If you own any Green Bay Packers receivers this year, chances are you’ve been feeling a bit crazy. It was impossible to tell who would lead this group during fantasy draft season, and things haven’t gotten much clearer on the field so far. That is, until Jayden Reed went down with an injury that will sideline him for a big chunk of the season.
Now, we have to ask ourselves more questions about this Packers receiving corps. Let’s start with a tough one: will Matthew Golden or Romeo Doubs benefit more in fantasy from this injury?
Year-to-Date Analysis
Green Bay’s Week 1 win over the Lions left us puzzled about the usage in this receiving group. Reed led the team in targets with five, Doubs was tied with Tucker Kraft for second with four, and Golden garnered only two looks. With Reed going down early in Week 2, the tight end Kraft looked like the No. 1 option, hauling in six catches on seven targets for 124 yards and a score. Doubs saw a slight uptick, with five targets, three catches, and a touchdown. Golden remained at two targets.
It’s a classic case of experience and rapport with a QB vs. young talent. Doubs doesn’t have the raw physical upside that Green Bay’s first-round pick possesses, but he’s been catching balls from Jordan Love for much longer. This leaves us in a predicament over who to trust.
The Verdict
Placing these guys in the context of the team is essential. Green Bay’s defense appears to be a serious problem for other teams—there will be many weeks where the Packers can dominate on the ground while relying on their elite defensive unit. It’s also becoming clear that Tucker Kraft is the best receiving talent on the team. The majority of fantasy production in this Packers offense will likely come through Josh Jacobs and Kraft.
If you’re looking for short-term value, Doubs seems to be the guy you want. He’ll catch the chain-moving targets and garner red zone looks as a trusted short-area weapon. It doesn’t offer a ton of upside, but there is a floor in place.
The season-long outlook favors Golden, as the team searches for a new field-stretching weapon in Reed’s absence. That may take time to develop—or it may not develop at all.
Trust Doubs as a short-term flex option with touchdown upside, but make sure Golden sticks around as a bench stash.
