JUSTIN WATSON NEWS

Patrick Mahomes and Chiefs win at the buzzer again, topping Panthers 30-27 on Shrader's field goal

Patrick Mahomes threw for 269 yards and three touchdowns, Spencer Shrader kicked a 31-yard field goal as time expired and the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Carolina Panthers 30-27 to...

NOVEMBER 24, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Sees decline in playing time Watson reeled in both of his targets for 26 yards during Sunday's 30-21 loss against the Bills.

Impact Despite matching his two-catch and two-target total from a week ago, Watson notably played a significantly lower snap percentage (56 percent) compared to what he drew (75 percent) last week and in preceding games. That likely correlates with the return of JuJu Smith-Schuster (hamstring) from a multi-week absence, leaving Watson slightly lower on the pecking order for reps. He finished with the second-most offensive snaps (31) behind Xavier Worthy (32), but Watson doesn't produce enough to warrant fantasy consideration in most leagues.

NOVEMBER 19, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Patrick Mahomes' Completes Tight-Window Dime to Justin Watson Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes' tight-window dime to wide receiver Justin Watson permits Chiefs with red-zone access during...

NOVEMBER 18, 2024 • CHIEFS.COM

Small impact versus Broncos Watson hauled in both of his targets for six yards during Sunday's 16-14 victory versus the Broncos.

Impact Watson remains a regular in the offensive game plan, logging a team-high 52 snaps at wide receiver. That said, he's not a significant target as a receiver, finishing with no more than three catches n a game this season. The veteran wideout should continue to serve his role as a blocker but doesn't serve a ton of purpose from a fantasy perspective.

NOVEMBER 12, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Reels in three passes Watson caught three of four targets in Monday's 30-24 overtime win versus the Buccaneers.

Impact JuJu Smith-Schuster (hamstring) was inactive, meaning Watson served as the No. 3 wide receiver and recorded a 69 percent snap share. Watson has handled a consistent role in this offense, but he has yet to post more than three receptions or 45 receiving yards in a game this season.

NOVEMBER 6, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Collects trio of passes in Week 8 Watson reeled in all three of his targets for 33 yards during Sunday's 27-20 victory versus the Raiders.

Impact Watson matched a season-high total with just three targets, racking up a season-best yardage output on the way to a season-best 76 percent snap share. While the workload remains high, Watson's total from Sunday being a season-best paints a clearer picture of his fantasy value every week. To put it plainly, he can be left on waiver wires in the vast majority of league formats.

OCTOBER 29, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Patrick Mahomes' 19-yard Dart Locates Justin Watson in Soft Spot of Raiders' Defense Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes' 19-yard dart locates tight end Justin Watson in soft spot of Las Vegas Raiders' zone defense...

OCTOBER 27, 2024 • CHIEFS.COM

Another quiet effort in Week 7 Watson reeled in his only target for eight yards during Sunday's 28-18 win over the 49ers.

Impact Watson continues to log regular reps for the Chiefs, claiming the largest snap share (73 percent) among wideouts Sunday. Despite that, he's rarely utilized as a pass-catcher, sporting just seven grabs through the first six games. The Chiefs are also, unsurprisingly, rumored to be shopping around for another wide receiver before the trade deadline, a move which would position Watson further down the pecking order.

OCTOBER 22, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Blanked in Week 5 Watson wasn't targeted during Monday's 26-13 win against the Saints.

Impact Watson still logged the most snaps (59) among Chiefs wideouts Monday, but he's clearly not a go-to option as a receiver. JuJu Smith-Schuster, Mecole Hardman and Savier Worth all saw more targets despite playing fewer snaps. Watson hasn't reeled in more than two passes in a game today, so even if his playing time increases moving forward with Rashee Rice (knee) and Hollywood Brown (shoulder) both done for the regular season, the veteran wideout is unlikely to enter the fantasy realm in a meaningful way.

OCTOBER 8, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Chiefs put WR Rashee Rice (knee) on injured reserve, no official diagnosis yet

The Kansas City Chiefs have placed Rashee Rice on injured reserve after a major knee injury Sunday. Patrick Mahomes said Thursday he didn't...

OCTOBER 3, 2024

Chiefs put WR Rashee Rice on injured reserve after hurting his knee in a win over the Chargers

The Chiefs have placed Rashee Rice on injured reserve, sidelining him for at least four weeks

OCTOBER 3, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Minimal impact versus Chargers Watson hauled in two of three targets for 27 yards during Sunday's 17-10 win versus the Chargers.

Impact The Chiefs' carnage of injuries continued to pile up Saturday, adding Rashee Rice (knee) to the list. Thus, Watson could be in line for additional snaps moving forward; he logged the second-most snaps during Sunday's game behind Xavier Worthy. Per Adam Teicher of ESPN, head coach Andy Reid plans to spread the ball around more in the absence of Rice, meaning Watson could see a few more looks. Even if that's the case, Watson has been in similar positions in years past, so it remains to be seen if the veteran wideout can provide any significant fantasy value.

OCTOBER 1, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Claims one pass against Falcons Watson had one reception (on two targets) for 13 yards during Sunday's 22-17 win over Atlanta.

Impact Watson dropped to fourth in snap percentage among Chiefs wide receivers Sunday, and he's proven to be far from a regular fantasy contributor even with more regular playing time. At this point, there is little to like in Watson's fantasy profile, barring multiple injuries at wide receivers that would force him into a more significant role.

SEPTEMBER 24, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Patrick Mahomes Utilizes Triple Pump-Fake before Hitting Justin Watson for 13-Yard Sideline Dart Kansas Chiefs Patrick Mahomes finds wide receiver Justin Watson for 13-yard gain during our Week 3 Sunday Night Football against the Atlanta...

SEPTEMBER 23, 2024 • CHIEFS.COM

Tallies pair of grabs in Week 2 Watson hauled in both of his targets for 22 yards during Sunday's game versus the Bengals.

Impact Watson made the most of his limited opportunities and has reeled in each of the three passes thrown his way through two games. That said, he played less than half the offensive snaps (45 percent) in Sunday's contest and has just three targets through two games. As has been the case for Watson in recent seasons, the wideout seems slated to play a regular role that doesn't figure to amount to fantasy relevance in most league formats.

SEPTEMBER 17, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Hauls in lone target Week 1 Watson secured his only target for 25 yards during Thursday's 27-20 win over the Ravens.

Impact Watson played 52 percent of offensive snaps versus Baltimore in Week 1, working as the Chiefs' clear No. 3 receiver behind Rashee Rice (78 percent) and Xavier Worthy (63 percent). That involvement will dip once starter Marquise Brown (shoulder) returns from injury, but if he remains sidelined Week 2 versus Cincinnati, Watson will have another opportunity to capitalize on an increased snap share.

SEPTEMBER 6, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Patrick Mahomes Evades Would-Be Sack with Dynamic 25-yard throw to Justin Watson Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes evades a would-be sack with a dynamic 25-yard throw to Chiefs wide receiver Justin Watson.

SEPTEMBER 6, 2024 • CHIEFS.COM

Kadarius Toney and Caleb Farley, 1st-rounders from 2021, let go on NFL roster cutdown day

Kansas City receiver Kadarius Toney and Tennessee cornerback Caleb Farley, both first-round picks in the 2021 NFL draft, are among the cuts as teams trim their rosters for the regu...

AUGUST 27, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Justin Watson: 'Now on My Third Year, it's Really About Getting on the Same Page with Pat' | Press Conference 8/19 Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Justin Watson addressed the media following practice on Monday.

AUGUST 19, 2024 • CHIEFS.COM

Patrick Mahomes' 20-yard Strike to Justin Watson Gives Chiefs Red-Zone Access Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes' 20-yard strike to wide receiver Justin Watson gives Chiefs red-zone access.

AUGUST 17, 2024 • CHIEFS.COM

Could help fill in for Brown Watson could see added early-season opportunities, with Marquise Brown dealing with a shoulder injury, Adam Teicher of ESPN reports.

Impact With Brown -- whose availability to start the coming season unclear -- unable to practice, Teicher relays that Watson has been taking many of the snaps that would have otherwise gone to Brown. While it remains to be seen if fellow wide receiver Rashee Rice will miss any time this season due to a potential suspension, it does appear in any event that Watson is a candidate to see increased snaps out of the gate this season pending Brown's status, with rookie Xavier Worthy additionally poised to factor in. Also in mix for WR depth chart slotting are Skyy Moore, Kadarius Toney, Justyn Ross, Mecole Hardman and Nikko Remigio

AUGUST 14, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Returns to practice Watson (foot) is participating in practice Sunday, Pete Sweeney of ArrowheadPride.com reports.

Impact Watson injured his foot during practice July 24 and missed several days of training camp, but he's back on the field Sunday. That confirms initial reports that the receiver's foot issue wouldn't sideline him long-term. Watson is looking to establish himself as a Top 4 option among Kansas City's receiving corps after setting career-high marks with 27 catches for 460 yards and three touchdowns over 16 regular-season games last year.

AUGUST 4, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones misses practice with groin strain

Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones sat out training camp practice Sunday with a groin strain

JULY 28, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Chiefs could go back to a WR committee for third straight season

The Kansas City Chiefs incorporated a committee approach at wide receiver over the past two seasons

JULY 26, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Foot injury downplayed Watson is expected to miss just a few days of training camp with what Matt Derrick of ChiefsDigest.com refers to as a minor foot issue.

Impact Per Derrick, at first glace the left foot injury that Watson sustained Wednesday appeared concerning, but tests have reportedly revealed that the wideout avoided a long-term issue. Once Watson is able to return to practice, he'll look to cement his standing in a Kansas City WR corps that also includes Rashee Rice, Hollywood Brown, Xavier Worthy, Kadarius Toney, Mecole Hardman and Skyy Moore. In 16 regular-season outings in 2023, Watson compiled a 27/460/3 receiving line.

JULY 25, 2024 • ROTOWIRE