Green Bay Packers

Christian Watson Overcame A Difficult Start To Make A Case For the All-Rookie Team

Photo Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Christian Watson had as hard of an initial stint in the NFL as a rookie can handle. The second-round wide receiver suffered multiple hamstring issues and a concussion. He had a bad drop in his first regular-season target against the Minnesota Vikings. Watson had the pressure to replace Davante Adams as the Green Bay Packers’ highest-drafted receiver in the Aaron Rodgers era.

For his first six games in the league, Watson didn’t have more than 34 yards in any of them, nor more than three receptions.

Finally healthy, Christian Watson has shown in the last three games why the Green Bay Packers traded two second-rounders to move up in the draft and grab him with the 34th overall pick. He has the potential to be an elite weapon. With 12 receptions, 265 yards, and six touchdowns over the last three weeks, Watson now has a case to be the first Packers wide receiver to make the All-Rookie Team since 2006.

The Packers’ history with rookie receivers

In terms of productivity, Green Bay’s recent track record is not great with young receivers. Since Ted Thompson became the general manager in 2005, the Packers have had multiple talented receivers, and the team gives its young weapons time to develop. Jordy Nelson, James Jones, Randall Cobb, and Adams weren’t full-time starters right away. With Rodgers at quarterback, Marquez Valdes-Scantling in 2018 is the rookie receiver with the highest number of receiving yards who had a hyper-specific role.

That’s why Greg Jennings was the last Packer wide receiver to make the All-Rookie Team in 2006. Before him, only James Lofton (1978) and Frankie Neal (1987) had made it. The last offensive skill position player to make the All-Rookie Team was running back Eddie Lacy in 2013 — he was also the offensive rookie of the year. In 2019, offensive guard Elgton Jenkins and safety Darnell Savage were the last two Packers players to receive the award.

Watson’s case

The slow start might be costly for Watson. He has 353 yards, the sixth among rookie receivers. Chris Olave (822) and Garrett Wilson (628) are the leaders, with two more games than Watson. However, no other rookie receiver has more than four touchdowns, and Watson has six. Moreover, his productivity on a play-by-play basis shows he can surpass the other contenders in the last five games of the season if he can keep the current pace.

Among rookie receivers with at least 15 targets, Christian Watson is tied for first in yards per route run (2.45), first in yards after the catch per reception (7.5), second in catch rate (80%), first in receiving touchdowns (6), and first in passer rating when targeted (138.8).

In yards per route run, Watson is tied with New Orleans Saints receiver Chris Olave, who might be a unanimous decision to make the All-Rookie Team. They are ahead of Treylon Burks (2.13), Garrett Wilson (1.91), and Wan’Dale Robinson (1.76).

Impact on the offense

Romeo Doubs has also been solid as a rookie fourth-round pick. In nine games played, the same number of Watson, Doubs had more receptions (31 to 22) and a similar number of receiving yards (314 to 353). Doubs has had three touchdowns. It will be interesting to watch them both healthy and playing together — Watson and Doubs have played less than 60 total snaps together.

But Watson offers something no other Packers wide receiver does. He changes the complexity of the offense and how defenses have to operate. His speed stretches the opposition, giving more space to underneath receivers and the run game. It’s not a coincidence that the Packers averaged 27 points per game in the last three weeks when they had averaged 17.1 in the nine weeks prior.

When asked if the improvement was related to Watson’s emergence as a perimeter option, Packers offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich was clear.

“Yeah. It is that simple,” he said. “When you can do that, and you have a guy outside who can take the top off the defense, it is that simple.”

It was always going to be virtually impossible to replace Davante Adams, especially for a rookie receiver. But Christian Watson has shown enough evidence over the last three games that he has the potential to be a long-term difference-maker for the Packers. The All-Rookie Team is a real consideration, particularly after he won the award as the offensive rookie of the month in November. Nevertheless, whether he wins the award or not at the end of the season, Watson has exceeded expectations as a raw receiver. It’s clear now he will be an important part of the future, no matter who the quarterback will be.

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