Green Bay’s receiving corps presents fantasy managers with conflicting recent performances heading into a crucial Week 17 showdown. Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs both face uncertainty after volatile production over the past month. Which Packers wide receiver deserves fantasy football consideration against Baltimore.
Christian Watson’s Fantasy Outlook
Watson was the clear answer and a must-start WR2 for much of the middle of the season. He posted 18-plus fantasy points in three of four games from Weeks 11-14, establishing himself as Jordan Love’s preferred deep threat. The explosive performances showcased the connection that makes Watson such a dangerous weapon when utilized properly.
The last two weeks have been concerning. Watson managed just 5.9 and 3.7 fantasy points in consecutive games, representing a dramatic decline from his mid-season dominance. His snap share dropped to 61% last week, though he did run a route on 80% of pass plays, suggesting his role in the passing game remains intact despite reduced overall playing time.
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Watson’s ability to stretch the field vertically remains his most valuable trait. His speed and tracking ability make him the ideal target for Love on play-action deep shots, particularly when defenses commit to stopping the run.
Having Love back under center benefits Watson significantly. The quarterback’s willingness to attack downfield creates opportunities for Watson that simply don’t exist with backup signal-callers. Love’s arm strength and accuracy on vertical routes unlock Watson’s explosiveness in ways that maximize his fantasy ceiling.
Romeo Doubs’ Fantasy Outlook
Doubs operated as a weekly WR3 over the first half of the season before his production cratered. From Weeks 10-15, Doubs posted just two games exceeding 9.3 fantasy points. His other four performances during that span didn’t reach 5.6 fantasy points, making him unreliable for fantasy managers navigating crucial late-season matchups.
Last week provided a glimmer of hope. Doubs caught five passes for 84 yards and a touchdown, delivering his best performance in over a month. The efficiency impressed given his limited opportunity, as he converted his targets into meaningful production despite reduced involvement in the game plan.
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The underlying usage metrics remain troubling. Doubs ran just 17 routes against Chicago, giving him a 65% route participation rate that marked his second-lowest of the season. His 61% snap share matched Watson but represented Doubs’ lowest playing time percentage all year, suggesting the coaching staff has reduced his role within the offense.
The touchdown saved his fantasy day, masking the concerning decline in opportunity. Doubs operates as an intermediate option who thrives on volume and broken coverages rather than explosive plays. His fantasy value depends on Green Bay airing the ball out frequently, which rarely happens given their run-heavy offensive philosophy.
Should You Start Watson or Doubs This Week?
Baltimore presents a tricky defensive matchup for opposing wide receivers. The Ravens allow the fourth-most schedule-adjusted fantasy points per game to the position and have been even more vulnerable to the outside.
The Ravens defense has been better recently, but they got torched by Drake Maye and Stefon Diggs last week. Baltimore remains susceptible to the deep ball, which would theoretically favor Watson’s skill set. Diggs caught nine passes for 138 yards in Week 16, demonstrating the Ravens’ ongoing struggles containing vertical threats.
Lamar Jackson’s status creates additional complications for this matchup. Jackson did not practice all week and is not going to play tonight. Tyler Huntley starting dramatically alters the game environment.
Jackson’s absence means the Ravens are unlikely to push the Packers to throw. Green Bay has no interest in calling pass plays if they can avoid it, preferring to lean on their rushing attack whenever game script allows.
If fantasy managers are asking one of these wide receivers to be efficient on limited volume, it’s Watson. His big-play ability provides a higher ceiling when opportunities are scarce. Both receivers have touchdown upside given Baltimore’s defensive vulnerabilities, but neither is a confident start this week.
Watson is the preferred option between the two. His route participation rate and deep-threat capabilities give him a better chance at producing fantasy points on limited targets. Ultimately, all Packers wide receivers are best avoided if possible, as the game environment projects unfavorably for Green Bay’s passing attack regardless of which quarterback Baltimore starts.
