Fantasy football owners who started Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson in Week 2 were all left scratching their heads. For the second week in a row to start the 2024 NFL season, Watson was barely a factor in the Packers’ offense. Against the Indianapolis Colts last Sunday, Watson did not even earn a single look from quarterback Malik Willis.
The Packers went into the Colts game with a concrete game plan that was centered on attacking Indianapolis’ defense against the run. With Willis starting in place of the injured Jordan Love, the Packers did not want to risk possessions by leaning on Willis’ passing ability, especially since he was (and continues to be) in the process of familiarizing himself with Green Bay’s playbook.
For Watson, it’s all about the results, and if the Packers are winning, it’s all that matters to him.
“The motivation to win a football game is enough for me,” Watson told reporters, per John Miller of NBC 26 News.
“I can only speak for myself, but I’m gonna do whatever it takes to win the football game, obviously, like you said, everyone wants the ball. Everyone wants to make plays, but I mean, that’s really out of my control. So I just go out there and do what’s called. I’m gonna do whatever it takes to win the football game.”
In Willis’ 19 dropbacks against the Colts, Watson ran routes 12 times but never earned a target. Of the 14 times that Willis threw the ball, Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks had seven of those.
The same conservative approach could be taken by the Packers in Week 3 if Willis gets another start, but at least Watson made it clear that he’s got no problem with it, so long as the team wins.
Watson entered the 2024 season with 1,033 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns on 69 catches and 119 targets in his career.
