Sep 4, 2026, 12:36 PM ET

Iowa Hawkeyes offensive coordinator Tim Lester spent the 2023 season with the Green Bay Packers as an analyst and was named offensive coordinator at Iowa in 2024, where he inherited new Packers running back Kaleb Johnson and brought along head coach Matt LaFleur's offense, according to Bill Huber of Sports Illustrated. "He should have unbelievable familiarity with the system, that's for sure, because that's exactly what we ran his senior year of college, which is good," Lester said. "And so I've been excited for him to get his shot and kind of get settled. The NFL normally takes a little bit of time to get adjusted, but definitely a talented kid." It should help Johnson, a third-rounder by the Pittsburgh Steelers last year, get up to speed much faster after recently being acquired in a trade from Pittsburgh to help the Packers with RB depth now that Josh Jacobs will not be with the team to begin the 2026 season. Johnson had 1,537 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns at Iowa in 2024, with 4.4 yards on average coming after contact. The 23-year-old excels at breaking tackles, although he only had 28 carries for 69 yards (2.5 yards per carry) in 10 games with the Steelers as a rookie. Johnson's rookie season was forgettable, but he could quickly turn things around in Green Bay in an offense he is much more familiar with. MarShawn Lloyd is expected to get the first crack at RB1 duties with Jacobs out, but Johnson should not be ignored as a late-round handcuff with rising value because of Jacobs' status.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Sports Illustrated - Bill Huber

Sep 4, 2026, 11:24 AM ET

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love hasn't been asked to throw nearly as much the past two seasons, but that could change with Josh Jacobs unavailable. Love averaged just 28.8 pass attempts per game across 2024 and 2025 after throwing 579 times in his first full season as the starter in 2023. He still put together an efficient year last season, completing a career-high 66.3% of his passes for 3,381 yards, 23 touchdowns and only six interceptions. Jacobs remains on the Commissioner's Exempt List with no timetable to return, leaving MarShawn Lloyd as the likely lead back entering Week 1. Lloyd has just six NFL carries after spending most of his first two seasons battling injuries, while Chris Brooks and Kaleb Johnson provide the other backfield options. Green Bay doesn't suddenly have to abandon the run, but there is more reason to put the offense in Love's hands. He has also climbed to QB17 in RotoBaller's latest rankings. A bump in attempts would give Love a better chance to push back into the QB1 mix.--Bruno Mulé
Source: RotoBaller

Sep 4, 2026, 9:25 AM ET

Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs was placed on the commissioner's exempt list on Sunday and has no timetable for return. Jacobs was charged with battery and criminal damage to property stemming from the offseason. A video also provides evidence against Jacobs in this trial, and if it is released, it could lead the team to cut ties with him. While there is a possibility that he returns in 2026, fantasy managers should not spend more than a late-round pick on Jacobs. MarShawn Lloyd will have a chance to take the job early in the season, and the team has continued to praise the young back. A committee once Jacobs returns is very possible, so the reward may not be as big as some fantasy managers expect. Jacobs' range of outcomes is from being a contributor in the fantasy playoffs to not playing a snap in 2026 or beyond. Make sure that you know exactly what is going on with Jacobs' situation before spending draft capital on the veteran running back.--Nathan Harvey
Source: Ari Meirov - My Sports Update

Sep 4, 2026, 12:02 AM ET

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.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

Sep 3, 2026, 9:21 PM ET

Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft (knee) appeared to be running without any issues ahead of Thursday's practice, Matt Schneidman of The Athletic reports. Kraft continues to work his way back from a torn ACL that he suffered in November of last year. He missed all of the preseason, but was able to take part during joint practice with the Arizona Cardinals last week. It seems that Kraft is trending in the right direction ahead of the Week 1 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. He appears to be moving well and could very well be ready to go in time for the first game of the season.--Andy Webb
Source: Matt Schneidman

Sep 3, 2026, 9:13 AM ET

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.--Zach Thompson
Source: RotoBaller

Sep 2, 2026, 5:29 PM ET

Green Bay Packers running back MarShawn Lloyd and newcomer Kaleb Johnson were both working with quarterback Jordan Love in individual drills during Wednesday's practice, according to Ryan Wood of USA Today. Lloyd went from being the team's RB2 to being thrust into a potential lead-back role for Week 1 when the Packers placed Josh Jacobs on the commissioner's exempt list over the weekend. The 25-year-old has appeared in just one NFL game since the Packers took him in the third round in 2024 out of USC due to injuries, but he is primed for a significant role in the backfield with Jacobs sidelined. It is unclear exactly how Green Bay's touches will be distributed behind Love, but if Wednesday's practice is any indication, it could be a 50/50 split between Lloyd and Johnson, a third-rounder out of Iowa by the Pittsburgh Steelers last year. Lloyd's speed and athleticism have suddenly made him a mid-round target at the RB position, despite his lack of NFL experience. He is currently ranked as the No. 28 RB at RotoBaller, right behind Jaylen Warren of the Steelers.--Keith Hernandez
Source: USA Today Sports - Ryan Wood

Sep 2, 2026, 11:23 AM ET

Green Bay Packers running back MarShawn Lloyd could get the first shot at the starting job while Josh Jacobs is on the Commissioner's Exempt List. ESPN's Dan Graziano reports that the coaching staff has liked what it has seen from Lloyd throughout the offseason and training camp, and believes he could run with the opportunity. Lloyd has barely had a chance to show anything in the regular season, playing just one game across his first two years because of injuries. He had six carries for 15 yards in that 2024 appearance and did not play at all in 2025. This summer has gone much better. Lloyd stayed healthy through camp, mixed in with the first-team offense and had 10 carries for 30 yards with two catches in the preseason, including an 11-yard touchdown against Denver. Green Bay also has Chris Brooks and recently acquired Kaleb Johnson, so the job is not automatically Lloyd's. But if he stays healthy and produces, ESPN's report makes it clear he has a real chance to claim the backfield.--Bruno Mulé
Source: ESPN

Sep 1, 2026, 11:47 PM ET

Green Bay Packers running back Chris Brooks is headed for an increased role, at least on a temporary basis. Teammate Josh Jacobs was placed on the commissioner's exempt list last Sunday, sidelining him for an indefinite period of time and leaving a gaping hole atop the running back depth chart in Green Bay. While MarShawn Lloyd is the early favorite to operate as the Packers' No. 1 ball-carrier, we expect to see a heavy dose of Brooks out of the backfield, too. Jacobs' void is too big to be filled by just one player, so Brooks will offer impact carries and receptions, and more than just a change of pace. We expect to see him mix in around the goal line, too. Brooks' NFL opportunities so far have been hard to come by, but he has looked good whenever he's been given the chance. For example, in Week 18 last season, he rushed for 61 yards on 13 carries, good for an average of 4.7 YPC. Additionally, just about one-third of his total touches (13 of 40) were receptions, so there's some legitimate full-PPR and half-PPR upside here if he does indeed handle a significant snap share. Brooks is more of a speculative late-round draft right now, but Week 1 will paint a clear picture of whether he can be a low-end RB3/flex going forward.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

Sep 1, 2026, 9:19 PM ET

Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said, "We have a pretty good idea once we get out of that four-game window we're going to be pretty close" when asked about the return timeline for star edge rusher Micah Parsons (knee), per Ryan Wood of USA Today. Parsons will open the 2026 season on the Physically Unable to Perform list as he works his way back from a torn ACL, guaranteeing that he will miss Green Bay's first four games of the season. However, it appears as though Parsons has a chance to return to the field as soon as he is eligible. Across 14 games before the knee injury ended his 2025 season, Parsons recorded 12.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. When healthy, the 27-year-old is one of the most disruptive defenders in the NFL and is a worthy target for fantasy managers in IDP leagues.--Will Brady
Source: USA Today - Ryan Wood

Sep 1, 2026, 2:19 PM ET

Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said on Tuesday that running back MarShawn Lloyd is "as ready as he's ever been... he looks good," according to Dennis Krause of Spectrum News 1 Wisconsin. With starting running back Josh Jacobs (groin) on the commissioner's exempt list due to an ongoing domestic-violence allegation, the 25-year-old Lloyd is looking primed to lead Green Bay's backfield to begin the 2026 regular season in Week 1. The Packers acquired RB Kaleb Johnson from the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday for more RB depth, but he should not be a direct threat to Lloyd as the RB1 if Jacobs indeed is suspended for the start of the season. Lloyd, a third-rounder in 2024 from USC, has played in just one game with the Packers due to multiple injuries, but he has held up well physically to the rigors of training camp and the preseason and looks ready to go. Jacobs will be the Packers' lead back whenever he returns, but Lloyd's speed and athleticism make him an intriguing RB3/flex target in upcoming fantasy football drafts.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Spectrum News 1 Wisconsin - Dennis Krause

Sep 1, 2026, 1:47 PM ET

Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said on Tuesday that he is "really hopeful" and expects tight end Luke Musgrave (neck) to play at some point this season, according to Ryan Wood of USA Today Sports. Musgrave will open up the 2026 regular season on the Physically Unable to Perform list, which means that he will not be eligible to return until at least Week 5. The 25-year-old former second-rounder from Oregon State in 2023 could miss much more time in 2026 after not practicing at all in training camp this summer. And when Musgrave is finally cleared to rejoin the Packers, he could find himself third in the tight end room behind Tucker Kraft and recent addition Jonnu Smith. Musgrave could not capitalize with Kraft missing most of last year due to an ACL tear, as he finished with only 24 receptions on 31 targets for 252 yards and zero touchdowns in 17 regular-season games. He is firmly off the fantasy radar in all league formats with the start of the regular season just around the corner.--Keith Hernandez
Source: USA Today Sports - Ryan Wood

Sep 1, 2026, 11:17 AM ET

Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs is still expected to play this season despite his uncertain status. General manager Brian Gutekunst told reporters Tuesday that he is hopeful Jacobs will return and expects him to play for Green Bay at some point, according to Matt Schneidman. Gutekunst was also asked whether there is a scenario in which the Packers release Jacobs, but said the team wants to let the process play out before making that kind of decision. Jacobs remains on the NFL's Commissioner's Exempt List after being charged with misdemeanor battery and misdemeanor criminal damage to property stemming from a May incident. He cannot practice or play while on the list, and there is still no timetable for his return. Green Bay has since added Kaleb Johnson to a backfield that also includes MarShawn Lloyd and Chris Brooks. Gutekunst's comments are encouraging for Jacobs' season-long outlook, but his availability remains completely up in the air.--Bruno Mulé
Source: Matt Schneidman

Sep 1, 2026, 10:57 AM ET

Green Bay Packers running back Kaleb Johnson has been traded over from the Pittsburgh Steelers and amid the troubles with running back Josh Jacobs, the Packers organization is high on the addition of Johnson. Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst had this to say about Johnson as a newcomer to the team: "Excited to get Kaleb in here. Young player with huge upside ... He comes from a very strong program. He had a lot of success there. There's some similar scheme stuff, a lot of outside-zone." Johnson comes from the Iowa Hawkeyes college program and has a real shot to make a name for himself with Jacobs on the Commissioner's Exempt List. Johnson could be a nice late-round addition to fantasy teams with some "huge upside" as stated by his new GM.--Brian Buckey - RotoBaller
Source: Weston Hodkiewicz (@WesHod)