Who Should I Start? Michael Thomas or Christian Watson

Wednesday, September 11, 8:40 PM

The National Football League on Wednesday announced that it has lifted the suspension of free-agent wide receiver Michael Thomas. Thomas was suspended for the first game of the 2024 NFL season for an incident with a construction worker near his home last year. The fact that the 31-year-old remained without a team all offseason is a sign that he may struggle to latch on with an organization despite the fact that he's past his one-game suspension. Just several years ago, Thomas was the best receiver in the league, but injuries have limited him to 20 games since the start of the 2020 campaign, and he played in just 10 games with the New Orleans Saints last year before a knee injury ended his season. He caught 39 passes for 448 yards and one touchdown in 2023. Thomas belongs on the waiver wire in all leagues and is unlikely to be on the fantasy radar in 2024.

Tuesday, November 25, 12:30 PM

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson has seen his involvement in the Packers' offense and the intent to get him high-leverage targets grow in the last few weeks. In Week 11 against the New York Giants, Watson caught two touchdown passes. Last week against the Vikings, Watson led the Packers in targets with seven, and paced the passing game production with a five-catch, 49-yard stat line. Watson has also led the Packers in air yards over the last three games, showing the intent from head coach and playcaller Matt LaFleur and Packers' quarterback Jordan Love to get the ball downfield, and when they do, prioritizing getting the ball to Watson. When Watson gets an opportunity, it's more often than not going to be in a high-leverage situation, which is great for fantasy managers as he's seemingly supplanted Romeo Doubs as the top receiver for the Packers. Against the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving, who give up the 11th-most fantasy points to opposing receivers and are a man-based defense that was just shredded by Wan'Dale Robinson's 9-157-1 line this past Sunday, Watson should be a high-upside WR3 for Week 13.