Packers WR Christian Watson targeted in all parts of the field

When discussing Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson, his vertical presence with that 4.36 speed he possesses is what comes to mind first—or close to it. However, as a rookie, he was targeted actively targeted at all four levels of the field, and his responsibilities are only going to expand.

The chart below from PFF showcases this point. Behind the line of scrimmage, Watson had eight targets. In the 0-to-9 yard range, he had 21. From 10-to-19 yards Watson was targeted 18 times. And then eight times from 20 yards and beyond.

Then on the left side of the field, Watson had 16 targets along with 10 on the right side. Over the middle is by far where he was targeted the most (29 times), and we will likely see that trend continue in 2023 with Jordan Love at quarterback. A key element of the Matt LaFleur offense is attacking the middle of the field as it allows the pass catchers to get the ball in space and yards after the catch (YAC) opportunities. For reference, since 2019, Jimmy Garoppolo, formerly of the San Francisco 49ers who run a very similar offense to Green Bay, led the NFL in percentage of passes over the middle of the field at 58% of the time. During Brock Purdy’s time as a starter, he also threw to that part of the field on 58% of his targets.

Along with being targeted in all parts of the field, Watson not only lined up on the boundary, but he also saw about one-third of his targets come when lined up in the slot, where he was one of the more effective receivers last season. By yards per route run, an efficiency metric, Watson ranked 15th out of all eligible slot receivers, according to PFF.

Watson’s vertical presence was a key factor to the success that the Green Bay offense found during the latter portion of the 2022 season. Prior to his breakout game against Dallas, opposing defenses did not fear getting beat over the top by the Packers’ passing game, which led to them playing closer to the line of scrimmage. This shrunk the field and made moving the ball on the ground or via short and intermediate routes more difficult. Having an effective downfield target creates better spacing and more opportunities for others within the offense.

While, of course, we will still see Watson used in this capacity this season, his role as a route runner is going to expand as he takes on more responsibilities. This, in part, is a necessity given the make up of the receiver room, but Watson also has the skill set and playmaking abilities to be more than only a deep threat.

"He (Watson) is a guy who can handle a lot,” said Matt LaFleur at the NFL Owners’ Meeting. “I haven’t been around too many rookies where you can move their position in game, and he wouldn’t even flinch. He is exceptionally intelligent and knows the plan inside and out, but there’s a level of detail that is going to get better with him. Quite frankly, we are going to ask him to run more routes than he did a year ago."

Watson – along with Romeo Doubs – taking a step forward in Year 2 will be a must for this Green Bay Packers offense. The good news is that many successful receivers have seen large productions jumps in their second seasons. Yards per route run, which Watson ranked 11th in as a rookie, can also be a good barometer for future success. Watson’s ability to impact all four levels of the field along with taking on more route responsibilities will provide him with more opportunities for that big season.