One of the most divisive 2022 NFL Draft prospects, Green Bay Packers rookie WR Christian Watson, had a game for the ages last week, and many fantasy football managers wonder if Watson can replicate his success on Thursday Night Football against the Tennessee Titans. With another week of action set to begin, is Christian Watson reliable enough to start for your fantasy team in Week 11?
Christian Watson Has a Historic 3-Touchdown Day in Week 10
Now that is the Christian Watson that infatuated many, including the Packers. Watson was arguably the biggest riser of the pre-draft time period as a standout at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, and he tested through the roof at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
With Devante Adams out of town, there was a massive opening in the Packers’ receiving ranks, with Watson being projected as everything between a breakout rookie or the next Marquez Valdes-Scantling-style boom-or-bust receiver.
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It’s been a bit of both, but on Sunday, we saw what Watson is capable of doing. The North Dakota State rookie lead the team with 107 receiving yards on four of eight receiving. His 32.7 PPR points also placed him as the No. 3 receiver on the week for fantasy football.
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Due to this, it’s no surprise that Watson was also one of the top waiver wire claims this week, as many hope that last week is a sign of things to come. For me, the significant change comes from philosophy.
Green Bay worked more over the middle of the field, and with Watson back after a few missed games due to a hamstring injury, the team was able to capitalize on his after-the-catch capabilities. Watson scored touchdowns of seven, 39, and 58 yards in the win.
If Green Bay continues to use the middle of the field as they did last week, there’s a reason to believe Watson could become a weekly starter. But what does that mean for Watson on Thursday night against the Tennessee Titans as we kick off Week 11?
Should Fantasy Managers Start Watson?
Thursday night games can be a bit hit or miss, and the weather will be a bit more conducive to keeping it on the ground in this one (18-degree wind chills and 10-mph winds). However, Tennessee has a brutal run defense and is extremely vulnerable in the passing game.
The Titans have allowed the third-most points per game to the position and have one of the worst deep ball rates in the NFL. It appears likely Kristian Fulton will miss this game, meaning Watson will instead face off against Terrance Mitchell or Roger McCreary in most cases.
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There’s still every reason to believe that Watson is the boom-or-bust player he was labeled as coming into the season. I find it likely that we will see Allen Lazard more involved this week, as last week, his four targets appeared to be an effort to get away from his matchup against Trevon Diggs.
With that said, there’s enough upside for Watson to come in as a mid-tier WR3 that could hit a big one in a favorable matchup. It’s more than likely he needs to score a touchdown to outperform his value, but in a matchup like this, especially if you just spent the FAAB on him, now is the time to start Watson for fantasy.