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    Is Christian Watson Playing in Week 5? Analyzing the Latest Injury Update Ahead of Week 5

    Christian Watson suffered a sprained ankle in last week's game. After not practicing all week, should fantasy managers prepare to be without the Packers WR?

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    Injuries have hit NFL teams and fantasy football managers alike extra hard this season. Last week, Christian Watson left the game early with a sprained ankle. While he spent all week rehabbing the injury, Watson faces an uphill battle to play in Week 5.

    What are some options for fantasy managers if the Green Bay Packers WR can’t go?

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    Will Christian Watson Be Active in Week 5?

    Watson did not practice all week, and less than 1% of players who miss an entire week of practice end up playing. I can confidently say Watson won’t be part of that 1%. According to Dr. Chao of Sports Injury Central, Watson is likely to miss more than one week.

    I want to take a moment to give a shout-out to Sleeper for allowing commissioners the option to make doubtful players IR eligible. In a season like this, it’s been especially beneficial for situations like this one.

    The Packers know Watson isn’t playing, but since they listed him as doubtful, most fantasy managers will have to wait until the inactives are announced before they can place him on IR and pick up someone else.

    Potential Fantasy Options With Watson Out Include Dontayvion Wicks, Bo Melton, and Josh Downs

    The once-crowded Packers WR corps is suddenly…not. We are about to get a very good look at what Jordan Love does with a consolidated target tree.

    The Packers should still be quite run-heavy with Josh Jacobs. When they throw, expect the vast majority of passes to go in the direction of Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, and Tucker Kraft.

    Wicks is already a name buzzing in the fantasy world. A popular breakout candidate, Wicks had no catches in two of his first three games, as the Packers rotated their four WRs at a frustrating rate. Once Watson went down last week, that rotation stopped, and Wicks delivered.

    Wicks commanded 13 targets, catching five for 78 yards and two touchdowns. Game script certainly played a role, but now he is beginning the game as a starter in two-receiver sets. The Rams have allowed the seventh-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers, and are an excellent matchup for Wicks to try and repeat his stellar Week 4 performance.

    The talented sophomore isn’t the only Packers WR in play for this week. For those in deeper leagues, Bo Melton is also worth a look. He projects to be the WR3 this week, as Romeo Doubs is out due to a one-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the team.

    Melton had some moments last season, catching six passes for 105 yards and a touchdown in Week 17. He’s easily the most talented WR5 in the NFL.

    Looking beyond the Packers, I’m incredibly bullish on Colts WR2 Josh Downs, especially if Anthony Richardson is held out (he’s currently doubtful). With Joe Flacco playing most of the game last week, Downs caught eight of nine targets for 82 yards and a touchdown.

    Downs played very well as a rookie. His slow start to the season was due entirely to his preseason high ankle sprain. Now fully recovered, Downs is picking up where he left off as a rookie.

    The matchup is a great one for Downs against a Jaguars defense that struggles against the pass. A notable 68.2% of the receiving yards allowed by the Jaguars have gone to WRs. Flacco could very well air it out 40+ times (as he does), making Downs a very compelling start for managers who might be without one of their Packers WRs.

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