Out
Injury Hamstring
Est. Return 3/9/2026
2025 Stats
PTS
14.9
REB
4.9
AST
2.0
STL
1.0
BLK
1.2
ROS Projections
2025 Fantasy Outlook
Watson took another jump forward in his third season in the league, posting several career-high numbers while playing a meaningful role off the bench. He averaged 8.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.4 blocks and 0.7 steals across 24.4 minutes per game in 68 regular-season outings. The 23-year-old also shot 47.7 percent from the field and 35.3 percent from three-point range. However, Watson shot just 69.3 percent from the charity stripe and has struggled with efficiency from the free-throw line during his NBA career. He should continue to operate as the primary backup to Aaron Gordon in the 2025-26 campaign, though Denver strengthened its second unit this offseason by adding Tim Hardaway, Bruce Brown and Jonas Valanciunas. Watson's career-best year in 2024-25 was good for a 175th-place finish in eight-category leagues, but Denver remains a contending team and has bolstered its bench, meaning the UCLA product may not see the same production he saw last season. He has shown potential and should garner interest in the late rounds of fantasy drafts, especially in deeper leagues. However, his role isn't expected to increase in the final year of his rookie deal, making him a solid addition slightly before pick 200 in drafts. Read Past Outlooks
Signed a two-year, $4.5 million contract with the Nuggets in July of 2022. Nuggets exercised $2.41 million team option for 2024-25 in October of 2023. Nuggets exercised $4.36 million team option for 2025-26 in October of 2024. 
Ramping up, re-evaluation on tap
Watson has been ramping up his basketball activities as he continues to recover from a right hamstring strain and is slated to be re-examined later this week, Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints.com reports.
ANALYSIS
The Nuggets may provide more details on where Watson stands in his recovery from the injury once he's checked out in the next few days, but Siegel relays that the team is hopeful that the fourth-year forward can return to action in the next 7-to-10 days. Watson has been sidelined since Feb. 7, with the hamstring injury interrupting what had been a breakthrough season for the 23-year-old.
The Nuggets may provide more details on where Watson stands in his recovery from the injury once he's checked out in the next few days, but Siegel relays that the team is hopeful that the fourth-year forward can return to action in the next 7-to-10 days. Watson has been sidelined since Feb. 7, with the hamstring injury interrupting what had been a breakthrough season for the 23-year-old.
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Stat Review
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How does Peyton Watson compare to other players?
This section compares his stats with all players from the previous three seasons (minimum 200 minutes played)*. 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 stat and it would be considered average.
True Shooting %
60.0%
Effective Field Goal %
56.7%
3-Point Attempt Rate
33.8%
Free Throw Rate
33.1%
Offensive Rebound %
3.5%
Defensive Rebound %
14.0%
Total Rebound %
9.0%
Assist %
9.1%
Steal %
1.4%
Block %
3.6%
Turnover %
10.8%
Usage %
20.2%
Fantasy Points Per Game
28.6
Fantasy Points Per Minute
0.9
NBA Historical Fantasy Stats
Historical ADP
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Nuggets Depth Chart
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Nuggets Rotation: Minutes Breakdown
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Average Fantasy Points
Minutes
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Average Fantasy Points are determined when Peyton Watson was active vs. non-active during the season. Click here to view average fantasy points for a different time period.
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2024 Fantasy Outlook
Entering his third season in the league, Watson has yet to establish himself as a consistent producer in fantasy or reality. Although he suited up for 80 games last year, he finished outside the top 250 in nine-category leagues, averaging 6.7 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.1 blocks and 0.6 three-pointers in 18.6 minutes per game. He flashed rim protection upside at stages throughout the season, at one point blocking 13 shots across a span of three games. Sadly, the same cannot be said for his offensive output. He lacks a reliable shot, be it from mid-range or the perimeter, while also shooting just 65.1 percent from the stripe over the course of his career. Despite losing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to the Magic this offseason, the Nuggets remain in win-now mode, meaning opportunities for Watson could still be sporadic. He is someone to keep an eye on, just in case he can take some strides forward on the offensive end of the floor. However, Watson is not worth drafting outside of deeper formats.
More Fantasy News
Set for four-plus-week absence
Watson was diagnosed Friday with a Grade 2 right hamstring strain and will be re-evaluated in four weeks, Michael Scotto of USA Today reports.
ANALYSIS
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Dealing w/ Grade 2 hamstring strain
Watson has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 right hamstring strain, and he's expected to miss an extended amount of time, Tony Jones of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
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Leaves early with hamstring injury
Watson (hamstring) left Wednesday's 134-127 double-overtime loss to the Knicks with 8:30 remaining in the fourth quarter and didn't return. He finished with 10 points (4-13 FG, 1-6 3Pt, 1-2 FT), five rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block across 33 minutes.
ANALYSIS
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Exits game with hamstring injury
Watson went to the locker room during the fourth quarter of Wednesday's game against the Knicks due to a right hamstring injury, Vic Lombardi of Altitude Sports reports.
ANALYSIS
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Shines with team-high 29 points
Watson produced 29 points (11-17 FG, 5-7 3Pt, 2-4 FT), five rebounds, three assists, one block and one steal over 37 minutes during Sunday's 121-111 loss to the Thunder.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Lakers could be interested
Watson, who's sidelined by a calf injury, is among the players the Lakers could target in free agency after the 2025-26 season, according to Dave McMenamin of ESPN.
ANALYSIS
The Lakers are looking to bolster their overall depth in the offseason, and Watson, one of the breakout players in 2025-26, is a player they could target. Even though the Nuggets would look to keep Watson around, he's set to become a restricted free agent in the summer, and the Nuggets would have to either shed salary or go into second-apron territory to match an aggressive offer sheet. If they decide against going into the second-apron territory, they could very well let him leave. That would pave the way for the Lakers to sign him, as long as no other team outbids them in the race for the 23-year-old. Watson entered the All-Star break averaging 14.9 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game while shooting 41.7 percent from three-point range.
The Lakers are looking to bolster their overall depth in the offseason, and Watson, one of the breakout players in 2025-26, is a player they could target. Even though the Nuggets would look to keep Watson around, he's set to become a restricted free agent in the summer, and the Nuggets would have to either shed salary or go into second-apron territory to match an aggressive offer sheet. If they decide against going into the second-apron territory, they could very well let him leave. That would pave the way for the Lakers to sign him, as long as no other team outbids them in the race for the 23-year-old. Watson entered the All-Star break averaging 14.9 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game while shooting 41.7 percent from three-point range.