Packers: PFF names rising star to exclusive list
Christian Watson had plenty of ups and downs in his rookie season with the Green Bay Packers. While it took a while for Watson to catch on, he exploded down the stretch for the Packers which caught the attention of the football world. Watson enters his second year in Green Bay, but this time around […]
Christian Watson had plenty of ups and downs in his rookie season with the Green Bay Packers. While it took a while for Watson to catch on, he exploded down the stretch for the Packers which caught the attention of the football world.
Watson enters his second year in Green Bay, but this time around he will be catching passes from Jordan Love. Though nobody can fill the shoes Aaron Rodgers leaves behind, Love will be counting on Watson to break through and put the passing attack on his back.
The first half of Watson’s rookie campaign didn’’t exactly go as planned. In the first nine weeks of the season, Watson played in six games and totaled just 10 catches for 88 yards and zero touchdowns.
Watson’s final eight games of the season are why many are expecting a breakout season from the North Dakota State product in 2023. He finished the season with 41 catches for 611 yards and seven touchdowns. He also notched three 100-yard games on the back half of Green Bay’s schedule.
Pro Football Focus is one of the national media outlets projecting a monster season from Watson. PFF doesn’t believe the sophomore slump will impact Watson and have named him to their 2023 All-Breakout Team.
From PFF: Watson had a boom-or-bust rookie year for Green Bay. This was most apparent in an early-season stretch where he went four consecutive games with no more than two receptions in any game before following that up with a four-game stretch where he caught seven touchdowns. Watson also finished top-10 in the NFL in YAC per reception (6.4) and contested catch rate (75% of his contested targets were caught) so with a full year under his belt, we could be in for an explosion from the second-year man out of North Dakota State.
Joining Watson at the wide receiver position are Drake London and Kadarius Toney. It’s a pretty difficult list to crack, but Watson earned his spot here.
The Packers will be depending on Watson to make plays for Love in his first season as the full-time starter. If Watson can carry his late season momentum into 2023, he will have a strong opportunity to earn his first Pro Bowl nod.
Featured image via Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin / USA TODAY NETWORK
