Aug 28, 2026, 11:51 PM ET

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.--Kevin Tompkins
Source: ESPN

Aug 27, 2026, 7:22 PM ET

Green Bay Packers running back MarShawn Lloyd is currently surging up fantasy football draft boards ahead of the 2026 season, even though he has only appeared in one game with the Packers due to injuries since being drafted in the third round in 2024 out of USC. Lloyd has also been rising up RotoBaller's RB rankings for the upcoming season now that there is a real possibility that he could open the 2026 regular season as the Packers' starting running back in light of Josh Jacobs' (groin) legal issues. Jacobs was formally charged on Thursday with misdemeanor battery and misdemeanor criminal damage to property for an incident that occurred back in late May. Packers brass admitted on Wednesday that they are preparing for the possibility that Jacobs is suspended by the NFL. Chris Brooks would be Lloyd's only competition for lead-back duties if Jacobs were to miss games in 2026. Although Lloyd has not been able to stay on the field early in his NFL career, the Packers still believe in his abilities. His speed and athleticism will make him very intriguing as a fantasy starter if Jacobs is suspended.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Pro Football Reference

Aug 27, 2026, 6:20 PM ET

Updating a previous report, Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs is scheduled for an initial court appearance on Nov. 17 after he was charged on Thursday with misdemeanor battery and misdemeanor criminal damage to property, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN. The charges have come more than three months after Jacobs was arrested following an alleged domestic-violence incident at his home near Green Bay. Jacobs is subject to a suspension by the NFL, which is conducting its own investigation. Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said that the organization is preparing for a potential suspension and is keeping the door open to potentially adding another RB before the start of the 2026 regular season to boost their backfield depth behind MarShawn Lloyd and Chris Brooks. The team also has Pierre Strong Jr. in their RB room. It's beginning to look more likely that Jacobs will face a suspension to begin the 2026 campaign, which makes him harder to get behind as an RB2 target in upcoming fantasy drafts, despite his status as Green Bay's RB1 and his nose for the end zone (28 rushing touchdowns the last two years and four double-digit rushing TD seasons in his seven NFL campaigns).--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN.com - Rob Demovsky

Aug 27, 2026, 3:44 PM ET

Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs has formally been charged with misdemeanor battery and criminal damage to property stemming from his May arrest, according to Ari Meirov. Jacobs was booked in May on five recommended charges, including felony strangulation and suffocation, but prosecutors did not file charges at the time while the investigation remained open. The new filing contains only the two misdemeanors. Jacobs has denied the allegations through his attorneys. Green Bay was already preparing for the possibility of an NFL suspension before Thursday's charging decision, with general manager Brian Gutekunst saying Wednesday the team had planned for that scenario. The NFL has not announced any discipline or roster move involving Jacobs. He rushed for 929 yards and 13 touchdowns in 15 games last season and remains atop a backfield that currently lists Chris Brooks and MarShawn Lloyd behind him. Jacobs' fantasy availability now carries more uncertainty until the league decides whether to take action.--Bruno Mulé
Source: Ari Meirov

Aug 27, 2026, 12:27 PM ET

Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft (knee) tore his ACL in Week 9 last year against the Carolina Panthers, halting what was looking like a true breakout year for the former third-rounder from South Dakota State. Despite coming off a major knee injury, fantasy managers have not been shy about drafting him as a top-five player at his position for 2026, especially after he avoided landing on the Physically Unable to Perform list to begin training camp this summer. The 25-year-old caught 32 passes for 489 yards and six touchdowns in eight games a year ago, and he has 13 total touchdowns the last two seasons, making him a popular breakout candidate again this year. However, the argument for Kraft being a clear top-five TE might have taken a bit of a hit with Green Bay's signing of former Pro Bowler Jonnu Smith on Thursday. Kraft will be the Packers' unquestioned top pass-catching tight end if he is healthy, but Smith's presence could create target competition that could prevent him from reaching his true fantasy ceiling. Two years ago with the Miami Dolphins, Smith caught 88 passes for 884 yards and eight touchdowns in 17 games.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Jordan Schultz

Aug 27, 2026, 12:16 PM ET

The Green Bay Packers are signing former Pro Bowl tight end Jonnu Smith to an undisclosed one-year deal on Thursday, sources told Jordan Schultz. Smith is one of the league's most respected veterans, and he has recorded 345 career catches and 30 touchdowns in his nine years in the NFL with the Tennessee Titans, New England Patriots, Atlanta Falcons, Miami Dolphins, and Pittsburgh Steelers. The Packers will be Smith's fourth different team in the last four years. The former third-rounder in 2017 by the Titans out of Florida International had a career year in Miami in 2024, catching 88 of 111 targets for 884 yards and eight touchdowns in 17 games, but he cratered to a 38-222-2 line in 17 regular-season games last year in Pittsburgh while sharing work with Pat Freiermuth. With Luke Musgrave (neck) on the Physically Unable to Perform list, the 31-year-old should become Green Bay's TE2 behind Tucker Kraft (knee), who is coming off a torn ACL last year. Smith is unlikely to have standalone fantasy value with the Packers unless Kraft misses more time with an injury, but his presence is not great news for Kraft's potential breakout in 2026.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Jordan Schultz

Aug 27, 2026, 11:52 AM ET

Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft (knee) said on Wednesday that he is "not doing the rep count stuff anymore," according to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic. ESPN's Rob Demovsky reported on Wednesday that Kraft, who tore his ACL in Week 9 last year against the Carolina Panthers, is expected to be a "full-go" for Week 1 of the 2026 regular season. The 25-year-old was a full participant in the team's joint practice on Wednesday against the Arizona Cardinals and took a couple of hard hits, which backs up the notion that he should be ready for the regular-season opener without being on a snap count. The former third-rounder from South Dakota State could reach a contract extension with Green Bay soon, too, that might make him the highest-paid TE in the league. Kraft caught 32 passes for 489 yards and six touchdowns in just eight starts in 2025 and had seven touchdowns the year before. If he can avoid another serious injury in 2026, he has a clear path to being a top-five fantasy tight end in an offense that lost two key receivers in the offseason in Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Athletic - Matt Schneidman

Aug 26, 2026, 8:24 PM ET

Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft (knee), who will not play in the team's preseason finale this week, is expected to be full-go for the Week 1 regular-season opener despite tearing his ACL last year, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN. Kraft took part in the team's joint practice against the Arizona Cardinals and took a couple of hard hits, but he did not seem to be bothered at all. "I needed some contact like that to wake up the nervous system and get ready for Week 1," said Kraft. The 25-year-old continues to practice despite not having come to an agreement with the team on a contract extension, but Kraft has made it sound like something could get done sooner rather than later. There have been reports that the Packers could put Kraft on a snap count early in the 2026 season as he continues to recover from a season-ending torn ACL, but if Wednesday is any indication, that could be out the window by the time Sept. 13 comes. After catching 32 passes for 489 yards and six touchdowns in just eight games last year, Kraft has clear breakout potential and top-five upside at the TE position for fantasy managers in his fourth year in the NFL.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN.com - Rob Demovsky

Aug 26, 2026, 12:40 PM ET

Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said that tight end Tucker Kraft (knee) will participate in 11-on-11 team drills in training camp practice on Wednesday, according to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic. Kraft has been taking part in team drills in camp for a week-plus, but he will also be cleared to take part in team drills on Wednesday in a joint practice with the Arizona Cardinals, which is notable. There have been reports that the Packers plan on easing the 25-year-old tight end into their offense early on in the 2026 regular season, which is not what fantasy managers want to hear. Despite that news, the former third-rounder in the 2023 NFL draft from South Dakota State is an easy top-10 fantasy TE who could easily break out in 2026 if he can stay healthy following his ACL tear a year ago. Before Kraft's season-ending knee injury, he was among the best players at his position, catching 32 of his 44 targets for 489 yards and six touchdowns in eight starts. RotoBaller currently has Kraft ranked as the No. 6 overall TE for 2026.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Athletic - Matt Schneidman

Aug 26, 2026, 12:02 PM ET

Green Bay Packers running back MarShawn Lloyd is quickly becoming a priority late-round fantasy stash in 2026 amidst the news that the Packers are bracing for a potential suspension for starting RB Josh Jacobs. Nothing is certain right now, and Jacobs might only be facing a short three- or four-game suspension, but the potential for Jacobs to miss games early in the year will only boost Lloyd's appeal. The 25-year-old former third-rounder in 2024 from USC has only played in one NFL game due to injuries, but he has plenty of potential, and the Packers remain firmly committed to him going forward. In the team's preseason win over the Denver Broncos last Friday, Lloyd rushed six times for 17 yards and caught his only target for an 11-yard touchdown. All signs point to Lloyd having the inside track on the RB2 job over Chris Brooks in Green Bay to begin the 2026 season, so if the NFL slaps a suspension on Jacobs, Lloyd would be in line for lead-back duties. RotoBaller has Lloyd ranked as the RB49 right now. Fantasy managers who select Jacobs as their RB2 should be handcuffing Lloyd to him in the later rounds.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Athletic - Matt Schneidman

Aug 26, 2026, 11:42 AM ET

Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said that the team has been preparing for the scenario of running back Josh Jacobs being suspended just to cover all of their bases in case that happens, according to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic. Gutekunst is confident in the running back room behind Jacobs but is not ruling out an additional move to give the team more backfield depth early in the season if/when a Jacobs suspension is handed down. The 28-year-old has also been managing a groin injury that has kept him out of training camp practices for the better part of two weeks, so it has not been a great summer for Jacobs as he gets set to enter his eighth year in the NFL (third with Green Bay). The NFL is still reviewing a personal-conduct matter involving Jacobs after he was arrested in May of this year following a domestic-disturbance complaint. He has denied all allegations, and prosecutors have not formally filed criminal charges against him. If Jacobs is suspended, it should not be for more than three or four games. If he's not suspended, his current groin issue should not keep him from playing in Week 1 in early September. A potential suspension hanging over his head definitely makes him a much riskier low-end RB1/high-end RB2 selection in upcoming fantasy football drafts, though.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Athletic - Matt Schneidman

Aug 25, 2026, 12:42 AM ET

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.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

Aug 25, 2026, 12:14 AM ET

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.--Chelena Goldman
Source: Bill Huber, SI.com

Aug 24, 2026, 3:51 PM ET

Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs (groin) took team reps Monday and looked sharp doing it. Ryan Wood reported that Jacobs showed good burst through the middle on inside-zone runs after spending most of August working his way back from a groin injury. This is a bigger step than his return last week, when Jacobs was limited to individual drills after nearly two weeks on the sideline. He is coming off a 2025 season in which he rushed 234 times for 929 yards and 13 touchdowns in 15 games, while adding 36 catches for 282 yards and another score. Green Bay has been cautious with Jacobs throughout August, but getting him back into team work and seeing that kind of burst is encouraging with the regular season approaching. Monday looked much closer to normal work for the veteran back.--Bruno Mulé
Source: Ryan Wood