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ESPN NFL fantasy football takes on T.J. Watt
Every source-backed article insight STACKED has extracted from ESPN NFL about T.J. Watt.
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Insight ledger
All ESPN NFL insights about T.J. Watt
NegativeProjectionJul 9, 2026
Watt fell significantly to No. 7 in ESPN's rankings after back-to-back No. 2 rankings over the past two years. He missed three late-season games in 2025 with a partially collapsed lung from a dry needling accident at the team facility. His pass rush win rate in 14 games was 11.7%, the lowest among this year's top 10 rushers. An AFC executive said he is "definitely in decline," noting "some of the younger players have surpassed him," though he remains "still very good." A personnel evaluator cited lower-body injuries affecting his "burst and get-off." Pittsburgh plans to utilize all three top edge rushers (Watt, Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig), and some executives believe the Steelers might entertain a Watt trade for the right price.NegativeProjectionJul 8, 2026
Watt fell significantly to No. 7 in ESPN's rankings after back-to-back No. 2 rankings over the past two years. He missed three late-season games in 2025 with a partially collapsed lung from a dry needling accident at the team facility. His pass rush win rate in 14 games was 11.7%—the lowest among this year's top 10 rushers. Scouts say he is "definitely in decline" and that younger players have surpassed him, though he remains very good. His burst and get-off have diminished due to lower-body injuries. However, he is one of five players with 115+ sacks in their first nine seasons, and coordinator Patrick Graham's scheme change may utilize his instincts by moving him around the formation more often.