RADIO
Christian Watson Carries WR2 Value In Week 5
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson caught three passes for 47 yards against Tampa Bay, marking his first game this season without a touchdown. Watson's three targets were a season low after he saw at least eight in each of the previous two games. The target distribution was more spread out last week, with Matthew Golden and Tucker Kraft drawing seven targets apiece. Kraft turned that involvement into six catches for 42 yards and his first touchdown of the season. Watson still leads Green Bay with 20 receptions for 331 yards and four touchdowns through four weeks. His early touchdown pace was unlikely to continue every week, making his target volume important moving forward. Chicago presents another challenge, allowing only four passing touchdowns through four games while holding opponents below 200 passing yards per game. RotoBaller ranks Watson WR17 for Week 5, making him a solid WR2.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jordan Love Falls Into QB2 Range In Week 5
Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love completed 22 of 30 passes for 197 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception against Tampa Bay last week. Love has thrown two touchdown passes in every game this season, giving him eight touchdowns against three interceptions through four weeks. Chicago presents a difficult Week 5 matchup. The Bears have recorded 10 sacks and allowed only 28 points over their last three games. Sustaining drives could also be an issue, as Green Bay has converted just 26% of its third downs while Chicago ranks second in the NFL in third-down defense. The Packers kept Love clean against Tampa Bay after allowing eight sacks over the first three games, but the offensive line remains a concern with guard Aaron Banks (knee/toe) and center/guard Jacob Monk (quad) doubtful for Sunday. RotoBaller ranks Love QB19 for Week 5, making him a QB2 in a difficult matchup.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Chris Brooks Won't Play in Week 5
Green Bay Packers running back Chris Brooks (ankle) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears. Brooks sustained an ankle injury during last week's win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Brooks hasn't practiced at all this week due to the lingering ankle issue. His absence should mean that MarShawn Lloyd and Kaleb Johnson see larger roles in the backfield. Between the two, Lloyd is the better fantasy option, but neither back is having much success right now. The next chance for Brooks to play will be against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 6.
Source: chicagobears.com
Source: chicagobears.com
Tucker Kraft Poised for Second-Half Surge?
Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft has shown well thus far in 2026 despite working back from a significant injury. Kraft tore his right ACL during Green Bay's Week 9 loss to the Panthers in 2025, but it hasn't slowed him much. The South Dakota native has eclipsed 90% of the team's snaps twice in four appearances and drew at least six targets in all but one. It isn't all roses for Kraft, as wide receivers Matthew Golden and Christian Watson are legitimate earners in the offense. However, the 25-year-old should only get more effective as the season wanes. Kraft was a force before the knee injury derailed his 2025 campaign, and he could be rounding into form just in time for a series of softer matchups.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Matthew Golden Solidifying His Place in Packers' Passing Game
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Matthew Golden didn't put up much yardage in Week 4, but he still found the end zone for the second straight game. Golden caught three of seven targets for 21 yards against Tampa Bay, including a two-yard touchdown on fourth down. The second-year receiver now has 18 catches for 274 yards and two scores through four games, already putting him within 87 yards of his entire rookie-season total. More importantly, the targets have been there. Golden has drawn 37 looks, five more than Christian Watson and the most on Green Bay's roster. He saw 12 targets in both Week 1 and Week 3, turning the latter opportunity into his first 100-yard receiving game of the season. Watson remains the more productive receiver, but Golden has established himself as a regular part of the passing attack rather than a complementary option. His catch rate still leaves room for improvement, though the opportunities have been consistent. RotoBaller ranks him WR18 for Week 5 against Chicago, reflecting how much his fantasy value has grown.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Chris Brooks Won't Practice on Wednesday
Green Bay Packers running back Chris Brooks (ankle) will not practice on Wednesday, head coach Matt LaFleur told Weston Hodkiewicz of the team's official website. Brooks was set to undergo tests on his ankle earlier this week after getting injured in the Week 4 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. The 26-year-old has had a bigger backfield role through the first four weeks of the season with Josh Jacobs on the commissioner's exempt list, but it has not amounted to much production while sharing touches with MarShawn Lloyd and Kaleb Johnson. Brooks has seen 15 carries through four games for 70 yards and has caught three of his five targets for 24 yards in the passing game. He will obviously need to get back on the practice field on Thursday or Friday to have a shot at playing in Week 5 against the division-rival Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field. Even if Brooks is cleared to play this weekend, he will not have any realistic standalone fantasy value as a flex play, even in deeper leagues, with Lloyd and Johnson being the better upside plays in a struggling Packers offense.
Source: Packers.com - Weston Hodkiewicz
Source: Packers.com - Weston Hodkiewicz
Josh Jacobs' Stash Value Continues to Fall as Absence Continues
Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs remains on the commissioner's exempt list after pleading no contest to misdemeanor charges of battery and criminal damage to property in a case stemming from a May domestic-violence incident, and although his time on the exempt list could equal time served in any potential suspension from the NFL, the 28-year-old's stash value in fantasy football leagues continues to fall with each passing day he is not with the team. Green Bay's running game has struggled mightily in Jacobs' absence through the first four weeks of the 2026 season, as they rank dead last in the NFL with just 58.0 rushing yards per game. They have gone with a committee approach involving MarShawn Lloyd, Kaleb Johnson, and Chris Brooks (ankle), but nobody has really stood out so far. Jacobs, who has four 1,000-yard rushing seasons in his seven years in the league, cannot be outright dropped in most fantasy leagues, but managers are surely losing patience as he wastes a bench spot. Right now, he is rostered in 74% of Yahoo leagues, and he is fully expected to return to lead-back duties in Green Bay whenever he is allowed to rejoin the team.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Kaleb Johnson Remains a Deep-League Stash
Green Bay Packers running back Kaleb Johnson posted a season high in yardage during Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Johnson carried the ball eight times for 42 yards in their three-point victory. He also fumbled the ball in an important part of the game, so we'll see if that impacts his playing time going forward. The Packers don't have a legitimate lead back right now, so Johnson should remain in the picture. It's tough to know exactly what he's going to offer weekly in this three-back committee. The 23-year-old is worth holding in deep league and dynasty formats ahead of the Week 5 matchup against the Chicago Bears.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Chris Brooks Going for More Tests on his Ankle
Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said that the team is getting more tests done on running back Chris Brooks' ankle after he injured it in the Week 4 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, according to Weston Hodkiewicz of the team's official website. Brooks finished Sunday's game with only four carries for 30 yards while catching his only target for a five-yard gain. Kaleb Johnson had a team-high eight carries for 42 yards, while MarShawn Lloyd had seven rushing attempts for 13 yards and caught five passes for 36 yards through the air. Brooks' status is firmly up in the air for the team's Week 5 tilt this weekend against the division-rival Chicago Bears. The 26-year-old has had a bigger role in Green Bay's backfield through the first four games of 2026 with Josh Jacobs still on the commissioner's exempt list, but his role alongside Johnson and Lloyd has not been significant enough to produce standalone fantasy value. Both Johnson and Lloyd will be more attractive as flex options for fantasy managers this week if Brooks is not cleared to play against Chicago.
Source: Packers.com - Weston Hodkiewicz
Source: Packers.com - Weston Hodkiewicz
MarShawn Lloyd's Larger Workload Finally Coming Around
Green Bay Packers running back MarShawn Lloyd got off to a relatively slow start this season, but he seems to have turned the corner after the first four weeks. Lloyd is coming off his highest-volume game this year, as he played 55% of the snaps and logged 12 touches (including five catches) in Week 4 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His rushing numbers were quite poor, averaging just 1.9 yards per carry. However, he was much more valuable as a receiver, turning his five targets into five receptions for 36 receiving yards. The Packers have been looking for someone to separate themselves from the rest of the backfield ever since Josh Jacobs was placed on the commissioner's exempt list, and it seems like they have finally found their new lead running back, even if he looked better as a receiver than a ball-carrier. Lloyd is still a very solid waiver wire target, especially since he has RB3/flex appeal from now until Jacobs' return. He has managed to rank as the overall RB36 in PPR scoring this fall and can be a low-end fantasy starter for Week 5 against Chicago.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Micah Parsons Won't Practice This Week
Green Bay Packers pass rusher Micah Parsons (knee) will not practice ahead of Week 5 against the Chicago Bears, head coach Matt LaFleur told Weston Hodkiewicz of the team's digital staff. Parsons is working his way back from a torn ACL and meniscus damage. Although he's technically eligible to be activated from the PUP list this week, it sounds like he needs a little more time. The Packers' defense has allowed an average of 26.3 fantasy points per game to the Vikings, Jets, Falcons, and Buccaneers this year, so they'd certainly like to get Parsons back to inject some life into the unit. After all, the 27-year-old defender has registered 12+ sacks in each of his five seasons since entering the NFL. With that being said, Green Bay won't want to rush him back before he's ready.
Source: Weston Hodkiewicz
Source: Weston Hodkiewicz
MarShawn Lloyd Could See Expanded Role in the Backfield
Green Bay Packers running back MarShawn Lloyd was significantly involved during Sunday's win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Lloyd carried the ball seven times for 13 yards, while hauling in all five targets for an additional 36 yards through the air. That was the most Lloyd has been involved in the passing game this season. His role in the backfield could be expanded going forward, with fellow back Chris Brooks (ankle) leaving early in Week 4. If Brooks is unable to play in Week 5, Lloyd could end up being an interesting flex option in deep leagues against the Chicago Bears.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Edgerrin Cooper Out for the Season With Torn Achilles
Green Bay Packers superstar linebacker Edgerrin Cooper (Achilles) will miss the rest of the 2026 season after suffering a torn Achilles tendon in Sunday's Week 4 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. It is a massive blow for the Packers' defense for the rest of the year, as Cooper is one of the best young, do-it-all linebackers in the league. The 24-year-old former second-rounder in 2024 from Texas A&M will finish his third year in the NFL with only 30 tackles (18 solo), three sacks, six tackles for loss, an interception, and a pass breakup in four games played. The Packers will not be able to replace Cooper's production in the middle of their defense, but Isaiah McDuffie will do his best right next to Zaire Franklin. Cooper set a career high with 3.5 sacks in his rookie campaign in 2024, so he was well on his way to shattering that number this year before his season-ending injury in Week 4 on Sunday. He had a career-best 118 combined tackles (63 solo) and half a sack in 16 regular-season starts in 2025.
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Christian Watson Takes Backseat to Several Teammates in Win
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson had a relatively quiet performance during Sunday's Week 4 win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Watson finished the victory with a very modest three catches for 47 yards. The 27-year-old posted new season-low marks in targets, catches, and yards, and this was also his first game of 2026 without a touchdown. He actually led the Packers in receiving yards, but he had fewer catches than tight end Tucker Kraft and running back MarShawn Lloyd. He was also out-produced by fellow wide receiver Matthew Golden, who caught three of seven targets for 21 yards and a touchdown. We don't expect Watson to post too many more duds like this one, but that doesn't eliminate the fact that this was an incredibly disappointing result for fantasy managers. Fortunately, he has the capability to bounce back as a high-end WR2 or low-end WR1 against the Chicago Bears in next week's divisional battle.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Chris Brooks Questionable to Return Against Buccaneers with Ankle Injury
Green Bay Packers running back Chris Brooks (ankle) is questionable to return in a Week 4 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers due to an ankle injury, according to the team. Brooks was injured in the second quarter. He was leading the Packers with four carries for 30 rushing yards (7.5 yards per carry) at the time of his exit. He also had one reception for five yards. Running backs MarShawn Lloyd and Kaleb Johnson will fill in for Green Bay's backfield while Brooks is out.
Source: Green Bay Packers
Source: Green Bay Packers
