Start Christian Watson or Luther Burden III? Week 9

Our Week 9 call

Start Christian Watson over Luther Burden III in Week 9.

Market-based projections have Christian Watson at 14.7 points and Luther Burden III at 12.5, a gap of 2.2. No player market is posted for Luther Burden III this week yet, so his 12.5 is the average of his market-based projections in Weeks 6, 7 and 8 (12.6, 12.7 and 12.1); the call is rebuilt when his market posts. Drafters take Christian Watson at ADP 58 and Luther Burden III at 51.

What the market projects

Player markets imply 14.7 fantasy points for Christian Watson, with 100 percent of the markets a WR needs posted.

The market-based projection for Christian Watson is 73 receiving yards, 4-5 receptions and 0-1 touchdowns (10, 8 and 6 market sources).

No Week 9 player market is posted for Luther Burden III yet. His market-based projections were 12.6, 12.7 and 12.1 points in Weeks 6, 7 and 8, an average of 12.5, which stands in until his Week 9 market posts.

That puts Christian Watson 2.2 points ahead of Luther Burden III on these projections.

Week 9 matchups

Christian Watson and GB visit NE on Sunday at 4:25 PM ET.

NE allowed 32.1 fantasy points a game to WRs this season over 7 games, the 13th most in the league.

Receivers caught passes for 150 yards and a touchdown a game against NE.

Luther Burden III and CHI host TB on Sunday at 8:20 PM ET.

TB allowed 29.9 fantasy points a game to WRs this season over 7 games, the 12th fewest in the league.

Receivers caught passes for 135 yards and 0.7 touchdowns a game against TB.

By points allowed to the position, Christian Watson has the softer matchup.

Injury status

Christian Watson is listed as questionable with a undisclosed injury.

Luther Burden III is not on the injury report.

Usage before Week 9

Through Week 8, Christian Watson played 77 percent of GB snaps, drew 22 percent of the targets, earned 31 percent of the air yards and had 8 percent of the red zone chances.

Christian Watson, Week 5 against CHI: 49 of 61 snaps, 8 targets and 6 catches for 143 yards, 2 touchdowns.

Christian Watson, Week 6 against DAL: 66 of 75 snaps, 8 targets and 3 catches for 64 yards.

Christian Watson, Week 7 against DET: 54 of 67 snaps, 8 targets and 5 catches for 57 yards.

Christian Watson, Week 8 against CAR: 34 of 69 snaps, 10 targets and 8 catches for 113 yards.

Through Week 7, Luther Burden III played 61 percent of CHI snaps, drew 13 percent of the targets, earned 13 percent of the air yards and had 17 percent of the red zone chances.

Luther Burden III, Week 7 against NE: 42 of 69 snaps, 1 carry for 7 yards, 4 targets and 4 catches for 130 yards, 1 touchdown.

Their 2025 seasons

In 2025, Christian Watson played 10 games for GB and scored 132.4 PPR points, 13.2 a game, finishing WR46.

He caught 35 of 55 targets for 611 yards and 6 touchdowns, with 6 red zone targets and 493 air yards.

He was on the field for 68 percent of the offense's snaps in the games he played.

In 2025, Luther Burden III played 15 games for CHI and scored 127.9 PPR points, 8.5 a game, finishing WR48.

He caught 47 of 60 targets for 652 yards and 2 touchdowns, with 4 red zone targets and 318 air yards.

He was on the field for 39 percent of the offense's snaps in the games he played.

Luther Burden III, Week 18 of 2025 against DET: 1 carry for 10 yards, 4 targets and 3 catches for 35 yards, 7.5 PPR points.

Luther Burden III, Week 17 of 2025 against SF: 38 of 66 snaps, 9 targets and 8 catches for 138 yards, 1 touchdown, 27.8 PPR points.

Their other Week 9 calls

• Start Christian Watson over A.J. Brown.
• Start Chris Olave over Christian Watson.
• Start Christian Watson over DJ Moore.
• Start Luther Burden III over A.J. Brown.
• Start Luther Burden III over Devaughn Vele.
• Start DJ Moore over Luther Burden III.