T.J. Watt

T.J. Watt

29-Year-Old LinebackerLB
Pittsburgh Steelers
Questionable
Injury Knee - MCL
Est. Return 5/1/2024
2023 Fantasy Outlook
Watt was the 2021 Defensive Player of the Year with a record-tying 22.5 sacks but was limited to a career-low 10 games last year after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery following Week 1. The 2017 first-rounder was productive when he returned to the field and finished the year with 39 tackles (27 solo), including 5.5 sacks, with two interceptions, a forced fumble and five pass defenses. Injuries have been the primary concern during Watt's career, but if he can stay relatively healthy in 2023, he should remain among the league's top defensive players. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
#Subscriber-Only
IDP
$Signed a four-year, $112.01 million contract with the Steelers in September of 2021.
Just short of DPOY
LBPittsburgh Steelers
Knee - MCL
March 4, 2024
Watt (knee) tallied 68 tackles (48 solo), 19.0 sacks, eight pass breakups, one interception, four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and one defensive touchdown across 17 regular-season games in 2023.
ANALYSIS
Watt missed Pittsburgh's wild-card loss to the Bills due to a Grade 2 MCL sprain suffered during the team's regular-season finale, but the typical recovery timetable of such an injury shouldn't impact his availability for the start of training camp. The star pass rusher narrowly lost out to Cleveland edge rusher Myles Garrett for Defensive Player of the Year honors, with voting split 165-140. There are no questions about Watt's impact for the Steelers defense and for fantasy, as he remains one of the few NFL players truly capable of achieving a 20.0-sack campaign. With two years remaining on his deal and just $18.7 million in dead cap for 2024, it's also worth noting that Watt is a worthwhile candidate for a restructure this offseason.
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NFL Stats
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2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2023 NFL Game Log
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2022 NFL Game Log
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2021 NFL Game Log
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2020 NFL Game Log
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2019 NFL Game Log
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2017 NFL Game Log
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Snap Distribution / Depth Chart
Snap Counts
Snap %
Pittsburgh SteelersSteelers 2023 LB Snap Distribution See more data like this | See last season's snap counts
#% of Team Snaps

93181%
88377%
59852%
41937%
34630%
30927%
27024%
20118%
16815%
15313%
212%
10%
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2023 T.J. Watt Split Stats
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Measurables Review
How do T.J. Watt's measurables compare to other linebackers?
This section compares his draft workout metrics with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average.
Height
6' 4"
 
Weight
252 lbs
 
40-Yard Dash
4.69 sec
 
Shuttle Time
4.13 sec
 
Cone Drill
6.79 sec
 
Vertical Jump
37.0 in
 
Broad Jump
128 in
 
Bench Press
21 reps
 
Hand Length
11.00 in
 
Arm Length
33.13 in
 
Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring T.J. Watt See More
NFL Betting: My Favorite 2024 Futures (Pre-Free Agency)
17 days ago
Jerry Donabedian views the Rams as a serious Super Bowl contender for 2024 even though 15 teams have shorter betting odds to become the NFL's next champion.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Buffalo Bills: Betting Odds, Picks and Predictions for Super Wild Card Weekend
63 days ago
Eric Timm presents the NFL Betting Odds, Picks and Predictions for Pittsburgh Steelers at Buffalo Bills, Super Wild Card Weekend.
Gameday Injuries: Super Wild Card Weekend
65 days ago
Juan Carlos Blanco breaks down the latest on the Super Wild Card Weekend injury landscape as of Saturday morning.
Exploiting the Matchups: Wild-Card Round Breakdown
66 days ago
Matthew Stafford and Jared Goff may be headed for a shootout in Detroit.
NFL Game Previews: Monday Wild-Card Matchups
66 days ago
Erik Siegrist previews the Monday wild-card games as Baker Mayfield and the Bucs take on the Eagles in the nightcap.
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
Watt dealt with various injuries in 2021 and was forced to miss two games, but he still had a career-best season and was rewarded with NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors. The 27-year-old totaled 64 tackles (48 solo) while tying the single-season sack record with 22.5 sacks. In addition, he racked up seven pass defenses, five forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. Watt became the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history when he signed a four-year, $112 million contract extension in September, and he should remain one of the top defensive players in the league as long as he can remain healthy in 2022.
Even though Watt rested during the Steelers' Week 17 matchup in 2020, he still led the league with a career-high 15 sacks. His efforts earned him 20 votes for NFL Defensive Player of the Year, as he finished second in voting to Aaron Donald, who received 27 votes. The Steelers unsurprisingly exercised Watt's fifth-year option prior to the 2020 campaign, so the 2021 season marks the final year of his rookie deal. Watt could draw more attention off the line in 2021 after Bud Dupree signed with the Titans during the offseason, but Watt still managed to make an impact late in 2020 after Dupree tore his ACL. In total, Watt recorded 53 tackles (43 solo), two forced fumbles and one interception in 2020.
It is no surprise that the Steelers exercised Watt's fifth-year team option for 2021 following a second-straight Pro Bowl performance last season. Arguably the lynchpin of a defense that led the league in sacks and takeaways, while also allowing the fifth-fewest yards and points, he recorded a career-high 14.5 sacks -- fourth most in the league -- to go with a league-leading eight forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and two interceptions. There is nothing to suggest a regression in 2020, making the 25-year old linebacker a top five IDP selection in most fantasy formats.
Watt's sophomore season was even better than his rookie campaign. He was among the top-10 in sacks in the league, finishing with a team-high 13 in the category. Watt also forced six fumbles, second only to Dee Ford and brother J.J. with seven each. Only 24 years old to start the 2019 season Watt, who logged 68 tackles in 2018, is an elite athlete, who remains firmly on the IDP radar.
Last year's first round pick (30th overall) lived up to all expectations, with 54 tackles, seven sacks, an interception and a forced fumble in 15 games. The continued absence of Ryan Shazier could allow opponents to double-team Watt, but there is nothing to suggest he cannot build on his successful rookie season, making his an obvious IDP option.
More Fantasy News
Ruled out for wild-card game
LBPittsburgh Steelers
Knee - MCL
January 9, 2024
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that Watt (knee) has been ruled out for Sunday's wild-card game in Buffalo, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
ANALYSIS
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Recovering from Grade 2 sprain
LBPittsburgh Steelers
Knee - MCL
January 7, 2024
Watt has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his left knee after undergoing an MRI on Sunday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
ANALYSIS
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Dealing with MCL sprain
LBPittsburgh Steelers
Knee - MCL
January 6, 2024
Watt is believed to have suffered a Grade 3 MCL sprain after exiting Saturday's 17-10 win in Baltimore with a left knee injury, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
ANALYSIS
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Exits with knee injury Saturday
LBPittsburgh Steelers
Knee
January 6, 2024
Watt won't return to Saturday's game at Baltimore due to a left knee injury, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
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Gets two sacks at Indianapolis
LBPittsburgh Steelers
December 18, 2023
Watt recorded three tackles (two solo), including two sacks, in Saturday's 30-13 loss at Indianapolis.
ANALYSIS
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