Sammy Watkins says he’s having the most fun he’s ever had as a pro

Through five games of the NFL season, Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Sammy Watkins is pacing for more than 800 yards, which would be his highest mark since his career year in Buffalo back in 2015. Continuing at that 2018 statistical pace would also put him in range of the most catches he’s ever had (65 his rookie season).

On top of those two facts, the Chiefs are a perfect 5-0.

So when I asked him if he is having the most fun he’s ever had in his career on Thursday afternoon, there was no hesitation.

“For sure,” Watkins said. “We winning, we’re 5-0—that’s the biggest part about being happy in playing this game.”

One of the smaller parts of being so content is the West Coast offensive system he’s playing in thanks to Chiefs head coach Andy Reid. Reid’s system calls for Watkins to move to different spots along the line of scrimmage depending on the play-call, which was new for Watkins when he joined Kansas City this offseason.

Watkins went through quite an adjustment period at Chiefs training camp, at the time calling the offense “a mental challenge.” Now, five weeks into the regular season, he is enjoying all that it offers.

“I think I’ve pretty much, not mastered [it]—but definitely love doing it,” he said. “They’re going to continue to move me around, and that’s the fun about being in this offense. You can’t get a touch on (Travis) Kelce, Tyreek (Hill)— so many guys are moving around different weeks, different spots. I might be in a different spot next week, so it’s a great challenge for me and the team.”

That, and the coaches always keep the game plan fresh.

“Every week, the coaches have a great game plan and every week you come in—like what we got next?” Waktins said. “And it just keep getting broader and broader. So for us to continue to control the defense and don’t let the defense control us—put us in matchup situations and situations that we ca be successful, and not just one player—a million guys are open, so we take pride in watching film and watching everybody get open and going into next week, and it’s the same thing.”

Watkins and the Chiefs hope that continues as they head to New England to take on the Patriots (3-2) this Sunday night.