A “glue guy” role player for the Chiefs’ undermanned receiver corps the past three seasons, Watson will serve the same role in Houston as the Texans wait on Tank Dell (leg) to get healthy behind Nico Collins. Houston is also presumably moving on from Robert Woods, and is unsure if Stefon Diggs (ACL) will be back. Despite those depth issues, we would fully expect 29-year-old (next month) Watson to remain in the 15-20 reception range for 2025.

Coming off a surprising “career year” in 2023, Watson’s production declined across the board despite increased efficiency. Rashee Rice didn’t make it past Week 4, but Watson still never caught more than three passes in a game. He never caught more than two after Nov. 4. Not targeted during the playoffs, Watson is heading back to free agency two months shy of his 29th birthday. He’s always been a coaching staff favorite, but Watson might finally be at the end of the line in Kansas City.

Watson, additionally, had a brutal deep drop that likely would have been a score in the game’s opening three plays. He beat out Juju Smith-Schuster as the fifth option in the passing game today, but the lesson with the Chiefs right now is that they are going to spread the ball around. Watson will be a deep-leagues only play in Week 14, as he is every week.