Justin Watson's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

The early beneficiary of Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquise Brown's (shoulder) injury in training camp practices has been Justin Watson, who is taking many of the snaps that would have gone to Brown. Watson last year was tied for second among the team's receivers in catches with 27. With Brown's status up in the air for Week 1 against the Baltimore Ravens, KC may have to keep seven receivers to open the year. Others competing for roster spots include Mecole Hardman, Skyy Moore, Nikko Remigio and Justyn Ross. Hardman, Moore and Ross played for the Chiefs last year, but none of them were very consistent. Watson will see increased chances with Brown out, but rookie Xavier Worthy will be asked to be the team's big-play wideout, and he's the much better late-round target for fantasy managers.

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Justin Watson (foot) left training camp practice early on Wednesday with a foot injury, according to multiple reporters on the scene. The 28-year-old wideout is entering his third year with the Chiefs. He finished third on the team in 2023 with 460 yards on 27 receptions while scoring three touchdowns, and he should once again be a key offensive piece for quarterback Patrick Mahomes, especially with second-year pass-catcher Rashee Rice facing a potential lengthy suspension. With rookie first-round wideout Xavier Worthy (illness) missing his third straight practice on Wednesday, the Chiefs are a little short-handed at the position early in camp. While Watson has been reliable when on the field for KC, he can be left to the waiver wire to begin the year in most fantasy leagues.

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Justin Watson is set to serve as the team's No. 3 wideout on Super Bowl Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers. The problem with that role, however, is that K.C.'s passing attack has been so concentrated toward Travis Kelce and Rashee Rice that there hasn't been much production to go around beside them. In his last five games, Watson has collected four of his nine targets for 77 scoreless yards since Week 17. The 27-year-old downfield threat is still likely to work in a rotation with other Chiefs receivers, handling around 52% of the team's offensive snaps across three playoff appearances this postseason, so he's not going to be a reliable bet in the big game. Besides some dart-throw appeal, Watson is a low-floor DFS play without a particularly high ceiling.