RADIO
A Matthew Golden Breakout Still Faces Obstacles
When the Green Bay Packers made Matthew Golden only their sixth ever first-round wide receiver, and the first since 2002, many in the fantasy space feared he may have been overdrafted, and a disappointing rookie season did little to quell those concerns. Golden finished the 2025 season with only 361 yards on 29 receptions, and he failed to find the end zone until the Packers' lone playoff game, at least offering a glimpse of what a year two breakout could look like, also topping 80 yards for only the second time on the year. The list of NFL receivers who have become fantasy stars after similarly low-impact rookie seasons is not a particularly long one, and even those who were able to turn things around tended to show more than Golden's 1.35 yards per route run from 2025. The Packers allowed their leading receiver, Romeo Doubs, to walk in free agency, which should open a path to more work in two-receiver sets. However, both Christian Watson and Tucker Kraft, who each missed significant time last year, are expected to be healthier in 2026 and could help to maintain the fantasy jumble we've seen for years from Green Bay's wide receivers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
MarShawn Lloyd a Dynasty Trade Target with Long-Term Upside?
Green Bay Packers running back MarShawn Lloyd has struggled to stay healthy through two NFL seasons. He has logged offensive snaps in just one game so far, totaling seven touches. Nevertheless, we're intrigued by the possibility of Lloyd stepping into the No. 2 running back role next season. Emanuel Wilson departed in free agency, leaving an open competition for the role of Josh Jacobs' backup. Lloyd has significant draft capital attached to him as a 2024 third-round pick, whereas fellow depth option Chris Brooks is a former Dolphins undrafted running back with a minimal track record of his own. Given that Brooks hasn't built much momentum for a push to the No. 2 role, it seems like Lloyd is the early favorite to back up Jacobs, as long as he stays healthy. Lloyd's availability is far from guaranteed, but he has a clean bill of health this offseason and should be near 100 percent entering training camp. As long as the Packers don't spend a premium pick on a rookie running back in this month's draft, Lloyd will be an intriguing dynasty trade target this offseason. In addition to being a handcuff in 2026, he has long-term upside in case he takes on a bigger role after Jacobs' contract expires in two years.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Packers to "Strip Everything Down" on Offense
Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said that the team has to "strip everything down and start like it's Year 1 all over again" on offense going into the 2026 season, according to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic. The Packers ranked 16th in scoring (23 points per game) and 15th in yards (332.6 per game) in 2025. Green Bay lost receiver Romeo Doubs and backup running back Emanuel Wilson to free agency earlier this month, but the entire 2026 projected offensive starting lineup will be returning for LaFleur. The Packers had the fourth-highest EPA per play and the fifth-highest offensive success rate last year, so it will be interesting to see how much LaFleur's offense will change as quarterback Jordan Love heads into his fourth full season as the starter. Fantasy managers in dynasty/keeper formats will be hoping that the changes on offense give the 27-year-old a higher ceiling and return him to the 4,000-yard passing mark for the second time in his career.
Source: The Athletic - Matt Schneidman
Source: The Athletic - Matt Schneidman
Micah Parsons' Rehab Going Well, But Packers Won't Rush Him
Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said at the league meetings this week that "everything's good" with All-Pro pass-rusher Micah Parsons' (knee) rehab from the torn ACL that he suffered in the Week 15 loss to the Denver Broncos, according to Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Parsons had surgery on his knee on Dec. 30, which was performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache. Gutekunst would not put a timeline on when Parsons might be back for Green Bay. "No, we're really early in this," Gutekunst said. "Obviously, we invested quite a bit in him, so we will be very protective of that investment as we go forward." The Packers sent two first-round picks and defensive tackle Kenny Clark to the Dallas Cowboys for Parsons, who is a game-wrecking sack artist when he's at full strength. Parsons earned first-team All-Pro honors for the third time in 2025 and had 12.5 sacks and 79 QB pressures in 14 games before his knee injury. The 26-year-old will come at a discounted price in 2026 in IDP fantasy formats because of his left-knee injury and the fact that he's expected to miss at least the first three or four weeks of the 2026 regular season.
Source: Green Bay Press-Gazette - Ryan Wood
Source: Green Bay Press-Gazette - Ryan Wood
Jordan Love Still Not Back in the QB1 Tier
Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love didn't quite live up to expectations during his third season as the team's starter in 2025. Love played 15 games, and his 3,381 passing yards and 23 touchdowns both represented his lowest marks since he took over for Aaron Rodgers after the 2022 campaign. On a positive note, he kept turnovers to a minimum with just six interceptions and two fumbles. Love exploded as the overall QB5 in 2023, but he has been QB15 or lower in each of the last two years. This pattern has solidified Love as a top-18 fantasy option, but he's no longer a reliable top-12 quarterback. He should not be drafted as your primary quarterback in single-QB leagues next year, nor should he be targeted in offseason dynasty trades. He's merely a "hold" in most dynasty leagues for now.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Micah Parsons Expected to Miss First Three or Four Games of 2026
The Athletic's Matt Schneidman reports that Green Bay Packers All-Pro pass-rusher Micah Parsons (knee) is expected to miss the first three or four games of the 2026 season while finishing his ACL rehab. Parsons will most likely be "scratching and clawing" to play before then, but the Packers aren't going to rush the star defensive end back before he's ready. The 26-year-old will most likely be placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list for the start of training camp at the end of July after he tore his ACL in the middle of December last year. Obviously, Parson's fantasy stock in IDP formats in 2026 will be affected by his injury, but he will still be worth stashing in those formats for his high-end upside once he returns. The former 12th overall pick in 2021 by the Dallas Cowboys out of Penn State has been a Pro Bowler in each of his five NFL seasons and has racked up a total of 65 sacks in 77 games. Before his injury last year in his first year with the Packers, Parsons had 12.5 sacks in 14 contests.
Source: The Athletic - Matt Schneidman
Source: The Athletic - Matt Schneidman
Is Christian Watson's Breakout Season Coming in 2026?
As long as he can stay healthy, Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson will be a popular breakout candidate in fantasy football in 2026 in his fifth year in the NFL. Watson has yet to play in more than 15 games in a season due to injuries since being drafted in the second round in 2022 out of North Dakota State. The 26-year-old played in just 10 regular-season games in 2025 after recovering from a torn ACL that he suffered late in 2024, but he still ended up being a top-50 fantasy wideout. Watson excelled as a top playmaker for Green Bay upon his return from Injured Reserve, catching 35 of his 55 targets for 611 yards and six touchdowns. He finished second on the team in catches, targets, and receiving yards to Romeo Doubs, who is now in New England. Tight end Tucker Kraft (knee) will be returning from a torn ACL, and second-year wideout Matthew Golden will have a bigger role, but all signs point to Watson being the projected clear receiving leader in 2026 if he's healthy. Watson's big-play ability (17.0 yards per catch in his career) will make him a high-risk/high-reward WR2 in fantasy drafts later this year.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Kirk Cousins an Option as Backup Quarterback in Green Bay?
Free-agent quarterback Kirk Cousins could be an option for the Green Bay Packers, according to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic. Cousins was released by the Falcons this offseason, and it seems unlikely that he'll get a guaranteed starting job anywhere. While he'll presumably try to sign somewhere with an open quarterback competition, Schneidman notes that the Packers could still be an intriguing landing spot given how much they value the quarterback position. They spent a first-round pick on Jordan Love when Aaron Rodgers was still in town, they actively went out and traded for Malik Willis to back up Love last year, and now, they could bring in a proven veteran like Cousins to fill the No. 2 role. He also has a connection to head coach Matt Lafleur, who was his position coach in Washington for the first two years of his NFL career. Cousins went 5-3 with 1,721 yards, 10 touchdowns, and five interceptions in eight starts (10 games) last year, so we know he's still capable of producing at a decent level. Now, we'll just have to wait and see where he takes his talents. Depending on the landing spot, he could end up having significant mid-season appeal as a fantasy streamer if the team's starter gets injured.
Source: Matt Schneidman
Source: Matt Schneidman
Tucker Kraft a Post-Injury Buy-Low Candidate
Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft (knee) was on pace for 1,039 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns, having put up two of the best tight end performances of the season before an ACL injury ended his 2025 campaign after eight games. While he may not return immediately to his do-everything (and do it well) form coming off the devastating injury, he'll still only be 25 at the start of the 2026 season and boasts too much talent to think he won't have a shot at working his way back to the top tier of dynasty tight ends. Green Bay allowed Romeo Doubs and his team-leading 83 targets to walk in free agency. Christian Watson comes into 2026 one more year removed from the ACL tear that ended his 2024 season, and the team is expecting more from their 2025 first-round pick, Matthew Golden, but it should come as no surprise if Kraft is the one regularly leading the team in targets and red zone opportunities by season's end.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Dontayvion Wicks Still Buried in Crowded Receiver Room?
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks continues to face an uphill battle to earn consistent volume ahead of the 2026 season. While the departure of Romeo Doubs in free agency initially seemed like it might lead to more opportunities for Wicks, the latest reporting indicates that 2025 first-round pick Matthew Golden will benefit most from Doubs' departure. As a result, the Packers are expected to proceed with Jayden Reed, Christian Watson, and Golden as their top three receivers, leaving Doubs still buried in a depth role. He didn't do a whole lot to help his case in 2025, catching just 30 passes for 332 yards and two touchdowns across 14 games. All of those numbers set new career lows for the Virginia product. Now 24 years old, Wicks is heading into a contract year but remains an unappealing option in most redraft and dynasty leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Packers Expected to Draft a Running Back?
The Green Bay Packers will likely bring in an external addition to fill the backup running back role in 2026, according to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic. Schneidman writes that he doesn't expect MarShawn Lloyd or Chris Brooks to be the No. 2 option behind Josh Jacobs in Week 1. He mentioned free agents Kareem Hunt and Michael Carter as potential candidates, but he also wrote that he expects the Packers to select a running back in the 2026 NFL Draft. "My best guess is they pick someone in the middle of the draft to be this year's backup and maybe even a future No. 1," Schneidman wrote. This year's draft class is notably thin at the running back position, so it's possible that Green Bay will have to overpay a little to select a running back that they believe can make an impact in the NFL. Jacobs is under contract through 2027, but his contract is structured to allow the Packers to cut him next season with minimal cap penalties, if they desire. As a result, it makes sense for Green Bay to add a promising rookie at the position.
Source: Matt Schneidman
Source: Matt Schneidman
Josh Jacobs Remains a Strong RB1 Option
Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs continues to produce impressive results while handling a large workload. He has been the overall RB6 and RB13 in fantasy football through two seasons in Green Bay, and he shows no signs of slowing down in 2026. Last year, Jacobs totaled 929 rushing yards, 282 receiving yards, and 14 total touchdowns across 15 games. Injuries were the biggest concern for the veteran, as a lingering knee injury forced him to miss two games and also limited his efficiency near the end of the year. When healthy, though, he looked like a mid-range RB1, consistently posting higher efficiency numbers and getting multiple goal-line opportunities each game. Moving forward, Jacobs remains in a favorable role to produce. The Packers allowed Emanuel Wilson to walk in free agency, leaving minimal competition in this backfield. Green Bay could still add a ball-carrier via a trade or the draft, but for now, Jacobs has the backfield all to himself.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Is Jayden Reed a Buy-Low Candidate After Injury-Marred 2025 Campaign?
After suffering a fractured collarbone in Week 2, Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed spent most of the 2025 season on the shelf. The 25-year-old ultimately appeared in just seven games, hauling in 19 receptions for 207 yards and a touchdown on 22 targets. Despite the down year, Reed could be well-positioned for a breakout campaign in 2026. The Packers lost wide receiver Romeo Doubs to the New England Patriots in free agency, and star tight end Tucker Kraft (knee) is making his way back from a torn ACL. While Green Bay wideouts Christian Watson and Matthew Golden will still challenge Reed for targets in 2026, Reed may finally have a clear path to averaging six targets per game for the first time in his NFL career. Reed also brings some potential for fantasy production as a rusher, as he's logged 310 yards and three touchdowns on 34 carries across his first three NFL seasons. Coming off an injury-plagued year, Reed could be an interesting buy-low candidate for dynasty managers heading into 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Matthew Golden Trending Up Despite Frustrating Rookie Season
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Matthew Golden had a very frustrating rookie season. Despite being a first-round pick, he caught just 29 passes for 361 yards and zero touchdowns. He played 14 games but finished as just the WR89 in PPR leagues. Dynasty managers are rightfully concerned, but it's too early to completely hit the panic button. Year 2 is a common time for receivers to break out, so managers should be patient and allow Golden more time to take a step forward. Plus, he's expected to step into a larger role next season. Green Bay watched Romeo Doubs depart in free agency, leaving Golden in the mix to start alongside Christian Watson and Jayden Reed. In the NFL playoffs, the speedy receiver showed flashes of being able to handle more opportunities. During the Packers' Wild Card loss, he caught four of five targets for 84 yards and a touchdown. Managers shouldn't necessarily buy low at his slightly reduced price tag, but it's also far too early to panic sell. He's purely in the "hold" range in dynasty leagues for now.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
MarShawn Lloyd to Compete for No. 2 Job
Green Bay Packers running back MarShawn Lloyd will likely have an opportunity to compete for the backup role in 2026. The Packers recently watched Emanuel Wilson depart in free agency, leaving a void to be filled at the No. 2 running back spot behind Josh Jacobs. Green Bay could still add a free agent or draft a rookie to take that spot, but that hasn't happened yet. To this point, it seems like the Packers will lean on an existing internal option to back up Jacobs. Chris Brooks has a slight leg up on the competition, but Lloyd is absolutely in the mix, too. Lloyd carried impressive upside as a third-round pick in 2024, but a tumultuous series of injuries has limited his ability to get on the field. He has played offensive snaps in just one NFL game through two seasons, rushing for 15 yards on six carries. At this point, it appears Lloyd has been cleared of the hip, hamstring, and ankle injuries -- as well as the appendicitis -- that have plagued the early portion of his career. He's firmly in the mix to back up Jacobs this year, and given the starter's age and injury concerns in 2025, we could see a scenario where Lloyd is considered to start a couple of games next season. His price tag is at an all-time low, so it wouldn't hurt to send out a low-risk trade offer for the young running back in dynasty leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
