Fantasy Football Player Notes

Well, if you had worries about Josh Jacobs following up his nearly 400-touch season in 2022 with a dud last year, your fears were validated. Jacobs was limited to 13 games played (quad strain in Week 13) and looked like someone sucked out his tackle-breaking ability with a straw when he was active. Jacobs wasn't the same guy who, in 2022, ranked 18th in yards per touch, 13th in yards created per touch, and second in evaded tackles. Last season, Jacobs had the 12th-highest stuff rate while also crawling in at 37th in missed tackles forced per attempt and 44th in yards after contact per attempt (per Fantasy Points Data). Jacobs could be this season's Rachaad White. A back who has an elite role while producing mediocre tackle-breaking stats en route to an RB1 season, but don't rule out MarShawn Lloyd playing a much bigger role this season than many anticipate. Jacobs is a shaky RB2.

Jordan Love's first full season as an NFL starter raised hopes that he can be one of the better quarterbacks in the league for years to come. After an uneven start to his 2023 season, Love caught fire. Over his first nine starts, Love was averaging 223.2 passing yards per game, with 14 TD passes, 10 interceptions, a 58.7% completion rate and an average of 6.7 yards per attempt. Over his last eight starts of the 2023 regular season, Love averaged 268.8 passing yards per game, with 18 TD passes, one interception, a 70.3% completion percentage and 7.7 yards per attempt. He then went out and dissected the Cowboys in a wild-card game, completing 16-of-21 passes for 272 yards and three TDs. Love adds some value as a runner (247 rushing yards and four TD runs in 2023), and he has a gaggle of good young pass catchers. The future is bright for the Packers' heir apparent at quarterback.

Jayden Reed made an impact in his rookie season, as a primary slot receiver for the Packers. Despite not always playing a full-time role, he was heavily targeted, with a 25% target rate per route run and just under 2 yards per route run. Reed led all Packers wide receivers in points/game with 10.6 and ten touchdowns. He finished as a top-12 WR in 33% of his games (12th) and ranked fourth in fantasy points per snap.

Christian Watson's sophomore season was completely derailed by hamstring injuries. He missed the first three weeks of the season entirely and struggled to put together any consistent production until his last three games in the regular season when he hurt his hamstring again. He scored four TDs, while averaging 17.1 points per game. Watson has a high ceiling when healthy as both a big-play and red-zone threat, but it cannot be realized until he solves his hamstring woes. Offseason reports have been positive regarding Watson's hamstring, providing some hope that he can put it together in Year 3 and recapture his rookie form that saw him post fringe fantasy WR1 numbers.

Romeo Doubs showcased improvement in his 2nd season, becoming a consistent target in their passing game. With 69 receptions on 105 targets for 908 yards and 9 touchdowns, he proved to be a valuable asset, particularly in the red zone. However, Doubs fell short of maximizing his potential within the offense, scoring fewer points than his expected output, creating doubt about his 2024 ceiling. Despite this, his performance solidified him as a reliable WR4 option in fantasy leagues.

Rangy and athletic, Luke Musgrave has the tools to become one of the better pass-catching tight ends in the league. A second-round draft pick out of Oregon State, Musgrave produced modest rookie-year numbers: 34 catches for 352 yards and one touchdown. But Musgrave missed six games with a lacerated kidney and was averaging a respectable 7.3 PPR fantasy points per game before he got hurt. Musgrave gets to play with QB Jordan Love, a rising star. One concern, however, is that the Packers spent a third-round draft pick on another tight end last year, Tucker Kraft, who also had some impressive flashes as a rookie. Musgrave profiles as a midrange TE2 for 2024 fantasy drafts, but he could come on fast.

Dontayvion Wicks made significant contributions to the Packers' offense during Christian Watson's absence, showcasing his big-play ability and reliability as a target. With 39 receptions for 581 yards and 5 touchdowns, Wicks demonstrated his potential to be a valuable asset in the passing game. Despite being a fifth-round rookie, he ranked among the top rookies in yards per route run, hinting at his promising future in an offense led by Jordan Love. As a deep sleeper, Wicks has the opportunity to emerge as a key playmaker in the Packers' ascending offense.

Unless you've been living under a rock, you're probably already aware that MarShawn Lloyd was one of my man crushes throughout the NFL Draft cycle. While his landing spot has turned many off, I'm not fazed. Will Josh Jacobs be heavily involved weekly? Sure, but that doesn't mean that Lloyd is a zero or change-of-pace option only. Lloyd crushed every part of the predraft process after jumping off the stat sheet during his final two collegiate seasons. In each of those two years, he finished in the top 20 in yards after contact per attempt, breakaway percentage, and PFF elusive rating. Lloyd will quickly be a major factor in this backfield, with his main competition for touches (Josh Jacobs) hoping for a bounceback year. Last year, Jacobs struggled mightily to break tackles and create big plays as he ranked (among 49 qualifying backs last season per Fantasy Points Data) 41st in explosive run rate, 37th in missed tackles forced per attempt, and 44th in yards after contact per attempt. Lloyd is an RB3/4 who can easily out-kick his ADP this season. He will start slowly out of the gate as he has dealt with hamstring issues during camp, but that doesn't dim his full season or stretch-run outlook.

The Packers have two good second-year tight ends in Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft. Musgrave won the starting job last year, but after he sustained a lacerated kidney, Kraft stepped in and performed well, finishing the season with 31 receptions for 355 yards and two touchdowns. Kraft also had five catches for 24 yards and a touchdown in Green Bay's two playoff games. After missing much of training camp with a torn pec, Kraft is healthy again, but he once again finds himself behind Musgrave on the depth chart. He's a good young player, but Kraft is draftable in only the deepest of fantasy leagues.