The NFL season is quickly approaching, and fantasy drafts are in full swing. At DraftKings, you can play an array of different season-long fantasy contests.
Below, I take a look at the fantasy value of all the players in the Green Bay Packers’ backfield.
Green Bay Packers Backfield
The Packers are looking to take things to the next level this season. They have made the postseason in both seasons that Jordan Love has been their starter, but they fell in the Wild Card Round to the eventual Super Bowl champions last season. The Packers have made the postseason both years without winning the division, but this could be their year to take the NFC North. The Bears and Vikings are both starting very young quarterbacks, and while the Lions have been excellent the last several seasons, it is hard to maintain that level of excellence in the NFL. The Packers had one of the league’s best defenses last season, and Josh Jacobs gave them real stability in the run game.
The Packers’ offense ranked eighth in the NFL in EPA/play last season. They ranked seventh in EPA/dropback and ninth in EPA/rush. Jordan Love is a quarterback with boatloads of potential, but he has struggled to have a consistently good group of receivers. That is why having a strong running game is crucial to the Packers’ success. Jacobs is one of the most underrated backs in the league. Since entering the league in 2019, only Derrick Henry has more rushing yards than Jacobs. Last season, he ranked sixth in the NFL in rushing yards and was a solid option in the passing game as well. Jacobs has played at least 13 games in every season of his NFL career, including playing all 17 games for the Packers last season. If he can continue to stay healthy, he will be the go-to guy for the Packers once again.
Running Back Handcuffs: Emanuel Wilson
Emanuel Wilson was the Packers’ second-leading rusher last season. There was some speculation that sophomore running back MarShawn Lloyd could challenge for the RB2 role this season. Lloyd played in only one game after dealing with a string of health issues in his rookie season. He played well in the Packers’ last preseason game, but he suffered another injury that is expected to keep him out for the rest of the preseason and possibly Week 1 as well. It is impossible to trust Lloyd to stay healthy, and with his lack of experience, Emanuel Wilson is the clear choice to handcuff to Josh Jacobs.
Wilson rushed for over 500 yards last season and scored five total touchdowns. That is a solid work rate for a backup running back whose RB1 played every game of the season. If Jacobs were to miss even a couple of games with an injury this season, that could push Wilson to be a real fantasy option in deeper leagues. Matt LaFleur is one of the best offensive coaches in the NFL, and on a well-rounded team with a good passing game and a good defense, the running game should be strong again. Both Josh Jacobs and handcuff Emanuel Wilson should have another productive season for Green Bay.
