It feels safe to say that the Green Bay Packers have big plans in store for Christian Watson. The standout wide receiver's four-year, $110.5 million contract extension isn't a reward for what he previously accomplished — it's a bet on his future.
Green Bay's actions this offseason have made its desire to lean on Watson abundantly clear, with his payday being the latest and perhaps strongest signal. The signs have officially become impossible to ignore, particularly for fantasy football managers.
The Packers' decision to make Watson one of the NFL's highest-paid receivers cannot be overlooked. Follow the money, as the saying goes. With a massive raise in place, he solidifies himself as one of the most intriguing names to monitor in drafts this summer.
Packers' commitment to Christian Watson is a precursor to fantasy football breakout
ESPN currently has Watson as the point-per-reception (PPR) WR36 in their 2026 rankings. That feels quite low, especially after his remarkable efforts coming off a season-ending ACL tear he suffered in 2024.
When Watson returned to the lineup this past campaign, few wideouts were better, and the numbers bear that out. Here are just a few data points from his impressive run from Weeks 8 through 17:
- Tied for the third-most receiving touchdowns (six)
- WR12 in total PPR points (132.4)
- 12th in receiving yards (611)
- Tied for WR22 in PPR points per game (13.2)
Moreover, Watson's 2.28 yards per route run was good for 10th among 91 wideouts who drew at least 25 targets in 2025 (including the playoffs). For context, he was sandwiched between the Atlanta Falcons' Drake London and Nico Collins of the Houston Texans, a pair of bona fide studs.
Great things happen when Green Bay gets Watson involved, which they're now financially motivated to do. His 120.8 passer rating when targeted last year is another solid indicator that he's poised to take a further step forward.
Not to mention, Watson's status as one of the league's best field-stretchers is also incredibly valuable. He racked up nearly 1,000 air yards (977) in 10 contests, posting the seventh-highest 17.4 average depth of target (aDOT). The 2022 second-round pick's vertical role can be volatile, yet it gives him a sky-high ceiling.
Watson's deployment is encouraging, too; albeit an elite deep threat, he's not exclusively an "X" receiver. It's hard to consistently produce at a high level when tethered to the boundary, but the Packers aren't afraid to move him around the formation. 31.0 percent of the North Dakota State product's routes last season came from the slot, and that's in line with his career rate (32.4).
We've somehow gotten this far without even acknowledging the expected usage boost coming Watson's way. Green Bay let Romeo Doubs leave for the New England Patriots in free agency and traded Dontayvion Wicks to the Philadelphia Eagles in recent months. The departed players leave behind 131 combined targets, and star tight end Tucker Kraft is recovering from a torn ACL.
Note: Advanced metrics courtesy of Pro Football Focus ($) and FantasyPros.
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