Is Allen Lazard The Packers WR1? Where Should I Draft Lazard for Fantasy Football?

August 15, 2022

Is Allen Lazard the Packers top WR1? Where should I draft Allen Lazard for 2022 fantasy football? Read the fantasy football outlook for Lazard and his value.

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Allen Lazard jumped to the top of the team's chart after losing Davante Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling this offseason.

The 26-year-old signed his second-round tender in June and is expected to be Aaron Rodgers' top target in 2022. He finished with career highs in receptions (40), receiving yards (513), and touchdowns (eight) last season.

There's a trend with Green Bay's receivers breaking out later in their careers under Rodgers. Jordy Nelson broke out in his fourth season, James Jones in his sixth, and Adams in his third. Lazard has the perfect chance to emerge as a fantasy stud in an explosive Green Bay offense. Lazard has 19 catches for 302 yards and two touchdowns in six career games without Adams.

Green Bay Wide Receiver Options for 2022

Green Bay signed free agent wide receiver Sammy Watkins, drafted Christian Watson of North Dakota State in the second round and Romeo Doubs of Nevada in the 2022 NFL Draft to help replace the loss of Adams and Valdes-Scantling.

Doubs has been a standout in camp and was recently praised by Rodgers, saying the rookie wideout makes at least one "wow play" per practice. Randall Cobb was also brought back for one more season. Despite the recent praise about Doubs, Lazard has the most experience with Rodgers and has built a rapport with the future Hall-of-Famer throughout the years.

Aaron Rodgers has weapons 🧀 pic.twitter.com/S1x9BMdQrE

— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) August 8, 2022

Will Allen Lazard Be The WR1 For The Green Bay Packers?

With Adams heading to Las Vegas, it opens up a ton of targets as the star receiver owned 32% of the team's target percentage, which ranked first among all wide receivers. Lazard might not get the high volume Adams saw when he was in Green Bay, but 7-to-8 targets per game as Rodgers' top target is attainable.

Lazard also finished the season on a high note, catching five of his eight TDs and logging 290 receiving yards over his last five games. He is an excellent value in fantasy drafts with an FFPC ADP of 84.04 and is being drafted as WR37 in fantasy drafts.

Aaron Rodgers says Allen Lazard is the Packers' WR1 going forward. 🤝 pic.twitter.com/A3HDmS6ZYR

— theScore (@theScore) July 30, 2022

Where Should Fantasy Managers Draft Allen Lazard in 2022?

Allen Lazard has an ADP of 104.3 overall and 37th in the latest RotoBaller wide receiver rankings. He is being selected in the ninth round, with wide receivers such as Brandon Aiyuk, Elijah Moore, Tyler Lockett, and Christian Kirk being selected right around his ADP. Lazard has the best opportunity among that wide receivers group to smash his ADP.

2022 Fantasy Football Draft Prep: Let's please stop sleeping on Allen Lazard https://t.co/w5bUbYCo1U

— WOKV News (@WOKVNews) August 9, 2022

Lazard could be an absolute steal; while fantasy managers shouldn't expect the veteran to put up Davante Adams' numbers, the opportunity is there for him to produce as a top-20 fantasy receiver at a discounted price in Rounds 8-10.

Allen Lazard 2022 Fantasy Football Outlook

Lazard is projected to catch 60 passes for 900 yards and eight touchdowns in 2022. Those projections are easily attainable based on his situation, and his ADP could steadily rise as fantasy drafts ramp up in late August.

Fantasy managers shouldn't sleep on Lazard as he is one of the most undervalued wide receivers with his current ADP and could be one of the biggest steals on draft day.

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