Week 11 at Green Bay Packers
Ben Watson only gained 41 yards against the Titans before the bye last week, but he was targeted 10 times and ended up with 7 receptions on the day. Watson has been fairly steady this season in PPR formats, as he is tied with Rob Gronkowski for 10th in the league among tight ends with 38 receptions.
The Packers have actually allowed the least fantasy points and have yet to give up a touchdown to the tight end position this year. However, Watson should continue to be heavily targeted, giving him a high floor for fantasy owners looking for streaming options at the position, particularly in PPR leagues.
Week 9 at Tennessee Titans
Ben Watson only had 2 catches for 6 yards last week against the Dolphins, but he did catch a touchdown and was targeted 4 times. Nick Boyle was also in on the action last week, but Watson should remain the primary target at the tight end position for the Ravens.
This week, Watson faces a Titans team that has only allowed 2 touchdowns to opposing tight ends this year, but rank 26th in total points allowed per game. Watson isn’t a great option in any given week, but as a red zone target and a safety valve, he has streaming potential.
Week 8 vs. Miami Dolphins
Ben Watson only had 38 yards last week against the Vikings, but he did catch all 5 of the passes thrown his way and has continued to put up modest PPR points despite the struggles of the Baltimore offense. Watson is second on the team with 35 targets this season.
Watson is banged up with a knee injury, but he continues to be active on game day. He has some upside against the Dolphins this week, who gave up a touchdown to the tight end position last week and have allowed the seventh-most fantasy points per game to tight ends this season. He’s not worth looking at over any regular starters, but if you’re desperate for a PPR streaming option, Watson isn’t a terrible choice.
Week 7 at Minnesota Vikings
Ben Watson only had 28 yards last week against the Bears, although he did have 6 receptions and led the team with 8 targets. He’ll face a tough Vikings defense this week that is tied for 10 in touchdown passes allowed this year with 8. While three of those have gone to the TE position, it’s still probably better to look elsewhere for a streaming option this week. Save Watson for a better matchup.
Week 6 vs. Chicago Bears
Ben Watson had only 2 catches for 2 yards against the Raiders last week. He is second on the team with 18 receptions so far this season, though, and he seems to be a prominent part of the Baltimore passing game, paltry as it may be.
Watson is a low-end streaming option against a very average Bears pass defense this week. Chicago has allowed 12.2 PPR points per game to opposing TEs, which ranks them 19th in the league. Watson doesn’t have a lot of upside, but if you’re desperate, he’s likely to get you at least 5 or so points in PPR formats.
Week 5 at Oakland Raiders
The Ravens offense has been terrible, but Ben Watson has caught 16 passes and a touchdown over the past three games, making him one of the few bright spots on the team. He’ll be 37 years old in December, but his consistent hands have made him a trusty safety valve for QB Joe Flacco.
The Raiders have given up an average of 13.2 fantasy points in PPR formats to the tight end position per game this year, ranking them in the bottom half of the league. With Watson likely continuing to get targets, he should be considered a nice streaming option, albeit with limited upside, in all league formats.
Week 4 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Ben Watson only caught 3 passes for 12 yards in a forgettable game against the Jaguars last week, but he did catch the Ravens’ only touchdown late in the game and looks to be by far the best option for Baltimore at the TE position.
Watson faces a Pittsburgh defense that has allowed just 2 touchdown passes through three weeks, but one was to a TE last week against Chicago. Watson should be targeted enough to do some damage this week. There are higher upside players available in all likelihood, but Watson has some streaming potential as a possible high-volume target.
Week 3 at Jacksonville Jaguars (game in London)
Ben Watson leads the team with nine targets on the season, including eight a week ago against the Browns. Watson ended up with 91 yards last Sunda,y as the Browns defense allowed big fantasy numbers to the TE position for the second straight week.
Watson faces the Jaguars in London this week and has some upside against a team that allowed 6 catches, 91 yards, and a touchdown to the TE position last week. Watson is still risky though, as Maxx Williams will vie for snaps, making it hard to recommend him as more than a middle-tier streaming option.
Fantasy Upside
After missing all of last season with a torn Achilles, Ben Watson will fight for a starting spot this season. In 2015, he had a quietly productive year, with 74 catches, 825 yards, and six touchdowns for the Saints. With Dennis Pitta off the roster, Watson has the best chance of becoming a reliable target for Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, and he’s proven he can be a viable fantasy starter when targeted heavily.
Fantasy Downside
Watson is 36 years old now and coming off a bad injury. Additionally, while Crockett Gillmore and Maxx Williams haven’t been very consistent during their young careers, they do threaten the number of snaps and targets available to Watson.
2017 Bottom Line
Watson shouldn’t be targeted early in fantasy drafts, but if he can win the starting job over the youngsters, then he should be worth rostering in most leagues, at least as a backup option or a streaming tight end. Watson should be a valuable target in the red zone for Flacco, as the Ravens don’t have a lot of size in their receiving corps. He’s a nice example of why reaching for a tight end outside of the elite players isn’t necessary.
Fantasy Upside
Ben Watson set or matched career highs across the board last season with the Saints, catching 74 passes for 825 yards, and six touchdowns. Watson joins a Baltimore team dying to get some health and consistency from the tight end position, and he should stand a good chance to remain the starter if he can provide a reliable target for quarterback Joe Flacco. Watson blocks well and runs clean routes, even if he isn’t much of a burner. All in all, the Ravens targeted the tight end position 132 times last season and should continue to throw the ball again this year.
Fantasy Downside
Watson is 35 years old now and he’ll have to adjust to a new system and a new quarterback after spending the last three years with the Saints. He also has to stave off competition from 2014 second-round pick Maxx Williams and the athletic Crockett Gillmore for his job. Gillmore had 412 yards and four touchdowns last season and he won’t give up easily. Dennis Pitta, now seemingly healthy, is still in the mix as well.
2016 Bottom Line
All in all, it’s hard to get too excited about any Raven tight ends. Baltimore led the league with 676 pass attempts in 2015, so Watson could thrive if he wins the job outright. However, he’s got too many talented players looking over his shoulder and coming off a career year at age 35 doesn’t inspire a tremendous amount of confidence. He’s a streaming option in most leagues, with very little draft value.
Update: Watson tore his Achilles in the pre-season and is expected to miss the entire 2016 season. Even in dynasty leagues, he should be avoided.
