Who Should I Start? Adam Thielen or Christian Watson

Tuesday, December 2, 4:30 PM

Former Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen was claimed off waivers by the Pittsburgh Steelers, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. The 35-year-old was traded to Minnesota from the Carolina Panthers before the start of the regular season, but things didn't pan out in his return to Minnesota, as he was ultimately released following Sunday's loss to the Seattle Seahawks after being a healthy inactive for the first time this season in Week 13. Thielen recorded just eight receptions for 69 yards on 18 targets in 11 games with the Vikings, but he now lands with a Steelers team that needs help at the wide receiver position. D.K. Metcalf leads Pittsburgh with 605 receiving yards, but no other Pittsburgh pass-catcher is above 300 yards. Thielen could immediately slot in as the No. 2 wide receiver, but he isn't worth fantasy consideration at this time, outside of deeper leagues.

Thursday, December 4, 12:25 PM

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson got a late start to the 2025 season following a torn ACL that he suffered in the regular-season finale last year. Watson made his debut in the Week 8 win over the Green Bay Packers and caught all four of his targets for a season-high 85 yards. It was a statement that the 26-year-old was back and immediately on the fantasy football radar. He had exactly four targets in each of the next two games, too, before slowly seeing his role grow in the last three contests. Watson has 13 receptions on 22 targets for 175 yards and three TDs in the last three games, culminating in a four-catch, 80-yard, one-TD performance in the Thanksgiving Day win over the Lions last Thursday. He had a season-high 10 targets in that one and is the WR10 in half-PPR scoring over the last three weeks. Jayden Reed's (foot, shoulder) impending return from IR could make life more difficult for Watson the rest of the way, but heading into a Week 14 divisional game against the Bears, Watson has clear WR2 upside for his big-play ability (17.3 yards per catch).