Justin Watson Fantasy Stats

Houston Texans wide receiver Justin Watson (concussion) didn't practice all week and has officially been ruled out for Sunday's Divisional Round game against the New England Patriots. Watson suffered a concussion in Monday night's Wild-Card win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. If the Texans advance to the AFC Championship next weekend, Watson won't be guaranteed to be ready to return. In addition to Watson being out, the Texans will also be without top receiver Nico Collins, who also suffered a concussion on Monday against the Steelers. Rookie Jayden Higgins and Christian Kirk, who had 144 receiving yards on Monday, should be the team's top two receivers, with rookie Jaylin Noel and Xavier Hutchinson also having elevated roles on offense.

Houston Texans wide receiver Justin Watson (concussion) missed a second straight day of practice this week on Thursday, according to the team. Watson suffered a concussion in Monday night's Wild-Card win over the Pittsburgh Steelers and wasn't able to return. The 29-year-old is in the league's concussion protocol and is trending as unlikely to play this Sunday in the Divisional Round of the playoffs against the New England Patriots. Top wideout Nico Collins (concussion) is in the same boat as Watson and hasn't practiced this week. It means the Texans' receiving corps will most likely be short-handed this weekend, with rookies Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, Christian Kirk, and Xavier Hutchinson all seeing bigger roles. Tight end Dalton Schultz will also have a higher fantasy ceiling with more targets available. Even when fully healthy, Watson is too far down the WR depth chart to matter for fantasy purposes.

Houston Texans wide receiver Justin Watson (concussion) was unable to practice with the team on Wednesday after suffering a concussion in Monday night's Wild-Card victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. On a short week, Watson should probably be considered doubtful to be available in the Divisional Round on Sunday against the hosting New England Patriots. The 29-year-old pass-catcher only played in three games in 2025 in his first year in Houston due to injuries, catching three of four targets for 30 yards. Watson wasn't targeted on Monday night before his head injury. In addition to Watson, Texans' top wideout Nico Collins is in the league's concussion protocol and therefore up in the air to play on Sunday. If both Watson and Collins cannot play, there would be more opportunities in the passing game for rookies Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, Christian Kirk, and Xavier Hutchinson.

Houston Texans wide receiver Justin Watson has been diagnosed with a concussion and will not return to Monday's playoff contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He initially exited during the third quarter and was initially listed as questionable while being evaluated. However, the team later downgraded him to out. Watson, who returned from injured reserve prior to Week 18, had not been targeted before his departure on Monday night. He primarily operates on special teams and does not have much of a role within the Texans' offense. With that being said, his absence, coupled with the departure of Nico Collins (concussion), will test Houston's wide receiver depth going forward. Watson faces an uphill battle to clear the NFL's five-stage concussion protocol over the next six days before the Texans' Divisional Round clash with the New England Patriots.

Houston Texans wide receiver Justin Watson (head) exited during the third quarter of Monday's playoff contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He is being evaluated for a concussion and is officially listed as questionable to return. Watson returned from a calf injury prior to Week 18, but he didn't log a target in the regular season finale. Similarly, he hadn't been targeted before exiting the Wild Card game on Monday night. The 29-year-old is buried on the depth chart at wide receiver, and most of his contributions come on special teams. It's worth noting that Houston suddenly finds itself shorthanded at the position after Nico Collins (head) was taken to the locker room to be evaluated for a concussion, too.

The Houston Texans announced on Monday that they activated wide receiver Justin Watson (calf) from Injured Reserve. Watson will be eligible to play in the team's Week 18 regular-season finale this Sunday against the division-rival Indianapolis Colts, but it's unclear if he'll actually be active. The Texans activating the 29-year-old this week ensures that they'll have him available for their playoff run as additional receiving depth behind Nico Collins, rookies Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, and slot man Christian Kirk. Watson had played in only two games with Houston before landing on IR, catching three of his four targets for 30 yards. The eight-year vet probably isn't going to be a huge part of the Texans' offense the rest of the way, barring an injury to a receiver ahead of him on the depth chart.

The Houston Texans have opened the practice windows for tight end Harrison Bryant (neck) and wide receiver Justin Watson (Achilles, calf). Bryant and Watson both returned to practice on Wednesday and could suit up on Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, depending on how they do in practice this week. The 27-year-old Bryant should slide back in alongside Cade Stover as the Texans' primary backup tight ends behind Dalton Schultz. Bryant played 25.7% of the snaps on offense and recorded two catches for seven yards on six targets over eight games before his injury. Watson played in the first two games this season before being placed on Injured Reserve. The 29-year-old had a role in the offense, playing 49.1% of the snaps and hauling in three of his four targets for 30 yards. It remains to be seen how he'll be integrated back into the offense with the emergence of rookie Jayden Higgins in recent weeks. Neither Bryant nor Watson profiles as a fantasy option worth considering in most leagues.

The Houston Texans placed wide receiver Justin Watson (Achilles, calf) on Injured Reserve on Wednesday, according to the team's official website. Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Sports is reporting that Watson is dealing with an Achilles/calf injury, but it's not a tear, so he could potentially return later this season. The good news for Houston is that both receivers Christian Kirk (hamstring) and Braxton Berrios (hamstring) are expected to play in Week 3 against the division-rival Jacksonville Jaguars. For now, the 29-year-old Watson will have to miss at least the next four games. Watson wasn't on the fantasy radar anywhere to begin with, even with Kirk and Berrios missing the first two weeks of the season. Watson had three catches on four targets for 30 yards in the first two contests of 2025 before getting injured.

The Houston Texans are signing Kansas City Chiefs free-agent wide receiver Justin Watson to an undisclosed deal on Monday, sources tell NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The Texans also added former Miami Dolphins wideout Braxton Berrios on Monday for additional receiver depth behind starter Nico Collins. Stefon Diggs (knee) is a pending free agent, and Tank Dell (knee) could miss all of the 2025 season following a gruesome knee injury in 2024. In addition to Berrios and Watson, the Texans added Christian Kirk (collarbone) in a trade with the division-rival Jacksonville Jaguars last week. The 28-year-old Watson will probably serve as Houston's No. 3 receiver, at best, in 2025 if both Collins and Kirk are healthy. The former fifth-rounder by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2018 out of Pennsylvania had 289 receiving yards and two TDs on 22 catches in 17 regular-season games with KC a year ago.

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Justin Watson is coming off arguably his best performance of the season. The 28-year-old hauled in both his targets for 60 yards and a touchdown during last week's win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Before that, Watson has been held to 43 receiving yards or less in every game this season. Watson is normally depth, but might see a bigger role if the Chiefs decide to rest or pull their starters out early in Week 18. It's also worth noting that Carson Wentz will be under center for the Chiefs during their Week 18 matchup against the Denver Broncos. Watson doesn't offer much value on a weekly basis and playing with a backup quarterback against a tough secondary isn't going to help. Fantasy managers should be able to find a better option for Week 18.