Drew Brees, Ben Watson's Fantasy Scouting Report After Jimmy Graham's Injury

New Orleans Saints tight end Jimmy Graham was forced to leave the team's Week 5 matchup vs. Tampa Bay with a shoulder injury.  

Ian Rapoport of NFL.com provided further details about the situation:

Here's a look at how both players did in Graham's absence:

Player	C/Att	Yds	TD	INT
Player	Rec	Targets	Yds	TD
Drew Brees	35/57	371	2	3
Ben Watson	5	7	43	0

Graham is a crucial asset for the Saints, especially in the red zone. His combination of size, strength and athleticism make him a weapon that's virtually impossible to cover with just a linebacker or safety. It takes two or three defenders to completely neutralize him.

In turn, if he's forced to miss an extended period of time due to the injury, the biggest question is how it will impact New Orleans' aerial attack. It's certainly a question being asked by Drew Brees' fantasy owners right now after investing a high pick in the quarterback.

The good news is the system in place should ensure he remains a reliable weekly option. Just because Graham is sidelined doesn't mean the unit's production is going to drop off dramatically. It just won't be as well-oiled of a machine.

Chris Graythen/Getty Images

There was a period during the offseason when it looked like Graham might end up missing some time due to a contract dispute. Brees was asked about the situation and was confident the group could still put up numbers in his absence, as noted by the Shreveport Times.

"We went up to Tampa Bay and scored 28 points in the first half, threw for 370 yards in the first half [without him]," he said. " … Listen, our offense is designed to take the guys we have, put them in the best positions to succeed and go out and execute. … But when you have a guy like Jimmy Graham, you will do some things now.''

The same holds true now. The offense is still going to put up yards and points, which means Brees remains a must-start option at quarterback.

As for Graham's likely replacement, Benjamin Watson, he goes from fantasy afterthought to a potential matchup play. He's not going to stretch the field in nearly the same way, but he should assume many of the red-zone looks.

If the Saints are going up against a pass defense ranked in the bottom half, he could easily catch a handful of passes for around 60 yards and a touchdown. He won't put a consistent enough numbers to start every week, but can fill a one-week void.

Josh Hill is also someone worth keeping an eye on. He's a better overall match in terms of filling Graham's role, albeit not at nearly the same level. It would be interesting to see how many snaps he receives after limited action so far in his career.

Of course, everything depends on Graham's status. Everything will revert back to normal if he's able to make a quick return to the lineup. Brees will be one of the two or three best quarterback options and Watson isn't worth a roster spot.

Keep tabs on any updates then make the necessary adjustments.