Start Christian Watson or Mike Evans? Week 1

Our Week 1 call

Start Mike Evans over Christian Watson in Week 1.

Mike Evans is priced by the books at 5.0 projected points. Christian Watson has no player market posted for this week, so his side of this call rests on consensus ADP and the news wire only. Drafters take Mike Evans at ADP 59 and Christian Watson at 58. Market coverage on Mike Evans is 40 percent of what his position needs, so the market side of this carries proportionally less weight.

What the books imply

No sportsbook posted a player market for Christian Watson in Week 1.

Player prop markets imply 5.0 fantasy points for Mike Evans, with 40 percent of the markets a WR needs posted.

Week 1 matchups

Christian Watson and GB visit MIN.

MIN allowed 55.2 fantasy points to WRs in its one game this season, the 2nd most in the league.

Receivers caught passes for 272 yards and 2 touchdowns against MIN.

Mike Evans and SF visit LAR on Thursday at 8:35 PM ET.

LAR allowed 47.9 fantasy points to WRs in its one game this season, the 4th most in the league.

Receivers caught passes for 147 yards and 3 touchdowns against LAR.

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

Injury status

Christian Watson was not on the injury report when the call was made.

Mike Evans was not on the injury report when the call was made.

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.

Christian Watson, Week 17 of 2025 against BAL: 29 of 47 snaps, 6 targets and 5 catches for 113 yards, 1 touchdown, 22.3 PPR points.

Christian Watson, Week 16 of 2025 against CHI: 45 of 72 snaps, 6 targets and 2 catches for 17 yards, 3.7 PPR points.

Christian Watson, Week 15 of 2025 against DEN: 27 of 66 snaps, 5 targets and 3 catches for 29 yards, 5.9 PPR points.

In 2025, Mike Evans played 8 games for TB and scored 84.8 PPR points, 10.6 a game, finishing WR76.

He caught 30 of 61 targets for 368 yards and 3 touchdowns, with 8 red zone targets and 331 air yards.

He was on the field for 65 percent of the offense's snaps in the games he played.

Mike Evans, Week 18 of 2025 against CAR: 50 of 67 snaps, 2 targets and 2 catches for 34 yards, 5.4 PPR points.

Mike Evans, Week 17 of 2025 against MIA: 50 of 67 snaps, 7 targets and 3 catches for 31 yards, 1 touchdown, 12.1 PPR points.

Mike Evans, Week 16 of 2025 against CAR: 42 of 64 snaps, 9 targets and 5 catches for 31 yards, 1 touchdown, 14.1 PPR points.

How Week 1 went

Mike Evans scored 16.9 PPR points and Christian Watson scored 32.7.

The call was wrong: Christian Watson outscored Mike Evans by 15.8.

Mike Evans finished 11.9 points above the 5.0 the props implied.

Mike Evans, Week 1 against LAR: 49 of 65 snaps, 7 targets and 6 catches for 49 yards, 1 touchdown, 16.9 PPR points.

Mike Evans finished as the week's WR14 in PPR scoring.

Christian Watson, Week 1 against MIN: 52 of 68 snaps, 8 targets and 6 catches for 147 yards, 2 touchdowns, 32.7 PPR points.

Christian Watson finished as the week's WR2 in PPR scoring.

Their other Week 1 calls

• Start Christian Watson over Alec Pierce.
• Start Courtland Sutton over Christian Watson.
• Start Christian Watson over DJ Moore.
• Start Mike Evans over Courtland Sutton.
• Start Mike Evans over DJ Moore.
• Start Mike Evans over DK Metcalf.