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Sep 16 update: Lazard is questionable to face the Bears after practicing all week in a limited fashion. It’s good that he practiced all week, but a full practice might have pushed him over the edge. Signs are pointing up, but we’ll need to see the inactives before plugging him into our fantasy football lineups.
Sep 15 update: Lazard was practicing again on Thursday, per Ryan Wood. He should be close to returning.
Sep 14 update: Lazard was limited in practice due to his ankle injury, per the team’s official injury report.
Green Bay Packers WR Allen Lazard returned to practice on Wednesday ahead of the team’s matchup vs. the Chicago Bears on Sunday Night Football in Week 2. Lazard was held out of the Packers’ 23-7 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 1 due to an ankle injury. The Packers struggled to get things going on offense and the return of Lazard could help. Let’s take a look at the fantasy impact.
Allen Lazard (ankle) practicing for the first time since he got stepped on two weeks ago
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) September 14, 2022
Bakhtiari and Jenkins both going in individual drills (team is closed to media)
Quay Walker and Keisean Nixon both back from in-game shoulder injuries
Runyan (concussion) DNP pic.twitter.com/nnJGOT713v
Fantasy football implications
Lazard’s return will be welcomed by Aaron Rodgers and the offense. Last season, Lazard had eight touchdowns on limited targets. This was without Davante Adams and the expectation was always that Lazard would step up and become the WR1 this season. The fact Lazard is back at practice this early in the week is very encouraging. He may not even need a designation heading into Sunday Night Football.
Lazard becomes a strong WR2/FLEX play in most PPR leagues upon return. Rookie Romeo Doubs led Packers’ WRs in targets and catches in Week 1 with four receptions for 37 yards. Other rookie Christian Watson dropped a would-be 75-yard TD early in the game and was quiet the rest of the evening. Lazard’s return could impact Doubs and Watson. Juwann Winfree and Randall Cobb may not see many snaps with Lazard back as well.