Quez Watkins heads to IR

The Eagles on Saturday placed WR Quez Watkins on IR. He didn't hit the injury report this week until missing Friday with a hamstring issue. Watkins will now miss at least four games, leaving Olamide Zaccheaus to start in his place. It's a low-value fantasy spot regardless of who's starting.

Eagles OC Shane Steichen told reporters Tuesday morning that he "has been impressed by how well Quez Watkins has tracked the ball so far," according to former Eagles writer Les Bowen. That's particularly good for Watkins, who brings the speed to stand out as a deep threat and has averaged 15.1 yards per catch through 2 seasons. Watkins will have trouble finding enough targets to make his way into starting lineups in most fantasy football leagues. But he's intriguing as an end-of-draft addition to Jalen Hurts rosters in best-ball tournaments.

Eagles insider Adam Caplan described WR Quez Watkins’ role as a “rotational deep threat.” He’s on track to be the team’s WR3 behind A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. Watkins, at 6’0, 193 pounds, already garnered a 13.8-yard average depth of target in 2021 — well above league average. Still, barring an injury to Brown or Smith, Watkins is unlikely to be a fantasy factor in 2022.

Eagles WR Quez Watkins has landed on the COVID list. He's averaged just 3.5 targets per game this season, so his absence would mean just a little extra volume to go around in Sunday's game vs. Washington.

Eagles insider Eliot Shorr-Parks calls Quez Watkins the team's best WR since DeVonta Smith went down with his knee injury a little over a week ago. Philly would surely like former 1st-rounder Jalen Reagor to join Smith in the starting lineup -- but Reagor has reportedly been inconsistent in camp. We'll see if Watkins can carry his momentum into preseason action. For now, he's still more of a "watch list guy" than a target in fantasy drafts.