The Green Bay Packers’ season has been a downer, but with that being said, they still have a chance to make a late playoff push at the end of the season. This is mostly due to the offensive run that the Packers have been on as of late. This offensive explosion can be attributed to many things – but a huge impact on this increase in offensive productivity can be attributed to the play of rookie wide receiver Christian Watson. After an injury-plagued, rough start to the season, Watson has turned things around for himself and all of a sudden some people are starting to wonder if he will make a run for Offensive Rookie of the Year (OROY). So, what are the chances that the Packers Christian Watson is the OROY!?

Watson’s Competition for OROY

  • Falcons Drake London – He has played in every game this season and has 47 catches and 533 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns.
  • Jets Garrett Wilson – He has played in every game this season and has 63 catches and 868 yards receiving and four touchdowns.
  • Saints Chris Olave – He has played in every game this season with 60 catches and 887 receiving yards and three touchdowns. 
  • Seahawks Kenneth Walker – He has played in most of the games this season with 150 rushing attempts and 696 rushing yards and nine touchdowns, all the while catching 23 targets for 148 yards.
  • Texans Dameon Pierce – He has played in every game this season with 220 rushing attempts for 939 yards and four touchdowns. He has also caught the ball 30 times for a total 165 yards and one touchdown.

Summary of Christian Watson’s Season

Christian Watson has missed most of the season with various injuries but as of late has come on strong. On the season, he has 25 receptions for a total of 401 yards and seven touchdowns. He has also rushed five times for 68 yards and two touchdowns. This gives him a grand total of nine touchdowns.

Comparing Stats

When comparing Christian Watson’s stats to other rookies, it is comparable. Watson has the fewest yards then any of the other rookies mentioned above but he also has the most touchdowns tied with Kenneth Walker. That being said, Christian Watson has missed most of the season due to injuries. But stats don’t tell the whole story. 

Drake London hasn’t been the game changer at wide receiver for the Falcons. He has played well and can be great as he continues to progress. But he is not Offensive Rookie of the Year. 

Garrett Wilson has helped elevate the Jets offense but hasn’t quite got enough touchdowns. This isn’t necessarily his fault as the Jets have been playing the QB carousel. 

Chris Olave has played well just like Garret Wilson. He has elevated the Saints offense a bit but doesn’t have the touchdowns. Weak quarterback play could be at play here too. 

Dameon Pierce has basically been the offense for the Texans. He has only five touchdowns on the season though and his productivity has not helped the Texans to win.

Finally, Kenneth Walker has over 800 total scrimmage yards and nine touchdowns. He has helped the Seahawks offense thrive after the departure of Russell Wilson. He has played a major importance for the Seahawks this season. As of right now, I believe he is the front-runner for OROY.  

What Needs to Happen for Christian Watson to be OROY?

So what needs to happen for Christian Watson to take the lead for OROY? I think he needs to keep scoring with explosive plays. His touchdown totals need to continue to rise and the Packers offense as a whole needs to keep improving thanks to Christian Watson. Watson will have even a better chance of winning the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award if the Packers find a way to make the playoffs and Watson makes a game-changing play to make that happen.

I think there is a chance for Christian Watson, but as of right now, Kenneth Walker has the lead in the race for Offensive Rookie of the Year. 

——————

Damon is a diehard, fully-immersed cheesehead who currently lives in southern Missouri. He teaches at a local high school and has a family YouTube channel about all things Packers. You can follow him on twitter at @packersfamily and on YouTube at The Packers Family.

——————