RADIO
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
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
Matthew Golden Has Loads of Fantasy Upside In Week 1
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Matthew Golden looks to hit the ground running in Week 1 when the Packers face the Minnesota Vikings in both teams' season opener. Last season's first-round pick, Golden was just a few complete deep passes from a whole different discussion about him for fantasy football this season. With just 40 targets and 29 receptions in 2025, along with sporadic time on the field, Golden was a bust on the stat sheet and for fantasy managers. This season, things could be different in the Packers' receiver room with Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks in new locations, so Golden will get every opportunity to stay on the field this season and produce. For fantasy, Golden is an immediate flex-worthy upside play against the Vikings in Week 1, who struggled to contain outside receivers as they allowed the third-most fantasy points to that cohort last season.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Packers to Lean on Three Starting Wide Receivers
Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur plans to lean heavily on his three starting wide receivers -- Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, and Matthew Golden -- this year, according to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic. "We need them out there for as many plays as humanly possible," LaFleur said. It is a different tone for the Packers' offense than in years past, and it makes sense, with both Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks now gone. Behind Watson, Reed, and Golden, Green Bay's receiving corps takes a steep drop to Bo Melton, Skyy Moore, and undrafted free agent Michael J. Sturdivant. Watson has the most fantasy upside of the group because of his big-play ability, but past injury concerns make him more of a boom/bust WR2 for fantasy managers. Reed has shown a nose for the end zone, but he, too, has missed valuable time due to injuries early in his career. Golden could be the X factor for both the Packers and fantasy managers. The former first-rounder did not really get going as a rookie until later in the year, but he has the skills and opportunity for a Year 2 breakout.
Source: The Athletic - Matt Schneidman
Source: The Athletic - Matt Schneidman
Matthew Golden Steps Into Bigger Role in Year 2
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Matthew Golden has a much clearer path to playing time entering his second season. Golden was the top breakout choice in a poll of NFL executives and scouts conducted by ESPN's Jeremy Fowler after a quiet rookie year in which he caught 29 passes for 361 yards on 44 targets. One AFC executive questioned why Green Bay didn't use the former first-round pick more and pointed to his speed as a reason for optimism. The opportunity looks different now. Romeo Doubs left in free agency and Dontayvion Wicks was traded to Philadelphia, while Golden is listed with Christian Watson and Jayden Reed among Green Bay's starting receivers. He also flashed in the playoffs, catching four passes for 84 yards and his first NFL touchdown against Chicago. Golden still has to turn the opportunity into production, but the path to a much larger Year 2 role is there.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Christian Watson the Primary Beneficiary of Packers' Pass-Heavy Approach
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson should benefit from a new-look offensive game plan this season. With Josh Jacobs (personal) on the commissioner's exempt list and sidelined indefinitely, we expect the Packers to adopt a more pass-heavy approach on offense. Out of all the Packers' wide receivers, Christian Watson should benefit the most, given his existing role atop the depth chart. Last year, despite playing in an offense that ran through Jacobs, Watson managed to catch 35 passes for 611 yards and six touchdowns across just 10 games. He averaged 13.2 full-PPR points per game, and he ranked as the overall WR12 from Weeks 8-17. Staying healthy and on the field will be the biggest factor for Watson, but assuming he clears that hurdle, he has top-15 upside at the wide receiver position. His price tag hasn't quite adjusted to the expectations of this offense sans Jacobs, as he still has an ADP of 64.2 (sixth round). This creates an opportunity for fantasy managers to draft him at a discount.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jayden Reed Set for Larger Role Amid Improved Health
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed is likely headed for a larger role on offense in 2026. Not only is Reed fully healthy after recovering from last year's injuries, but he also faces slightly less competition for targets after Romeo Doubs departed for New England in free agency. Injuries limited Reed to just 19 catches, 207 yards, and one touchdown last year, but he finished as the WR29 or higher in PPR leagues in both 2023 and 2024. Even if he doesn't return to his top-30 receiver form, he can still be a WR3/flex in fantasy leagues with 12+ teams. His biggest competition for targets is Matthew Golden, and the good news is that Reed has more experience in the NFL than Golden. Plus, Golden still needs to prove that he's worthy of a larger role after catching just 29 passes with zero touchdowns as a rookie last year, whereas Reed has more of an established track record. For now, it seems like Reed has the edge over Golden. He currently has an ADP of 117.3, which corresponds to the 10th round of fantasy drafts and makes him the 31st receiver off the board.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Matthew Golden Brings Breakout Potential in Expanded Role
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Matthew Golden is set for a larger role in the Packers' offense this season and could be a late-round sleeper with true breakout potential. Last year, as a rookie, the first-round pick from Texas totaled 29 catches for 361 receiving yards. He scored his first NFL touchdown in the team's playoff game against the Bears, finishing with four catches for 84 yards and a score. After inconsistent playing time, Golden is locked into a top-three role on the Packers for this year after the team traded Dontayvion Wicks to the Eagles and watched Romeo Doubs sign with the Patriots as a free agent. Golden should be locked into three-wide sets alongside Jayden Reed and Christian Watson. As an outside threat with breakaway speed, Golden could be a big-play-reliant starting option in deep leagues based on his more consistent role. He's ranked as RotoBaller's No. 44 WR in PPR leagues, and he's a solid late-round option to consider as you build depth into your receiving corps. The first-round pick has plenty of upside, even though he remains unproven, and he is therefore a high-risk, high-reward sleeper to target.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jayden Reed Well-Positioned to Bounce Back in 2026
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed battled through an injury-marred season in 2025, as he missed 10 games due to collarbone and foot issues. Across the seven games he was active for, Reed hauled in just 19 catches for 207 yards and a touchdown on 22 targets. Throughout his career in Green Bay to this point, Reed's fantasy ceiling has been held down by the Packers' crowded wide receiver room and the team's run-heavy play-style. However, the Packers lost a pair of veteran wideouts in Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks over the offseason, and the team may be forced to turn to the air more often with star running back Josh Jacobs currently on the Commissioner's Exempt List due to an offseason arrest. Green Bay still has two up-and-coming wideouts in Christian Watson and Matthew Golden who could eat into Reed's playing time and target share. Still, Reed looks well-positioned for the heaviest workload of his career. In addition to his work as a receiver, Reed has 34 career carries and could be relied upon more in the run game with Jacobs sidelined. As a late mid-round pick by current redraft ADP, Reed could end up being a great value selection for fantasy managers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Christian Watson Could See Expanded Early Role
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson has been a popular breakout candidate heading into his fifth season, and early-season uncertainty in the Packers' backfield could lead to even more involvement to begin the year. The Packers have had one of the run-heaviest offenses in the league over the past two seasons, but after Josh Jacobs was placed on the Commissioner's Exempt List as a result of misdemeanor charges stemming from his May arrest, Green Bay is prepared to begin the season with MarShawn Lloyd and his six career carries in the starting role. Backing up Lloyd will be veteran Chris Brooks and Kaleb Johnson, who was acquired via trade from the Steelers on Sunday, and a potential fall-off at the position could lead to a philosophical shift and more passing to begin the year. Watson has already been pegged as the most obvious benefactor of the offseason departures of Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks, and higher passing volume to begin the year could allow him to repeat or even surpass the WR13 pace at which he played after returning from injury halfway through the 2025 season.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
J. Michael Sturdivant Earns Spot on Packers' 53-Man Roster
Green Bay Packers wide receiver J. Michael Sturdivant has earned a spot on the team's initial 53-man roster, according to Rob Demovsky. The undrafted rookie made his biggest push at exactly the right time. Sturdivant caught six passes for 112 yards and a touchdown in Friday's preseason finale against Arizona, giving him nine receptions for a team-high 142 yards over three preseason games. Green Bay had several receivers fighting for the final spots, with Isaiah Neyor, Will Sheppard, Kisean Johnson and Kaden Prather among those released Sunday. Sturdivant came to the Packers in May after stops at Cal, UCLA and Florida, finishing his college career with 150 catches for 2,073 yards and 16 touchdowns. There isn't an obvious path to regular fantasy production in Green Bay's crowded receiver room, but Sturdivant did enough throughout August to turn an undrafted free-agent deal into a place on the opening roster.
Source: Rob Demovsky
Source: Rob Demovsky
J. Michael Sturdivant Posts 112 Yards, Score in Packers' Win
Green Bay Packers wide receiver J. Michael Sturdivant posted a quality receiving line for the Packers in their final preseason tune-up at Lambeau Field on Friday night, a 42-38 win over the Arizona Cardinals. While the Packers didn't play any player who is locked into the 53-man roster on offense besides maybe Bo Melton, J. Michael Sturdivant has been excellent when he's gotten on the field this preseason. An undrafted free agent from Florida, Sturdivant caught 6-of-7 passes from Kyle McCord and turned those six catches into 112 receiving yards and a 29-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter. If the Packers keep seven wide receivers on their 53-man roster, Sturdivant will be the one kept as he's been excellent throughout the offseason and is learning some special teams roles on the team as well. Sturdivant is worth an end-of-bench flier in dynasty leagues in case he makes the Packers' 53-man roster or latches on elsewhere, as his play has earned him that over the last month.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Jayden Reed Looking to Overcome Emergence of Young Teammates
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed opened his career with back-to-back top-30 fantasy finishes at his position, but injuries essentially ruined his 2025 season. Now, he's looking to get back on track and carve out fantasy relevance in the Packers' receiver room. The good news for Reed is that Romeo Doubs has departed for New England, creating 85 vacated targets that are up for grabs. The bad news is that a large portion of that volume could end up going to Matthew Golden and Christian Watson, two young pass-catchers who are trending up and, unlike Reed, were healthy enough for most of last season to form a solid rapport with quarterback Jordan Love. Meanwhile, tight end Tucker Kraft (knee) is working his way back from an ACL tear; he's arguably the most talented pass-catcher in Green Bay, so his return to action could also have a negative effect on Reed's outlook. With that being said, Reed is holding his own as the WR34 in RotoBaller's latest half-PPR rankings for 2026. That puts him five spots behind Watson and 11 spots ahead of Golden in redraft leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Christian Watson Ready for Full Season and Full-Time Role
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson continued his path to being the team's de facto WR1 as he caught passes from starting quarterback Jordan Love at Monday's practice, according to SI's Bill Huber. The 27-year-old impressed late in his 2025 campaign when he returned from a torn ACL injury and caught 35 passes for 611 yards and six touchdowns. The Packers' receiving corps will look a little different this season with Romeo Doubs departing for the New England Patriots over the summer, further opening the door for Watson to shoulder a heavier workload. Even with his injury history, the increased usage should make this fifth-year wideout a more efficient fantasy asset. A healthy Christian Watson is a high-end WR3 who can flash WR2 upside in 2026.
Source: Bill Huber, SI.com
Source: Bill Huber, SI.com
Matthew Golden Has a Much Better Setup in Year 2
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Matthew Golden didn't have much to show for his rookie year until the very end. He caught 29 passes for 361 yards during the regular season, then went for 84 yards and his first NFL touchdown against Chicago in the playoffs. Green Bay has cleared out some of the traffic since then. Romeo Doubs left in free agency and Dontayvion Wicks was traded, leaving Golden in the top three with Christian Watson and Jayden Reed. The summer has helped his case, too. Golden caught a 57-yard touchdown from Jordan Love on Family Night, missed a couple of practices with a toe issue, then came right back without much trouble. On Friday against Denver, he was out there with the starters and caught a 19-yard pass from Love on fourth-and-inches during the opening touchdown drive. There are still plenty of mouths to feed once Tucker Kraft is included, so Golden isn't guaranteed a huge target jump. The opportunity is a lot cleaner than it was last year, though. RotoBaller has him 113th overall in PPR, and he's looking more interesting as a bench receiver with upside.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
