Who Should I Start? Sterling Shepard or Christian Watson

Friday, October 3, 5:14 PM

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Sterling Shepard (foot) is ready to go for this weekend despite missing practice on Wednesday. Shepard returned to a full practice on Thursday and will be ready for the upcoming Week 5 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. However, Shepard hasn't really done much on the field this season. He posted an 80-yard performance in Week 3, but has been quiet outside of that. The 32-year-old was held to two receptions for 14 yards last week. The assumption is that Shepard would be more involved with Mike Evans (hamstring) and Bucky Irving (foot) both sidelined. However, Emeka Egbuka and Chris Godwin both saw double digit targets last week. Possibly, Shepard sees more action this weekend, but shouldn't be viewed as anything more than a desperation option.

Monday, October 6, 3:48 PM

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (knee) was back on the practice field on Monday for the first time since tearing his ACL in the Week 18 regular-season finale in 2024. The Packers opened Watson's 21-day practice window for them to activate him from the Physically Unable to Perform list, but he only went through individual drills in his first practice back. "Today I felt like I was 100%," Watson said. It's unlikely that Watson will make his 2025 debut in Week 6 against the Green Bay Packers, but the team will need to officially activate him within the next three weeks, or he'll be lost for the entire season. The 26-year-old has had trouble staying healthy early in his career, but he provides quarterback Jordan Love with an explosive deep threat when he's healthy. Expect Green Bay to ease him in once he's activated, but that doesn't mean he's not worth stashing in fantasy leagues in the meantime. The Packers' WR corps will be even more crowded upon Watson's return, with Romeo Doubs, Dontayvion Wicks, rookie Matthew Golden, Savion Williams, and Malik Heath all vying for targets. Jayden Reed (collarbone, foot) is currently on Injured Reserve.