The Green Bay Packers hadn’t selected a wide receiver in the first round of the NFL Draft since 2002. They finally broke that streak earlier this year, selecting Texas’ Matthew Golden with the 23rd overall pick in front of a raucous crowd in Green Bay. In his junior season with the Longhorns, Golden amassed 987 yards and nine scores, demonstrating blistering speed and solid body control and solidifying himself as an elite NFL prospect. He was the third pure wideout selected, behind the Carolina Panthers’ Tetairoa McMillan and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Emeka Egbuka.
Now, it looks like the Packers will need him. Green Bay is already without Christian Watson, who tore his ACL in the Week 18 game against the Chicago Bears, and listed three other wideouts as questionable for for Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions: Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, and Savion Williams. Reed was the team’s leading receiver last season, hauling in 55 passes for 857 yards and six scores, and Wicks had 415 yards and five touchdowns, so either player would be a huge loss. Williams, a third-round rookie, wasn’t expected to factor much into the team’s plans regardless.
If Reed sits, Golden would likely become Jordan Love’s top target — or at least split duties with Romeo Doubs. Detroit allowed the most yards and ninth-most fantasy points to wideouts last season and underwent a lot of change in the offseason, losing cornerback Carlton Davis III. Neither Terrion Arnold or Amik Robertson is elite in coverage, and new addition D.J. Reed had just the 32nd-best coverage grade last season. The Lions still have an elite safety unit, led by All-Pro First Teamer Kerby Joseph and Pro Bowler Brian Branch, but if Reed sits, Golden would spend more time on the outside, allowing him to avoid lining up against Joseph or Branch.
Plus, Detroit had a top-10 run-defending unit last season, which should only get stronger now that superstar defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson is back in the starting lineup after suffering a season-ending leg injury. As a result, opponents tended to throw a lot against the Lions, targeting them the fourth-most frequently. Love has also had some issues handing the ball off as he deals with a thumb injury, which should incentivize him to throw even more. Golden should have enough opportunity to return solid fantasy value if Reed doesn’t end up suiting up.
