January 6, 2026
Green Bay Packers rookie first-round wide receiver
Matthew Golden (Achilles) should be good to go for Wild-Card weekend against the division-rival Chicago Bears this Saturday night after being listed as a full participant at Tuesday's practice. Golden played all of the team's offensive snaps in the Week 18 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, with the Packers resting some of their regulars, but the 22-year-old still wasn't able to capitalize with
Clayton Tune running the offense. Golden caught one of his three targets for only eight yards to close out what was a disappointing first year in the NFL. The Texas product was a popular rookie breakout candidate in the preseason, but he ended up with only 29 receptions for 361 yards and no touchdowns in 2025. Green Bay's receiving corps is pretty healthy heading into the playoffs, making Golden pretty hard to trust in fantasy lineups.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL.com - Jason B. Hirschhorn
January 6, 2026
The Green Bay Packers released quarterback
Clayton Tune on Tuesday and signed QB
Desmond Ridder to the active 53-man roster in a corresponding move, according to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic. Tune made the start in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday and went 6-for-11 for 34 yards with no touchdowns and an interception, adding 23 rushing yards on four carries. The 26-year-old won't join the team going into the playoffs this Saturday night against the division-rival Chicago Bears.
Jordan Love (concussion) will return as the starter, but Ridder could serve as his backup in the Wild-Card round if
Malik Willis (shoulder, hamstring) isn't ready to return from a right-shoulder injury that he suffered in the Week 17 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Tune's start on Sunday for Green Bay was just the second of his career.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Matt Schneidman
January 6, 2026
Green Bay Packers quarterback
Jordan Love (concussion) will start on Saturday in the Wild-Card playoff game against the division-rival Chicago Bears after missing more than two and a half games due to a concussion, according to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic. "There's nobody else I'd rather have than Jordan," head coach Matt LaFleur said. Love has not played since suffering a concussion in the second half of the Week 16 loss to the Bears. The 27-year-old mostly had a normal week of practice last week before being held out of the Week 18 regular-season loss to the Minnesota Vikings, so he shouldn't have any limitations this weekend on the road. In the first meeting with Chicago on Dec. 7, Love threw for 234 yards, three touchdowns, and one pick. Chicago's defense allowed the third-most fantasy points per game to QBs in 18 weeks, so Love, coming off injury, will be in play as a QB sleeper play in the first round in fantasy playoff leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Matt Schneidman
January 4, 2026
Green Bay Packers cornerback/wide receiver
Bo Melton (knee) is questionable to return to his team's Week 18 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings after suffering a knee injury. Melton was targeted once but did not record a reception before exiting the game. The 26-year-old has spent time playing on both sides of the ball in 2025. However, with Green Bay resting multiple starters in Week 18, Melton was one of the few wide receiver options active for the Packers on Sunday. If he is unable to return, Green Bay could be down to just
Matthew Golden and
Jakobie Keeney-James to soak up wide receiver snaps for the remainder of Week 18.
--Will BradySource: Green Bay Packers
January 4, 2026
Green Bay Packers running back
Josh Jacobs (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's Week 18 contest against the Minnesota Vikings. Jacobs recently recovered from knee and ankle injuries. While he didn't carry an injury designation into this weekend's contest, the Packers will opt to rest him. Green Bay, which has already locked up the No. 7 seed in the NFC, aims to keep Jacobs healthy ahead of the playoffs. He should return to the lead-back role when Green Bay takes the field in the Wild Card Round. In the meantime,
Emanuel Wilson should lead the Packers' backfield against the Vikings on Sunday.
Chris Brooks will back up Wilson. Interesting, the Packers chose not to elevate
Damien Martinez from the practice squad, so Wilson and Brooks will be their only active running backs in Week 18.
--Andersen PickardSource: Green Bay Packers
January 4, 2026
Green Bay Packers quarterback
Malik Willis (shoulder, hamstring) is officially inactive for Sunday's Week 18 contest against the Minnesota Vikings. He had been listed as questionable after practicing in a limited capacity. In addition to Willis being inactive,
Jordan Love will ride the bench as Green Bay rests key starters. The Packers have nothing left to play for, as they already locked up the No. 7 seed in the NFC playoff picture. As a result,
Clayton Tune will start at quarterback on Sunday afternoon. Willis will likely return to his backup quarterback role in the Wild Card Round, and he could earn a chance to compete for a starting job during free agency in March.
--Andersen PickardSource: Green Bay Packers
January 4, 2026
Green Bay Packers wide receiver
Dontayvion Wicks (concussion) is officially inactive for Sunday's Week 18 contest against the Minnesota Vikings. He had been listed as doubtful after missing all three practices this past week. The 24-year-old has occupied an inconsistent role this season, and his usage has been dwindling with just four catches over his last four games. Wicks is the only wide receiver inactive for Green Bay, but we wouldn't be surprised if
Christian Watson,
Jayden Reed, and
Romeo Doubs handle a reduced workload now that the Packers have locked up the No. 7 seed.
Matthew Golden could earn more targets in the Packers' offense, led by quarterback
Clayton Tune.
--Andersen PickardSource: Green Bay Packers
January 4, 2026
The Green Bay Packers will rest key players during Sunday's Week 18 contest against the Minnesota Vikings, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. It was previously reported that Green Bay would likely rest some of its starters, but Fowler's latest update now confirms this. While the X post doesn't say which players will be affected, Fowler reports that "a significant number" of key players will sit out. This decision comes after Green Bay clinched the No. 7 seed in the NFC playoff picture. We already know that
Jordan Love will not start despite clearing concussion protocol, and we could see key offensive players like
Josh Jacobs and
Christian Watson rest.
Emanuel Wilson and
Matthew Golden could see additional opportunities in the
Clayton Tune-led offense. On defense, Fowler notes that recently-acquired cornerback Tre'Von Diggs will play.
--Andersen PickardSource: Jeremy Fowler
January 4, 2026
Green Bay Packers running back
Emanuel Wilson will take on increased responsibilities in the backfield on Sunday. Wilson figures to take over as the lead back with
Josh Jacobs (knee, ankle) unlikely to play. The Packers have little incentive to play Jacobs with their postseason seeding already decided. Wilson should take over a majority of the carries for the regular-season finale against the Minnesota Vikings. Wilson has posted strong stat lines when he gets over 10 carries in a game. Fantasy managers should expect him to continue to have success, assuming Jacobs remains on the sideline. There's RB2 upside here with Wilson probably getting double-digit carries in this game.
--Andy WebbSource: Pro Football Reference
January 3, 2026
Green Bay Packers wide receiver
Christian Watson is coming off one of his best games of the season, having put up 113 yards and a touchdown in a Week 17 loss to the Ravens. Unfortunately, with the loss, Green Bay is locked into the NFC's seventh seed regardless of how things play out this weekend. With the Packers already on record that starting quarterback
Jordan Love will sit out one more game despite clearing the NFL's concussion protocol, it seems unlikely that the rest of their starters will get much run, if any, in a meaningless Week 18 game against the Vikings. Fantasy managers in leagues playing through the final week of the season should be looking for pieces from games with clearer stakes.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
January 2, 2026
Green Bay Packers wide receiver
Dontayvion Wicks (concussion) did not practice all week and is doubtful to play in the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival Minnesota Vikings, according to Wes Hodkiewicz of Packers.com. Wicks suffered a concussion in last Saturday night's loss to the Baltimore Ravens, and now he'll sit out the season finale after not being cleared from the league's concussion protocol. The 24-year-old will be trying to return to practice so that he'll have a chance to suit up for the wild-card round of the playoffs next week. Wicks will miss his third game of the season in Week 18 and will finish with a career-low 30 catches (46 targets) for 332 yards and two touchdowns in 14 games in 2025. He had nine touchdown catches in his first two years in the league, but a crowded WR corps made it difficult for Wicks to stand out in 2025.
--Keith HernandezSource: Packers.com - Wes Hodkiewicz
January 2, 2026
Green Bay Packers quarterback
Malik Willis (shoulder, hamstring) is officially listed as questionable for the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival Minnesota Vikings, according to Wes Hodkiewicz of Packers.com. The Packers plan to rest
Jordan Love (concussion, shoulder) this weekend, so if Willis is ruled out,
Desmond Ridder would likely be elevated from the practice squad to the 53-man active roster to back up
Clayton Tune under center. Willis was limited in practice all week after injuring his right shoulder in the Week 17 loss to the Baltimore Ravens last Saturday. He was excellent for fantasy managers who streamed him in deeper leagues before his injury, going 18-for-21 passing for 288 yards and a touchdown as a passer while adding 60 rushing yards and two more scores on the ground. Willis is trending toward sitting out in Week 18 with the Packers resting their injured players.
--Keith HernandezSource: Packers.com - Wes Hodkiewicz
January 2, 2026
Green Bay Packers running back
Josh Jacobs (knee, ankle) doesn't carry an injury designation into Sunday's Week 18 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. Jacobs was limited during the first two practices of the week before getting in a full session on Friday. He has been battling multiple lingering injuries for several weeks now. The Packers aren't playing for anything this weekend and are already locked in the seventh seed. They've already named
Clayton Tune as the starting quarterback for Sunday's game. The expectation is that the rest of the starting unit will sit out or play limited roles. There's a good chance the Packers sit Jacobs and let him rest up for the postseason. If he does play, his workload is uncertain, which makes him a risky fantasy option.
--Andy WebbSource: packers.com
January 2, 2026
Green Bay Packers wide receiver
Jayden Reed (illness) won't carry an injury designation into Sunday's Week 18 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. Reed was limited in practice on both Wednesday and Thursday due to an illness, but he was able to get in a full session on Friday. Reed is cleared to play, but it's unclear how much he'll actually play in this game. Third-string quarterback
Clayton Tune will be under center as well, with the team choosing to rest
Jordan Love (concussion, shoulder). The Packers are already locked into the seventh seed, so there's little incentive for them to play their starters. Reed will probably see limited snaps and won't be a reliable fantasy option with Tune throwing the passes on Sunday.
--Andy WebbSource: packers.com
January 2, 2026
Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said on Friday that rookie first-round wide receiver
Matthew Golden has a "very bright future" in Green Bay, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN. The Packers' coaching staff was singing Golden's praises during training camp and the preseason, too, leading many to believe that a breakout was coming in Year 1 for the Texas alum. It has not happened in 2025, as Golden has been buried in Green Bay's crowded receiver room.
Jayden Reed and
Christian Watson have missed time with injuries this year, but Golden has just been unable to become a consistent part of the team's passing attack alongside the likes of
Romeo Doubs and
Dontayvion Wicks. Golden enters the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Minnesota Vikings with only 28 catches on the year for 353 yards and zero touchdowns. He has only one target in two of the team's last three games.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Rob Demovsky
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