Dak Prescott 17/4
Justin Herbert 28/7*wait wut pic.twitter.com/H9z9EfeLWo
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) June 29, 2022
Watson’s Weaknesses
Now you didn’t think it would be all sunshine and roses, did you? If there’s been one glaring weakness in Christian Watson’s game, it was concentration drops. Watson had 16 drops during his college career on 120 catchable passes. That’s something that will get you in the hot seat with Aaron Rodgers if that’s not cleaned up. However, it isn’t something that can’t be fixed.
While there may have been initial concerns about Watson’s drops at the beginning of the Packers’ offseason program, it seems Watson is indeed making strides to make adjustments to his weaknesses.
#Packers rookie Christian Watson adjusts on air to catch a ball thrown behind him. pic.twitter.com/vqTT6bv7XI
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) May 7, 2022
Christian Watson Fantasy
According to Fantasy Football Calculator, Christian Watson’s current ADP places him in the 13th round at 13.06. Allen Lazard’s ADP is just a round ahead of Watson, placing Lazard at the beginning of the 12th round at the 12.01 spot. If you’re a little savvy, you can wait on Watson and grab him a round later if you need a piece of the Packers receiving corp in redraft leagues. That way, the pick becomes more “low-risk, high-reward” should it pay off and Watson blows up under Aaron Rodgers in the Packers offense.
For Dynasty players, FFCalulator has Watson at the back of the first round at 1.10 so if you’re planning to target Christian Watson after other names like Jameson Williams and Treylon Burk come off the board, that’s where you may be able to grab him.
