One year after being rookies trying to both learn a new system and adjust to life in the NFL, Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs are the new leaders of the Green Bay Packers’ passing offense. It feels like the team is comfortable giving the two young weapons so much responsibility. After all, they had ups and downs in 2022, but their performances were impressive for rookies considering how difficult it is for young receivers to play alongside Aaron Rodgers. Most helpfully, their playing styles dovetailed.
“I’m excited about both of those guys, just a one-two combo,” Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said earlier this offseason. “There were some highs and lows with both those guys during the season. Once we hit that Dallas game, Christian really took off, and it was awesome to see. Obviously, you could see the explosive playmaker he is and what he’s capable of doing.”
Watson and Doubs showed during 2022 how stylistically different they are and how good they can be, but injuries for both made it hard to see it at the same time. Doubs was better to start the year. But he suffered a high-ankle sprain in Week 9, and his performance fell off when he came back before the end of the season.
Ironically, Watson broke out the following week against the Dallas Cowboys
“I feel like it was just the perfect way to finish the season,” Watson mentioned. “There’s going to be highs, and there’s going to be lows. You’ve just got to ride the momentum and keep it going, and I feel those are things I did. To close out the year, I finished on a high. Looking back and seeing the growth from the moment I got to the facility to now, and where I see myself going in the future, I’m excited to put that on display.”
The Packers lost Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb to the New York Jets in free agency. They cut Sammy Watkins during last season. Without any veteran additions to the group, Watson and Doubs will be the primary options. Second-round pick Jayden Reed will be a factor too, but he’s practiced more out of the slot. With more experience, Watson and Doubs will have their roles expanded, and the most important point for the Packers is how complementary their skills are.
The big-play guy
Christian Watson is a home run hitter. He led the league in receiving (seven) and total (nine) touchdowns among rookie wide receivers last year and was behind only Chris Olave in yards per route run. Compared to Doubs, Watson has the advantage in terms of yards per game, touchdowns per game, and average per reception.
“He [Watson] is a guy that can handle a lot. I haven’t been around too many rookies where you can move their position in-game, and he wouldn’t even flinch,” said LaFleur in praise of Watson. “He’s exceptionally intelligent and bright, knows the plan inside and out. But I think there’s a level of detail that’s going to get better with him. Quite frankly, we’re going to ask him to run probably more routes than we did a year ago.”
Watson led the Packers receivers in yards after the catch and was second in first downs. His ability to generate extra production will be imperative for an offense that will go through a significant quarterback change, from Aaron Rodgers to Jordan Love. Watson is also an option in the run game with end-arounds, and that’s how he scored two rushing touchdowns as a rookie — against the New England Patriots and Chicago Bears. This will be particularly important if opposing teams load the box trying to create extra pressure over Love.
Yards per game
- Watson 43.64
- Doubs 32.69
TDs per game
- Watson 0.5
- Doubs 0.23
The big-volume guy
Doubs isn’t exactly an explosive receiver, but his role in the Packers offense is different — and relevant. He is a reliable weapon, and that’s why Rodgers targeted him so frequently. Doubs can develop into an elite route runner to be always exactly where the quarterback expects him to be.
“I want to temper this comparison here, but he’s got some Davante Adams-type movement skills in him,” LaFleur said. “Now he’s got to learn when to use and how to harness that. I don’t think there’s a route he won’t be able to run. We just have to give him enough reps where he can continue his progression.”
LaFleur’s spontaneous comparison of Doubs to Adams shows how much the coaching staff trusts their second-year receiver, who was a fourth-round pick one year ago. And his numbers backed it up. He was second in targets per game, just behind Allen Lazard, and had more receptions than Watson despite having played one fewer game.
During the offseason activities, Doubs has been the most frequent target for Jordan Love, too. And Doubs’ reliability is the main reason for the connection, according to the Packers’ new starting quarterback.
“When in doubt, you can throw it out there, and you know he’s going to make a play, and he’s done a great job of going and getting the ball wherever it’s at,” Love gushed. “He’s made some really tough catches, and it kind of just builds everybody’s confidence. It builds my confidence in him, just being able to throw the ball out there and know he’s going to make a play.”
Targets per game
- Doubs 5.15
- Watson 4.71
Receptions per game
- Doubs: 3.23
- Watson: 2.92
The Green Bay Packers are going through a youth movement offensively, and the success of the unit and the team depends on how well these young players will develop. Together, Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs are going to be big parts of this equation, and their performance will be telling of how the Packers season will unfold. Their different and complementary skill sets give Green Bay confidence that they are on the right track.
