Christian Watson fantasy football

Fantasy football outlook: Green Bay Packers wide receivers

Trying to make sense of all that is the Green Bay receiving corps.

The Green Bay Packers have one of the most complex fantasy football wide receiver rooms as any team in the league. Their 2024 salaries combined are just $11.5 million, but the Packers had surprising production with a group approach that included rookies Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks and second-year players Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs. At one point or another, each player was the go-to receiver for Jordan Love, but none of them sustained it over the course of the season, making all of them have slowly descending value with none of them viewed as a dominant fantasy starter.

Fantasy Football: Top utilization stats to know from Week 10

Recapping the most important fantasy football player utilization data from Week 10 play.

NFL Week 10 action was extremely entertaining as a pure fan of the game, but fantasy footballers had to make do with three of the best offenses in the game being on their bye weeks, which helped depress some of the overall numbers, including utilization data.

Injuries — and the return from them — this time of the year tend to be the most likely way to catapult a player into relevance for gaming, and this week was no different. We also get an update from some split backfields that have been in flux and developing target shares.

Fantasy football: Green Bay Packers’ passing attack breakdown

Revisiting the Packers’ passing game through the lens of fantasy football.

Although training camp and the preseason can only tell us so much, from all accounts there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love, who has looked comfortable running the offense in his first season as the starter. Love is hardly the only up-and-comer in Green Bay this season, however, so it’s a good time to look at his young supporting class and see what fantasy owners can expect from this group in 2023.

Please note this will not include a breakdown of RBs Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon, both of whom are well established in the NFL. Consider the. draftable as a high-end RB2 and middling RB3, respectively.

Fantasy football: Life after Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay

A fantasy football preview into life at Lambeau without No. 12 under center.

Although the trade has yet to be consummated, the New York Jets’ acquisition of quarterback Aaron Rodgers from the Green Bay Packers appears to be a matter of when, not if. The move will usher in a new era for the Packers, which have had Rodgers at the helm since 2008. Now, the mantle of QB1 passes to Jordan Love, who was selected 26th overall during the 2020 draft.

While the team is likely to add key personnel in the draft and free agency, it’s still a good time for a first look at what the Packers offense could look like post-Rodgers.

Will Romeo Doubs defy the odds to shine as a rookie?

Rookie WRs and Aaron Rodgers rarely mix well. Can Doubs buck that trend?

When we posted a list of the top late-round rookie receiver fliers last month, one of the names included on there was Green Bay Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs, who had caught the attention of the team’s beat reporters with a string of impressive plays during OTAs and minicamp. The arrival of training camp hadn’t changed that tune one bit, and the rookie continues to draw praise from those who cover the club and those who play for it, including quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

In recent remarks, the future Hall of Famer talked up Doubs, saying he’d been making “wow” plays every single day in practice, and then added that others who had done that over the years belonged in the franchise’s top-10 receivers of all time. That’s high praise from Rodgers, who has tended to be measured in his remarks about younger talent in his later years. Others, such as veteran Randall Cobb, have added their voice as well, saying that “nobody knows his ceiling just yet.”

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We had our first look at Doubs this past Friday against the San Francisco 49ers, albeit with Jordan Love under center, when he was targeted seven times and finished with three receptions, 45 yards, and a touchdown (on a 33-yarder where he beat the defensive back off the line of scrimmage).

While many will remember the score, Doubs also had a pair of drops, including one that turned into an interception for the 49ers. That kind of stuff could short-circuit the rookie’s ascension as if there’s one thing Rodgers doesn’t tolerate on the football field it’s turnovers.

Despite the uneven performance, the Nevada alum was seen working with the first-team offense over the weekend opposite Allen Lazard, though whether the Packers would really start him ahead of a veteran like Sammy Watkins once Week 1 arrives is suspect. The importance of earning Rodgers’ trust is an annual storyline in Green Bay, and you have to think that the trio of Lazard, Watkins, and Cobb will fill the top three spots at least early on.

It’s also worth noting that fellow rookie Christian Watson (knee) and tight end Robert Tonyan (knee) were both activated from the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list on Sunday, Aug. 14. Although there’s no firm timetable for a return, the fact that they were activated suggests the team believes they’ll be ready to roll in September since remaining on the PUP when the 53-man roster is set requires the player to miss four games.

Fantasy football outlook

There are good reasons to be excited about Doubs’ future, and few things entice fantasy owners like the prospect of finding a breakout rookie in their draft. Still, Lazard should be the top receiver in Green Bay with the likes of Watkins, Cobb, Watson, and Doubs ebbing and flowing based on gameplan. If you’re going to roll the dice of Doubs, make sure it’s at the tail end of the draft.

Fantasy football preview: Green Bay Packers wide receivers

Post-Davante Adams, how will Green Bay’s receiving corps shake out?

For the past four seasons, the connection between Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and wide receiver Davante Adams was arguably the best in football. A year ago, it seemed that partnership might dissolve amid Rodgers’ drama with the team.

While those fences were mended, Adams was dealt to the Las Vegas Raiders this offseason after not coming to terms on a long-term pact. In addition, No. 2 receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling departed in free agency, signing with the Kansas City Chiefs.

With his longtime safety net and premier deep threat both gone, Rodgers will need to adjust on the fly to a group that’s primarily a mix unproven and past-their-prime options. The biggest additions are second-round pick Christian Watson, who rated as one of the best pure athletes at receiver in the past 30-plus years, and Sammy Watkins, the talented but oft injured veteran. Holdovers include Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb, and Amari Rodgers.

While it’s always possible that a second-year jump from Rodgers or unexpectedly quick ascension from someone like fourth-rounder Romeo Doubs could shake things up, for now we’ll focus on the quartet of Lazard, Watson, Cobb, and Watkins.

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Pick one fantasy football rookie WR: Alec Pierce or Christian Watson

Which rookie receiver would you prefer in fantasy football?

Two rookie receivers who may fly under the radar of casual fantasy football participants are the Indianapolis Colts’ Alec Pierce and Green Bay Packers wideout Christian Watson.

Despite not being highly touted prospects, both players are in situations that could lead to relatively outsized performances. But is one a smarter fantasy but than the other?

The case for and against Alec Pierce

Standing 6-foot-3, 211 pounds, the Cincinnati product is a viable threat in the red zone.
Pierce ran a 4.41-second 40-yard dash, and he posted a 40 1/2-inch vertical jump at the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine.
He boasts a large catch radius, adequate physicality, and the necessary toughness to make catches all over the field.
Fills a much-needed hole in the offense opposite Michael Pittman Jr.. Quarterback Matt Ryan lacks proven weaponry aside from the third-year USC alum, which paves the way for Pierce to compete for a starting role as a rookie. His vertical nature pleasantly contrasts that of the possession-minded Pittman.
Parris Campbell has struggled to stay off the trainer’s table throughout his young career, and he profiles similarly to Pierce. A healthy season from the veteran could push Pierce into an infrequent role, but it also cuts in the rook’s favor if Campbell yet again misses significant time.
Separation could be an issue for him at the next level. Pierce doesn’t offer great burst off the line and isn’t lethal out of his breaks.
Just how many passes will be available in this run-centric offense? The Colts are likely to send somewhere around 130-150 passes toward Pittman, and hybrid tight end Mo Alie-Cox returns for what could be a notable role following the retirement of TE Jack Doyle. Will Campbell and Ashton Dulin steal too many deep routes from Pierce?

The case for and against Christian Watson

It never is a detriment to catch passes from the reigning, back-to-back NFL MVP. Aaron Rodgers lost his favorite target in Davante Adams this offseason, and the Packers cobbled together a cast of unheralded targets for the future Hall of Famer.
Watson brings a trifecta of size (6-foot-4, 208 pounds), speed (4.36-second 40), and blocking ability to Titletown. Wide receivers in this system are required to block, even if it’s just adequate effort over pristine form.
Has NFL bloodlines — the son of a former pro safety
Improved as a route-runner as his collegiate career went along
Exceptional work ethic and dedication — already drawing praise in OTAs from veteran receiver Randall Cobb, “He has the total package. Just being around him for the past week and seeing some of the things he can do, he has all the tools. He’s very gifted.”
However, Watson has battled a case of the drops while running with the first-team offense. It could be nerves or nothing to worry about, just as we saw with Cincinnati Bengals standout receiver Ja’Marr Chase a year ago.
Rodgers historically has not taken kindly to rookie wide receivers, and if Watson continues to struggle with drops, it stands to reason his quarterback won’t be eager to deliver extra passes his way.
Despite all of the question marks at the position, Watson still has to fend off several veterans, including Sammy Watkins, Cobb and Allen Lazard.

Fantasy football takeaway

This one really could go either way. Pierce is in a better situation in terms of a lack of proven competition for targets, although his offense’s design isn’t likely to send a wealth of passes the rookie’s direction, so he’ll need to be highly efficient. That also means he’s poised to be an inconsistent performer.

From Watson’s perspective, he’s already running with the No. 1s, and the Packers have a ridiculous 169 targets to fill from losing Adams based on last year’s results. Even if that number were to dip to, say, 145, that’s a lot of looks to be replaced by any standard. Watson’s hands need to be watched during the summer practice season, and as long as he rights that ship, there’s more upside for a stronger season from the former North Dakota Stater than Indy’s rookie Bearcat.

Both receivers profile as No. 4 options in fantasy football redraft leagues, and it while it’s rarely recommended to select a pair of rookie receivers to a single team, this could be one of the few exceptions where it’s a viable play.