The Packers ruled out WR Christian Watson (hamstring) for Week 14 vs. the Giants.
The Green Bay Packers will be without Christian Watson against the New York Giants. Watson has been ruled out on the final injury report as he deals with a hamstring injury suffered against Kansas City.
Watson sustained the injury late in the Chiefs’ game while trying to stay in bounds in order to keep the clock running. He did not practice at all this week. This past week when meeting with reporters, Watson said that he did not believe this hamstring injury is as severe as the one he was working through at the beginning of the season that kept him out for three games. He is currently taking things day-by-day.
After a slow start to the season, Watson had hit his stride the last two weeks. During that span against two of the NFL’s best teams, Watson totaled 12 receptions for 165 yards with three touchdowns.
“Obviously, Christian is a big part of our offense and he’s really hit his groove,” said LaFleur on Saturday. “That’s obviously not great because it took him a minute to get going within our system this year. It’s a shame and he made so many great plays the last few weeks.”
There is no fully replacing Watson’s speed or downfield potential, but offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich mentioned on Friday that attempting to absorb his absence would likely be a by-committee approach. One of several things that this Packers offense has going for it right now is that on any given play, the ball can go to a number of different targets, not allowing the defense to key in on a single player or two. Against the Chiefs, 10 different players had at least one target.
“I feel great about the other guys,” added LaFleur. “I think they’ve really developed and we’ve got a lot of guys that we can move in different spots that can help pick up for that loss. When one guy is not there it’s an opportunity for the rest of that group and I think those guys are ready for that challenge.”
As we’ve seen in recent weeks, having a run game to lean on can take some of the burden off the passing game by setting up play-action – which Jordan Love has been very efficient off of – and in general, opportunities in the passing game, specifically downfield. The Giants are allowing nearly 5.0 yards per carry this season.
For the third time in four games, the Packers will once again be going up against a blitz-heavy defense. Los Angeles blitzed Love on nearly 61 percent of his dropbacks, while the Chiefs ranked sixth in blitz rate. In both instances, the Packers offense held up well. For more on Green Bay’s improved play against the blitz and the upcoming matchup, click here.
Under defensive coordinator Wink Martindale, the Giants rank second in blitz rate, but if the Packers can give Love some time, the opportunity to find success in the passing game should be there against a secondary allowing 6.7 yards per pass, which for context, ranks in the bottom-third of the NFL—although this defense has been able to force eight interceptions in just the last three games.
“You never feel easy going against a team that he’s (Wink Martindale) coaching because you know that he can deploy a number of different blitzes and a number of different looks,” said LaFleur. “I’m certain coming off a bye week that there’s going to be something different that they haven’t put on tape, that’s typically the case, and our guys are really going to have to trust their rules in terms of preparing for that.”
Without Watson, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, and Malik Heath will handle to workload at receiver. We may also see the Packers elevate Bo Melton off the practice squad for added depth and to help out on special teams.
Packers WR Christian Watson doesn’t think his hamstring injury is as severe as the first one he suffered in 2023, but it’s to the same side.
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson doesn’t think his hamstring injury is as severe as the one that cost him the start of the 2023 regular season, but the injury is to the same hamstring — on the right side — and he’s taking it “day by day” in his recovery.
“Obviously, have to be smart with it,” Watson said Thursday. “Just gotta take it day by day.”
Watson, who was injured on a running play in the fourth quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs last Sunday, said he felt the hamstring “grab” as he attempted to cut up field. He said the pain — and the emotional toll of another injury — was difficult to deal with in the moment, but he’s feeling better now.
“I was just upset…it was tough to deal with something again,” Watson said. “It’s feeling a lot better today than it did the day of and the day after.”
Watson didn’t practice Thursday and is probably unlikely to play on Monday night against the New York Giants. He said he wouldn’t return until he’s at or near 100 percent.
“At this point, I’m trying to get back as quickly as I can,” Watson said.
Watson said he’s spent “tens of thousands” of dollars to help prevent injuries. He pointed to strengthening his hips, back and knees to make sure no one area of his body is stressed, but he’s also a long, dynamic athlete with elite speed, so hamstring and other soft-tissue injuries can be unavoidable.
During a breakout stretch, Watson caught an NFL-high four touchdown passes over the last three weeks, all wins. He had a pair of scores during the 27-19 win over the Chiefs.
The Packers finish the season with games against the Giants, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Carolina Panthers, Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears. Going on injured reserve would cost Watson at least four games, but he missed only three games to open the season and the early expectation is this injury isn’t as severe.
The Packers are currently the final seed in the NFC playoff picture and certainly hope to remain in the hunt and control their own destiny moving forward.
Meanwhile, after two straight wins, although unlikely, it’s not out of the realm of possibility for Big Blue to make the playoffs. However, they certainly have a lot of work to do in order to reach that goal.
Monday night’s matchup will go a long way toward both team’s playoff hopes.
Here are three reasons for optimism heading into Monday night’s matchup.
The hamstring injury suffered by Green Bay Packers receiver Christian Watson during last Sunday night’s win over the Kansas City Chiefs kept him out of practice to open Week 14.
The hamstring injury suffered by Green Bay Packers receiver Christian Watson during last Sunday night’s win over the Kansas City Chiefs kept him out of practice to open Week 14. According to Rob Demovsky of ESPN, Watson did not participate during the portion of practice open to the media on Thursday, the first official day of practice in prep of Monday night’s showdown with the New York Giants.
Coach Matt LaFleur confirmed that Watson wasn’t able to participate on Thursday.
“He’s getting the treatment and hopefully it will be sooner rather than later,” LaFleur said.
Watson went down at the end of a first-down carry in the fourth quarter against the Chiefs. He needed assistance getting off the field and didn’t return to the contest.
Watson previously injured his hamstring to open the year and missed the first three weeks of the 2023 season.
Over the last three games, when the Packers passing game caught fire, Watson hauled in14 passes and scored four touchdowns, with touchdown catches in all three games.
The Packers will provide the first injury report of the week later on Thursday. Others who weren’t participating during the media session include linebacker Quay Walker and safety Darnell Savage. Running back Aaron Jones was limited.
Here’s a look at some potential bargains for daily fantasy from the New York Giants-Green Bay Packers Week 14 game on Monday night.
The New York Giants (4-8) host the Green Bay Packers (6-6) at MetLife Stadium this coming Monday night in a key matchup that had NFC playoff seeding ramifications.
Both teams are on winning streaks — the Packers have won three straight and the Giants had a two-game streak before their bye last week.
The change in fortunes for both teams has piqued the interest of fantasy enthusiasts. Here are three possible plays for Monday night’s game.
Check out the top waiver wire targets in fantasy football for Week 14.
Beaten, battered and bruised, the fantasy football world emerges from the ashes as the Week 13 bye-pocalypse is behind us. Now, it’s time to focus on the top waiver wire targets for Week 14.
While we’re not out of the woods yet when it comes to bye weeks, only two teams are getting the week off in Week 14. That would be the Arizona Cardinals and Washington Commanders.
Not only did managers have to deal with six fantasy-relevant teams going through their byes in Week 13, but it also was a slate of games marred by injury. With trade deadlines concluded in the majority of leagues, the waiver wire becomes the most vital tool for fantasy managers over the next month.
We’re also getting to the point of the season in which FAAB isn’t as crucial. Don’t be afraid to spend a bit more on a player who might give your team an edge down the stretch.
We’ll be taking a look at the top available players rostered in Yahoo leagues, using the 75% rostered mark as the threshold. If you have any questions about prioritizing a certain player over another, don’t be afraid to hit me up on X, formerly Twitter, (@KevinHickey11). Your questions and comments are always welcome!
We also will be taking a look at some deeper players to stash and the top streaming options for the upcoming week.
Fantasy football waiver wire recommendations refer to 12-team league formats, unless specifically stated.
Check back for any updates throughout Monday and Tuesday as more injury news becomes available.
Tunnel Vision – a look back at Sunday for fantasy free agents, injuries and notable performances.
SUNDAY SALUTES
Quarterbacks
Pass-Rush
TD
Geno Smith
334-6
4
Brock Purdy
314-9
4
Dak Prescott
299-23
3
Jalen Hurts
298-20
2
Matthew Stafford
279-(-2)
3
Running Backs
Rush
Receive
TD
Alvin Kamara
14-51
6-58
2
De’Von Achane
17-73
3-30
2
Derrick Henry
21-102
1-18
2
James Conner
25-105
2
Chuba Hubbard
2-104
2
Wide Receivers
Yards
TD
DK Metcalf
6-134
3
Deebo Samuel
3-22
4-116
3
Nico Collins
9-191
1
CeeDee Lamb
2-30
12-116
1
Tyreek Hill
5-157
2
Tight Ends
Yards
TD
Sam LaPorta
9-140
1
Trey McBride
8-89
1
Jake Ferguson
6-77
1
Harrison Bryant
5-49
1
Taysom Hill
13-59
2-15
1
Placekickers
XP
FG
Brandon Aubrey
3
4
Matt Gay
1
4
Lucas Havrisik
4
2
Jason Sanders
6
1
Matt Ammendola
1
3
Defense
Sack – TO
TD
Chargers
5-1
0
Colts
6-2
1
Dolphins
3-1
1
Falcons
4-3
0
Texans
3-3
0
Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts
QB Kenny Pickett – Ankle
QB Derek Carr – Concussion “plus”
WR Tank Dell – Fractured fibula
WR Marquise Brown – Heel
WR Amari Cooper – Head
WR Christian Watson – Hamstring
RB Derrick Henry – Head
RB Emari Demarco – neck
RB Rhamondre Stevenson – Ankle
RB Brian Robinson – Hamstring
TE Tyler Higbee – Concussion
Chasing Ambulances
QB Kenny Pickett – He injured his right ankle that will need a surgical procedure to fix. He is expected to miss at least a few weeks and Mitch Trubisky will replace him for this Thursday’s game against the Patriots.
QB Derek Carr – For the third time this year, Carr left the game injured. This time he was blasted when he threw the ball and suffered a concussion while also injuring his shoulder and back. The Lions Bruce Irvin was penalized for roughing the passer and Carr was carted from the field. Carr just had a concussion three weeks ago, so this a serious situation. Jameis Winston will take over until Carr returns.
WR Tank Dell – The Texans phenom fractured his fibula and will miss the rest of the season. It is a sad ending for a season that has been so bright but he should return in 2024 with no lasting problems. Noah Brown just returned after missing two games with a calf injury and should be the replacement. Brown posted two 150-yard performances in Weeks 9 and 10, so he’s already seen success in the offense. He’ll need to step up into a starting role.
WR Marquise Brown – He was already questionable heading into the game with a heel injury, and reaggravated it during the win over the Steelers. If he cannot go when they return from their Week 13 bye, Rondale Moore and Greg Dortch would share the workload.
WR Amari Cooper – He was already battling a rib injury heading into the game and was crushed by two defenders while trying to catch a pass. He is reported to have a concussion. He was already meshing well with Joe Flacco when he was hurt. There is no true replacement for Cooper who is clearly the best receiver on the team. Elijah Moore would see an uptick if Cooper remains out and he led the team with four catches for 83 yards.
WR Christian Watson – He had already scored twice on the Chiefs, but at the end of the game he went down clutching at his leg with an apparent hamstring injury. He missed three games to start the season with a hamstring issue as well, so another one is concerning. Dontayvion Wicks would become a starter if Watson remains out, but his production would be replaced by Romeo Doubs and Jayden Reed.
RB Derrick Henry – Suffered a head injury expected to be a concussion. Henry has been very durable considering his career workload but hasn’t missed time with a concussion. Tyjae Spears will replace him in Miami this week if he remains out.
RB Rhamondre Stevenson – The Pats’ running back suffered an ankle injury and while his X-rays were negative, the early speculation is that he may miss multiple games. An MRI will determine the severity of the sprain but it’s highly unlikely that Stevenson plays on Thursday night at the Steelers. Ezekiel Elliott entered Week 13 with a thigh injury but was active and stepped up once Stevenson left near the end of the first quarter. Elliott handled 17 carries for 52 yards and caught a team-high four passes for 40 yards.
RB Brian Robinson – The Commanders’ back was running well against the Dolphins, gaining 53 yards on seven attempts but injured his hamstring and did not return. There was no immediate speculation as to the severity of the injury or if he would miss any games. Antonio Gibson would see the bigger boost in carries and catches, and Chris Rodriguez would also bump up to being the No. 2 back if Robinson misses any time, but the Commanders enter their bye and that gives Robinson more time to heal.
Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables
Where did all the passes go? – It’s that time of the season when passing starts to decline. There were six teams on bye this week, but it is still notable that there were only two passers that topped 300 yards – Geno Smith (334 yards) and Brock Purdy (314 yards). Bet you didn’t see that coming.
RB De’Von Achane – We can’t be certain how long he will stay healthy, but he’s back to form at least for now. After taking last week off and flopping in Week 11, Achane ran for 73 yards on 17 carries and caught three passes for 30 yards, while scoring twice. His 20 touches topped the 12 given to Raheem Mostert.
RB Austin Ekeler – The stud of 2022 just hasn’t been nearly as effective this year. He just ran for 18 yards on 14 carries and caught just two passes for nine yards. He was on the road, but the Patriots run defense has declined to being only average – until this week.
RB Ezekiel Elliott – The injury to Rhamondre Stevenson is expected to last at least a week or two. The ex-Cowboy star gets a chance to handle a workhorse load until Stevenson returns. Three of their next four games are on the road which is not ideal, nor is scoring zero points at home this week. But Elliott can help an RB-hungry fantasy team reach the playoffs.
TE Kyle Pitts – He led the Falcons in Week 13 with eight targets for four catches and 51 yards. That was versus the Jets defense. The Falcons host the Buccaneers this week for a violent shift in the quality of the secondary. He had a minor boost from the Jets taking Drake London (1-8) out of the game, but it is good to see his name atop the box core for once.
RB Tyjae Spears – Derrick Henry consumed 21 rushes for 102 yards and two scores before leaving with a head injury in the loss to the Colts. But Tyjae Spears also turned in 16 carries for 75 yards (4.7 YPC) and caught four passes for 13 yards. He ran well enough that the Titans may not be in a hurry to replace Derrick Henry next season.
WR Jonathan Mingo – The Panthers second-round rookie is picking up steam as the offense appears to intentionally involving him more while relying less on Adam Thielen. This season was over long ago and working on next year by throwing more to the younger players makes sense. Thielen is sighed through 2025 and the Panthers cannot get out of that until after next year, so Thielen still needs to be involved.
QB Joe Flacco – Compared to Dorian Thompson-Robinson or P.J. Walker, the aged Flacco looked sharp passing for 254 yards and two scores in the loss to the Rams. Amari Cooper was lost in the game, and Elijah Moore ended with 12 targets that became four catches for 83 yards to lead the Browns. Flacco needs Cooper to be healthy, but he gets a lighter time for the next two weeks at home against the Jaguars and Bears.
QB Patrick Mahomes – He’s ranked as the No. 14 fantasy quarterback and hasn’t missed any games. Eight of his last nine games did not record more than two passing scores and no games this year had him rushing in a touchdown. Over the last five games, he’s averaged 222 passing yards and 1.4 touchdowns which is pretty much the definition of an average NFL quarterback. What I’m trying to figure out is if we can say that he is a… you know,,, “average quarterback”? Can we even say that aloud? Is that even legal? I’m asking for a friend.
Huddle player of the week
Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Deebo Samuel – You’d think visitors would be less aggressive in the City of Brotherly Love, but not so for Samuel. The 49ers Swiss Army knife caught four passes for 116 yards and two touchdowns at the Eagles, and ran for 22 yards and another score on three carries. Oh yeah, he also gained 60 yards on his two kick returns. He may have several blades, but each one can cut you.
Salute!
Drama 101 – Somebody has to laugh, somebody has to cry
Check out the top waiver wire targets for fantasy football in Week 13.
With just a few more weeks until the playoffs arrive, it’s crunch time in the majority of fantasy football leagues. The waiver wire should be busy entering Week 13.
We’ll be taking a look at the top available players rostered in Yahoo leagues, using the 75% rostered mark as the threshold. If you have any questions about prioritizing a certain player over another, don’t be afraid to hit me up on X, formerly Twitter, (@KevinHickey11). Your questions and comments are always welcome!
We also will be taking a look at some deeper players to stash and the top streaming options for the upcoming week.
Fantasy football waiver wire recommendations refer to 12-team league formats, unless specifically stated.
Check back for any updates throughout Monday and Tuesday as more injury news becomes available.
