You know it's almost football season when the latest Madden ratings are released. And for all they get right, there are always plenty of head-scratching decisions.
This year, it includes Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson.
The Madden 24 ratings for wide receivers were revealed on Monday, with the Packers' top pass-catcher earning a rating of only 77 overall. That means he ranks 67th among all wide receivers in the game.
Excuse me? There are 66 better wide receivers than Watson?
Speed isn't an issue. Watson has ratings of 96 in speed and 94 in agility. But they are about the only positive takeaways from his initial rating in this year's game.
There's no doubt that Watson still has a lot to prove. He also made a slow start to his rookie season, battling injuries and a lack of confidence. That started when he dropped a certain 75-yard touchdown on the Packers' first offensive play of the season.
But he finished strong, posting 523 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in the final eight games. At that pace over a 17-game season, it adds up to 1,111 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns.
Packers fans took to Twitter to defend the team's young star.
Packers fans on Twitter aren't happy about Christian Watson's Madden 24 rating
To get some perspective of just how bad Watson's rating is, let's look at some of the players ahead of him.
Christian Watson is a 77 overall in Madden.
β GBP Daily - Rob Westerman lll (@GBPdaily) July 17, 2023
Some WRβs ranked ahead of him:
Marvin Jones
MVS
Kendrick Bourne
Josh Palmer
Rookie Jaxon Smith-Njigba
Marvin Jones is 33 and will be a complementary receiver for the Detroit Lions this season. He had 529 yards and three touchdowns last year. Kendrick Bourne had 434 yards and one touchdown.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba? As talented as he may be, the Ohio State star hasn't played a snap in the NFL yet.
Here are some of the best reactions from Packers fans on Twitter:
https://t.co/QNPa06guBt pic.twitter.com/ueQWY0Hacj
β π§ Packers #1 Fanβ’ (@ParkerMoes) July 17, 2023
The packer disrespect on madden has been going on far too long. No way MVS should be ranked higher https://t.co/GvZqWW8QJh
β Kiante Mack (@kiantemack24) July 17, 2023
not one of these receivers is better than watson https://t.co/E11J9g34Iv
β LOVE SZN (@Krange2000) July 17, 2023
Such a joke
β Joel Midgett (@jmidge88) July 17, 2023
Beyond disrespectful. He shall be in the 90βs by the end of the season.
β Alex ξ¨ | Packers Mx π (@Alexdlacueva) July 17, 2023
Madden 24 ratings are subjective, of course, but Watson's 77 does seem particularly harsh. He was one of the most productive receivers in football in the second half of last season. Even Jameson Williams, who caught one catch in his rookie year, ranks ahead of Watson.
With his size, speed, and athleticism, Watson can take his game to another level this year.
We're not saying Watson should be a top-10 receiver or in the 99 Club, but to be the 67th-best wide receiver in the game? That's hard to believe.