Watson's role is creating space for teammates; his size-speed forces defensive attention.

Watson's role in 2026 extends beyond counting stats; his size-speed combo forces defenses to account for him on every snap, creating opportunities for teammates in Matt LaFleur's offense. When defenses dedicate extra attention to Watson, Jayden Reed should find more room to operate in the middle of the field, Matthew Golden could see favorable one-on-one matchups, and the running game may face lighter boxes. The source expects Watson to deliver on yards and touchdowns if he stays healthy, but emphasizes his biggest influence comes from making life easier for everyone around him rather than filling up the stat sheet.