RADIO
Matthew Golden Showing Signs of Much-Anticipated Year 2 Leap
All offseason, plenty of buzz suggested Green Bay Packers wide receiver Matthew Golden was a prime candidate to make a big Year 2 leap. That started to come to fruition on Sunday, as Golden caught six of 12 targets for 95 yards in the Packers' Week 1 loss to the Vikings. In addition to the high volume and yardage total, he also saw the field quite often, taking on an 82% snap share. Golden has officially solidified himself as the Packers' No. 2 receiver over Jayden Reed, who played just 57% of the snaps. Golden's emergence as a weekly fantasy threat is great news for managers who drafted him in the first round of dynasty league drafts last year, and also for redraft managers who got a potential steal in the back half of 2026 fantasy drafts. It also bodes well for the Packers' offense, which needed more receivers to step up after Josh Jacobs' placement on the commissioner's exempt list may have shifted the team's approach from run-heavy to pass-heavy. Golden is still behind Christian Watson on the depth chart, but all that matters is that the Texas product is on the fantasy radar and he's here to stay. He ranks as a low-end WR2 or high-end WR3 for Week 2 against the New York Jets.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jordan Love Should Be the Top QB Addition Where Available
Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love opened 2026 with 387 passing yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's 39-22 loss to Minnesota. He completed only 21 of 42 attempts, threw one interception and lost a fumble, so the day was hardly clean. The volume and downfield production still stand out. Christian Watson finished with 147 yards and two scores, Matthew Golden added 95 yards, and Love averaged 9.2 yards per attempt despite completing only half his passes. He offered nothing as a runner, which keeps his fantasy ceiling tied closely to what Green Bay can generate through the air. That is a real limitation, but Love still sits atop RotoBaller's Week 2 quarterback waiver rankings and is worth adding in 12-team leagues where he remains available. He also has immediate streaming appeal for Sunday's road game against the Jets. After throwing 42 times in the opener, Love has enough passing upside to be more than a one-week rental if this volume sticks.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Attorneys File Motion to Seal Evidence in Josh Jacobs' Criminal Case
Attorneys for Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs' ex-girlfriend on Tuesday filed a motion to seal evidence and discovery materials in the criminal case involving Jacobs, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. Jacobs' ex-girlfriend wishes to protect her privacy in light of Jacobs taking responsibility for his actions in the criminal proceeding. The NFL is attempting to obtain the alleged video from the incident that led to Jacobs being charged with battery and criminal damage to property, and they want to interview Jacobs before they potentially hand down a suspension. The 28-year-old is currently on the commissioner's exempt list and missed the Week 1 season-opening loss to the Minnesota Vikings. If the NFL suspends Jacobs, it likely will not be for longer than four to six games, including the game he already missed. In Sunday's loss to Minnesota, MarShawn Lloyd and Chris Brooks were the Packers' primary RBs, but they could involve Kaleb Johnson eventually as well. While Jacobs' legal situation plays out, he should be stashed in all fantasy leagues as Green Bay's clear lead back when he returns.
Source: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
Source: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
Chris Brooks on the Waiver Radar After Week 1 Usage
Even though Green Bay Packers running back Chris Brooks did not stand out in the team's 39-22 Week 1 season-opening loss to the division-rival Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, he is in the waiver-wire conversation going into Week 2 based on his usage in a Packers backfield that has started the 2026 season without Josh Jacobs (personal). Brooks saw seven carries for 29 yards (4.1 yards per carry) and failed to bring in his only target through the air. However, it was notable that Kaleb Johnson did not see a single touch, while Brooks had six fewer carries than MarShawn Lloyd, who ran for only 37 yards (2.8 YPC). Perhaps most notable on the day, though, was that Brooks played 56% of the offensive snaps, with Lloyd checking in at 44%. If Brooks continues to be efficient with plenty of opportunities as he did in the season opener, he could quickly become the Packers' preferred option in the backfield until Jacobs returns from the commissioner's exempt list. The 26-year-old is widely available on the waiver wire, as he is currently rostered in only 2% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
MarShawn Lloyd Leads Green Bay Running Back Room
Green Bay Packers running back MarShawn Lloyd got the chance to be the lead back during Sunday's season opener against the Minnesota Vikings. Lloyd was trusted with carrying the load in the backfield on Sunday. He rushed 13 times for 37 yards in what ended up being a loss for the Packers. It wasn't an overall successful day for Lloyd, who only averaged 2.8 yards per carry. However, he saw the most carries out of everyone in the Packers' backfield. Chris Brooks rushed the ball seven times for 29 yards, so we'll see if he gets a bigger role next week. The Packers are going to be without Josh Jacobs for the foreseeable future, so fantasy managers should continue to believe in Lloyd. We'll see if he produces better results against the New York Jets in Week 2.
Source: espn.com
Source: espn.com
Christian Watson Belongs in Week 1 Lineups
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson should be in fantasy lineups Sunday against Minnesota. Watson enters Week 1 healthy and was not listed on Green Bay's injury report this week. He returned from a torn ACL in Week 8 last season and still finished with 35 catches for 611 yards and six touchdowns in 10 games, averaging 17.5 yards per reception. The target picture is cleaner now, too. Romeo Doubs left in free agency and Dontayvion Wicks was traded, leaving Watson, Jayden Reed and Matthew Golden as Green Bay's top three receivers. Minnesota was excellent against the pass last season, allowing only 2,694 passing yards and 15 touchdowns, so this is not a matchup-driven start. Watson's role and big-play ability are the reason to trust him. RotoBaller has him at WR22 for Week 1 and recommends him as a flex in all leagues and a WR2 in 12-team formats. He belongs in lineups.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
MarShawn Lloyd a Risky Flex Play in Week 1
Green Bay Packers running back MarShawn Lloyd gets his first real chance to lead the backfield Sunday against Minnesota. Josh Jacobs is unavailable, and Lloyd sits first on the depth chart ahead of Chris Brooks and Kaleb Johnson. The opportunity is there. The track record is not. Lloyd has seven regular-season touches since entering the NFL in 2024 after injuries wiped out almost all of his first two seasons. Green Bay could also work Brooks and Johnson into the rotation rather than immediately handing Lloyd a full workload. Minnesota makes the debut tougher, too, after allowing the eighth-fewest fantasy points to running backs last season. Lloyd should still see enough work to matter, especially if he gets the early-down and goal-line carries. Fantasy managers can use him as a low-end RB2 or flex, but there is enough uncertainty here to avoid treating him like a locked-in starter.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Josh Jacobs Not Facing More Than Six-Game Suspension?
Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs (personal) remains on the commissioner's exempt list, but the NFL could count time spent there as time served for any potential suspension, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Some league sources expect this to be the case in the end. In the league's Collective Bargaining Agreement, there is a six-game minimum for any type of domestic violence, such as Jacobs' situation. Schefter writes that it could be more or less, depending on mitigating factors. The 28-year-old veteran needs to remain stashed in all fantasy leagues, but fantasy managers may need to be patient before being able to use him in starting fantasy lineups in 2026. Jacobs is the Packers' unquestioned lead back when healthy and with the team, but to begin the new season, MarShawn Lloyd is expected to get the first crack at RB1 duties for the Packers on Sunday against the division-rival Minnesota Vikings. Kaleb Johnson and Chris Brooks also figure to be involved with change-of-pace roles as Green Bay navigates life without Jacobs for potentially the first four to six weeks of the season.
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
NFL Attempting To Obtain Video of Josh Jacobs' Incident
NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reports that the NFL is trying to legally obtain video of the Josh Jacobs incident. The Green Bay Packers running back is currently on the Commissioner's Exempt List and was in court this weekend. The NFL is looking to get video to help in their ongoing investigation of the Jacobs' incident and would like to see the video before they make a decision on suspending Jacobs. The Green Bay star running back will sit out during the investigation and MarShawn Lloyd takes over as the main running back for the Packers along with Kaleb Johnson and Chris Brooks. The Packers likely want to get this situation figured out and know if they will have Jacobs at all at their disposal this season. It's an unfortunate legal situation that has affected Jacobs status on the field.
Source: Ian Rapoport
Source: Ian Rapoport
Judge Seals Video Altercation in Josh Jacobs Case
According to ProFootballTalk, Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs has requested that the judge seal the video of the altercation in his case. This situation makes it tricky for the NFL going forward. They could tell Jacobs he can't play until the video is released to the public. Otherwise, the league risks another Ray Rice situation, where the media somehow releases the video while they continue to let Jacobs play. For now, Jacobs is on paid leave, and he'll remain there until the NFL determines the correct discipline under the Personal Conduct Policy. It will be difficult for the league to decide on a punishment when Jacobs is having the judge seal the evidence.
Source: Pro Football Talk
Source: Pro Football Talk
Chris Brooks in the Mix for a Week 1 Role in Green Bay
The Green Bay Packers' backfield is in flux entering their Week 1 season-opening matchup against the Minnesota Vikings, with starting running back Josh Jacobs on the commissioner's exempt list for the foreseeable future due to legal issues. That will give Chris Brooks a bigger opportunity than usual to begin the regular season, but as the likely RB3 behind MarShawn Lloyd and Kaleb Johnson, fantasy managers in deeper leagues probably should not be too excited about using him as a flex to begin the year. The 26-year-old former undrafted free agent from BYU has not seen more than 36 carries in any of his first three seasons in the NFL, combining for 82 rushing attempts for 395 yards and only one rushing touchdown in his 41 games played (zero starts) for the Packers and Miami Dolphins (2023). The best thing going for Brooks is that he has more NFL experience than Lloyd and Johnson combined, but that will not guarantee him a fantasy-relevant role with the Packers in the absence of Jacobs. For now, he remains merely a deep-league bench stash, especially if you have Jacobs rostered as well.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Kaleb Johnson Is Set for Debut with Packers, but Exact Role is Cloudy
Running back Kaleb Johnson will make his debut with the Green Bay Packers in a Week 1 matchup with the Minnesota Vikings to begin the 2026 season. The Pittsburgh Steelers traded Johnson to the Packers in late August. With running back Josh Jacobs on the Commissioner's Exempt List, the Packers will rely on a committee of MarShawn Lloyd, Chris Brooks, and Johnson in the backfield. How exactly that rotation works out is anybody's guess right now, but Lloyd is currently listed as the starter. Packers head coach Matt LaFleur recently said that Johnson could certainly play a role right away for Green Bay. The Vikings allowed 124.1 rushing yards per game in 2025. Johnson enters the matchup with the Vikings as the No. 68 running back for Week 1, according to RotoBaller. It is probably best to leave Johnson, who is rostered in just 9% of Yahoo leagues, on the bench or waiver wire for Week 1 and monitor how things progress.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Look For Solid Game From Jayden Reed In Week 1
Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur said he wants to get his top three wide receivers on the field as much as possible this season, so Jayden Reed, Christian Watson, and Matthew Golden should all benefit from that. 26-year-old Jayden Reed should stand to gain from the positive time-share news and looks like a nice target for Week 1 and the matchup at Minnesota. The Vikings' top cornerbacks are Byron Murphy Jr. and Isaiah Rodgers. At 5-foot-11 and 187 pounds, Reed can line up on the outside or in the slot to create mismatches. With Jordan Love at quarterback, expect him to find Reed early and often in this game. All three receivers make for good plays, but Reed and Watson specifically. Last season, Reed caught just 19 of his 22 targets for 207 yards and one touchdown in seven regular-season games. Expect Reed to get this season off to another good start against the Vikings.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Tucker Kraft Agrees to Four-Year Extension with Packers
The Green Bay Packers and tight end Tucker Kraft have agreed to a contract extension, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. With Kraft's rookie contract set to expire after the 2026 season, the Packers were able to lock him in for four more years, with the contract now running through 2030. Rapoport reports that Kraft will average $19.66 million over the first three years, and the overall deal is a four-year contract worth $75 million, with a maximum value of $92 million. Kraft will receive a $26.5 million signing bonus. Kraft (knee) suffered a torn ACL last November, but is not on the injury report heading into a Week 1 matchup with the Minnesota Vikings. It is unclear if Kraft will be on any kind of pitch count. Kraft ranks as RotoBaller's No. 5 tight end for Week 1.
Source: Ian Rapoport
Source: Ian Rapoport
WR3 Treatment for Christian Watson in Week 1
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson is healthy and will look to put up a career season as the Packers head to Minneapolis to face off with the division-rival Vikings in Week 1. Watson got a hefty four-year extension this offseason to stay with the Packers to be their top wide receiver this season. Watson has been insanely efficient in his career, with at least 2.25 yards per route run or better in three of his four NFL seasons. But he's run just 1,058 total routes in that span, missing time in each season of his NFL career. Can Watson stay healthy? Will the Packers' offense consolidate touches after Romeo Doubs left for New England and Dontayvion Wicks was traded to the Eagles? Against the Vikings, Watson is a high-upside WR3 play for fantasy.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
