Who Should I Start? Justin Watson or Xavier Smith

Wednesday, September 17, 12:29 PM

The Houston Texans placed wide receiver Justin Watson (Achilles, calf) on Injured Reserve on Wednesday, according to the team's official website. Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Sports is reporting that Watson is dealing with an Achilles/calf injury, but it's not a tear, so he could potentially return later this season. The good news for Houston is that both receivers Christian Kirk (hamstring) and Braxton Berrios (hamstring) are expected to play in Week 3 against the division-rival Jacksonville Jaguars. For now, the 29-year-old Watson will have to miss at least the next four games. Watson wasn't on the fantasy radar anywhere to begin with, even with Kirk and Berrios missing the first two weeks of the season. Watson had three catches on four targets for 30 yards in the first two contests of 2025 before getting injured.

Saturday, August 16, 11:52 PM

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Xavier Smith caught all four of his targets for 48 receiving yards during Saturday's preseason victory over the Los Angeles Chargers. He also rushed for five yards. Smith has been quite productive this summer. He paced the team with 55 receiving yards last week, and he now has a total of eight touches and 108 scrimmage yards through two preseason contests. NFL opportunities have been few and far between for the 27-year-old Florida A&M product, but he did total six receiving yards, 36 rushing yards, and a pair of first downs in 2024. Los Angeles' first four wide receiver spots are essentially locked up, which means they only have two or three spots to divide over seven remaining receivers (Smith, Tru Edwards, Mario Williams, Konata Mumpfield, Drake Stoops, Britain Covey, and Brennan Presley).