Quez

Watkins

It’s a bit of a surprise given the Steelers’ lack of depth at wide receiver, but that’s perhaps an indictment on Watkins’ ability to stick on an NFL roster. The 26-year-old has attracted attention for his speed after the Eagles drafted him in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft, but he’s totaled 98 catches for 1,249 yards and six touchdowns in 49 career games. He may need to sign to a practice squad to start 2024. The Steelers also waived/released LB Kyron Johnson, LB Luquay Washington, LB Jacoby Windmon, LB Marcus Haynes, DB Zyon Gilbert, DB Thomas Graham, DL Willington Previlon, DL Jacob Slade, OL TyKeem Doss, OL Joey Fisher, QB John Rhys Plumlee, RB Aaron Shampklin, RB Jack Colletto, RB La’Mical Perine, RB Jonathan Ward, TE Matt Sokol, TE Rodney Williams, WR Jaray Jenkins, WR Duece Watts and WR Dez Fitzpatrick.

Watkins is a speedy receiver who was drafted by the Eagles in the sixth-round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He’s totaled 98-1,249-6 in 49 career games, and won’t be much more than a depth signing at this stage in his career. He’s coming off a career-low 15-142-1 in nine games last season.

With A.J. Brown going down and the Eagles playing catch up, Watkins made the most of his opportunities. He scored the Eagles’ only touchdown on a pass from Marcus Mariota. Depending on the severity of Brown’s injury, Watkins could be depended more upon moving forward into the playoffs.

Watkins has been sidelined with the hamstring issue for most of the season and was placed on injured reserve after Week 5. Now healthy, he should reclaim the WR3 role in Philly. Even with Dallas Goedert out, it’s unlikely he or anyone else does much in that role with A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith dominating the targets.

Julio Jones was removed from the injury report. Watkins is on injured reserve but had his practice window opened earlier this week. Even with Dallas Goedert out, we don’t recommend looking down the Eagles’ depth chart at receiver for viable fantasy options.

Watkins suffered the hamstring injury in Week 2, re-aggravated it in Week 5, and was placed on injured reserve a few days later. With Dallas Goedert currently sidelined, there could be room in the offense for a third receiver to emerge as a long-shot fantasy option. Watkins will likely reclaim his starting role once healthy, but he still has a 21-day window to be officially activated from injured reserve. He is worth keeping an eye on, but for now, fantasy managers can avoid anyone outside of A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith in the Philly passing attack.

Linebacker Nakobe Dean was activated from injured reserve in a corresponding move. Olamide Zaccheaus will serve as the Eagles’ third receiver for the foreseeable future. He is not worth an add in even the deepest of fantasy leagues.

Watkins suffered a hamstring in Week 2. He returned from the issue last week but seemingly re-aggravated it and will now miss another game. Rapoport added, “We’ll see about his long-term prospects.” Watkins’ injury is still being evaluated, but it sounds like he will miss more than Week 6. Olamide Zaccheaus will draw the start as Philly’s third receiver.

Watkins has been sidelined for the past two weeks because of the issue. Olamide Zaccheaus earned two starts in his place but will now be sent back to the bench. Both players are buried behind star receivers on the depth chart and are not on the fantasy radar.

Watkins will miss his second consecutive game with said hamstring injury, giving way to Olamide Zaccheaus to start is his place. Much like Watkins, Zaccheaus won’t be on the fantasy radar as the fourth pass-catching option in a low-volume passing attack.