Is he not already as of late?

Off field personnel worth their salt don’t anoint a number 1 receiver anyway. The player grabs it through their play on the field demanding more focus when the chips are down. Only after that has become the de facto reality do smart teams start to tailor more of their offense around them, which is really what it means to be a true number 1.

This is an old argument. Who cares who the #1 receiver is? Throw the ball to the open man, rather than throwing a prayer to someone who is double covered, even if they are the "#1 receiver". This was a problem with Favre, where he would have a favorite receiver, and focus on that player. Rodgers did the same with Adams.
Time to rethink the entire concept, and decide that moving the chains, no matter who catches the ball, is more important than constantly focusing on one player.

Why has there been this obsession of having to name a WR as the #1 guy? They have good WRs and I find it better to have them all fighting for catches and routes each week. This idea they need this set pecking order each week doesn't make any sense to me.

Watson is a fine WR but he isn't the best working the middle of field on shorter routes. He is great at the deep ball and working out routes. I am fine with him being the star one week and having Doubs or someone else do it the next.

This is such a silly narrative. The Patriots won multiple Super Bowls without a number one receiver, and so has KC recently. Their TE's have contributed more catches and touchdowns than any WR on the team.

As stated above, why give the opponent any idea of who is going to be the main target from week to week. Make them plan for everything!

Just win baby = throw it to the open receiver baby.

Let our opponents' D label who our #1 perceived receiver is.

"It’s Time to Make Christian Watson the Packers Number One Receiver" is eerily similar to: It's Time to Make Pantz Burp CheeseHead TV's Number One Poster.

I don't need the label, since you all know that already.

XXXXXOOOOOs,
Pantz

So, is there some kind of ceremony to declare Watson the number one receiver?
Or should MLF just call more plays in which Watson is the primary target?

We can't put all of our eggs in one basket as Christian does have an injury history and will need to give a greater sample size of injury-free play before being crowned WR#1

"When the team needs a big play, Watson should be the first player they look for."

I believe in progression on a play but always making him the first read sort of defeats the timing when he's the best on the team at being a decoy.

If he is the #1 he's the first I've seen that can block like he does for the others. Is he a cross between Adams and Lazard?

I'm happy for Watson. As a fan who was always concerned about his ability to stay on the field and be a consistent contributor, he has proven me wrong with being a go-to-guy in recent games.

As for the number one receiver status, whatever we're doing now seems to be working fine. Wicks one time, Doubs another, and Watson next is fine with me. Take advantage of the hot hands, the matchup, whatever; just win.

I don’t agree with the concept of a #1 receiver. The QB should go through his progressions on each play and throw to the open receiver. Yes there will be plays when Watson will be covered one on one and that could be an opportunity. However Watson should not be the first or only receiver to look for. Hit the open man and keep moving the sticks. This will be particularly important in the Bears game.

The Packers want to keep the Bears run game off the field, build a lead and make them one dimensional. That’s the key to winning this game. GPG! Thanks, Since ‘61

The open guy is the number 1 receiver on that play. I have seen many times when Doubs was the best available when Love spent too much time looking for him and missed other really open guys and either got sacked or ran - I also seen where on 3rd or 4th and short that they tried to hit the long one, missed the throw or it wasnt available and ended up punting - converting is more important. So I, would rather have a whole bunch of number 1's and as we saw last game - get the ball to the guy who is having a game. If the game plan is to have Watson draw a bunch of coverage force the other teams to come off him by converting to the other guys like Doubs, Wicks, Golden , et all with the running backs tight ends. I am also still not convinced that Watson can maintain his long term health - some guys just cannot stay on the field. Like Doubs with his concussion issues.

Kinda silly I say. I don't need the title "Best Commentor on CHTV" to know it is the truth. As long as I keep bringing the goods and getting those thumbs up, it is apparent to all. A rose by any other name would smell as sweet. (That was written by the #1 at the Globe Theater).

Watson has to make himself the #1 WR, and he can do that by staying available (which has been a problem), catching the ball (also a problem). If he can manage those two things, he's an incredible weapon. You can't deny him that little 8 yard quick out and still respect his ability to run past you, and he's a big help in the run game.

I'd like to see him high point the ball more often. If y'all would set up a GoFundMe so I could work with Watson at some resort in Hawaii during the offseason, I'd be happy to try to teach him. He does seem to be a reliable catcher unless he's running downfield; when he is catching those shorter routes, he does just fine.

Watson, Reed, Golden, and Wicks are all under contract for next season.

Watson is like being the favorite child in a family. It's usually unspoken but widely known that he's the no.1 - whether it's warranted - or not. So no formal pronouncements are necessary.

Here's a unique thought: how about the receiver who is open being the number one receiver? The modern American fetish to rank everything is a bit koo-koo.

I've been down on Watson over the years not based on ability or attitude but because of his frequent injuries. Can you count on him?

To me, Wicks and Doubs are the two best receivers at this point. Watson can be good, but he is one of many. The Packers have a bounty of capable receivers, especially now with Reed and Golden coming back from injuries. I don't see the need to say 'he's number one!"

Thinking back on the great receivers the team has had over the years...(excluding for this argument Don Hutson) Carrol Dale and Boyd Dowler, James Lofton and John Jefferson, Antonio Freeman and Donald Driver...who would you say was the number one receiver? The answer is they both are top receivers. Trying to establish a pecking order is silly. Whoever gets open is the number one receiver today.

So when Watson is anointed as #1 WR by fandom will he then double his on field production?

Gil...is your assertion Love has been ignoring Watson since his return? Announcing him as #1 to force Love to throw to him and ignore Doubs, Wicks, Golden and Reed when he returns? Will calling him #1 make him feel better?

He knows how much the Packers value him with the recent contract extension. I don't believe Watson really cares about this topic at all. His production will create his reputation. He needs to stay healthy and make plays...like all our WRs do.

Driver, Jennings, Jordy, Jones, Cobb...who was the clear #1 WR? I don't think it was an issue with them.

By the way, Wicks played the best game of his life on Thanksgiving. I guarantee he's getting more targets on Sunday. He could always get open and now he has again rediscovered the velcro on his gloves. Incredible performance. He's a good blocker too.

I believe Parsons wears #1

Watson is in more cases than others the number one option, meaning he is the number one receiver now. Of course Love can check the defense the coverage and priories the second or third options and they become the number one receiver on that play. Watson as far as I'm concerned earned the number one receiver label because of his clutch play his explosive speed and most importantly Loves total trust in him.

I don’t understand why this is such a big deal. Why does it need to be stated publicly? He functions as WR1. Why is the label so important to some people? Would anything change if he had the label?

GB needs to go out and BUY a #1 WR....there are none on this team. The benefits of having a #1 WR are:
1. They get open from any spot on the field they are at.
2. They catch nearly every catchable ball thrown to them.
3. They make great catches when the QB is off a bit or they are well covered.
4. YAC ability is exceptional.
5. They can be counted on to move the chains on contested catches.
6.They have more balls thrown their way.
7. They can be counted on when the QB / Ol and fellow WR's are not firing on ll cylinders.
8. He shows the younger players the work ethic and hours in the gym and show how to prepare his body / watch film and execute plays.
We do not have this yet. Kraft was the closest and as a TE....and ML still did not game plan him in near enough. We have WR's with potential, but none I see as a #1. Most are 3-4's. Until the hands and YAC ability are a lot more solid this discussion is mute. Good throws/ good routes and good hands would be a great thing to see a lot more often overall. This will have to be a Gute 2026 pre-season season fix. Anyone can step up and that's good enough of now.

I don't buy into a true #1 WR as in years past, however, I don't believe they have truly unlocked the true potential of Watson yet. I have been a big proponent of Watson from the beginning and wanted him drafted #1 that year. I saw the potential. He has IT. Size, speed, confidence, hands, route running have gotten better. His blocking has always been above par. Unfortunately, because of injury and therefore some slow development that realization has not been matched by LeFleur. That is truly unfortunate because he is a game changer and needs to be schemed better to be the No.1 option. Crossers, crossers, crossers in stride should be a staple, but LeFleur decides not. Not everything needs to be deep with him. That is an oversimplification of what he can do. Is that Love deficiency or LeFleur? As a coach, at some point, you have to understand that and who your dependable play makers are and set them up, and the team for success. If other WR's, and other position groups honestly, don't understand this, then there is a disconnect that coaching has failed again and again. There is a fine line to get everyone involved, but winning is ultimate goal regardless.