2021 Green Bay Packers Fantasy Team Outlook: Forget the Drama, Rodgers-Jones-Adams Trifecta Worth Your Investment
Coaching
Matt LaFleur took over as the head coach of the Packers in 2019 after spending the previous two seasons running the Rams and the Titans offenses. Green Bay went 13-3 in back-to-back years, with a push to first overall in points scored (509 – 133 more than 2019). They improved to fifth in the league in yards gained.
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Lafleur has six years of experience in the NFL as a quarterback coach. His best success came in 2016, helping Matt Ryan and the Falcons reach the Super Bowl.
Nathaniel Hackett returns for his third season as the offensive coordinator after spending the previous five years in the Jaguars’ system as their quarterback’s coach and offensive coordinator. Hackett ran the Bills’ offense for two seasons as well.
Their defense gave up 56 more points (369 – 13th) despite improving to ninth in yards allowed.
Green Bay named Joe Barry as their defensive coordinator. Over the past three years, he worked in the Rams’ system (assistant head coach and linebackers coach). Barry ran the Lions and Redskins’ defense over four seasons while having 19 years of coaching experience in the NFL.
Free Agency
Their offensive line lost C Corey Lindsey and G Lane Taylor.
Linsley allowed minimal pressure on the quarterback while also shining in run blocking. His resume is long with success, and Aaron Rodgers may have a smaller passing window in 2021 due to his loss.
Injuries cost Taylor most of the last two seasons. He projects as a backup this year, with his best asset coming in pass protection. In 2016, he made 16 starts for the Packers.
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Green Bay lost RB Jamaal Williams to their division rival Detroit Lions. He came off the bench over four seasons with the Packers to gain 2,946 combined yards with 18 touchdowns and 122 catches. He averaged 10.4 touches per game while delivering RB4 production in PPR leagues.
The only other significant player added via free agency was LB De’Vondre Campbell. He has been a liability in all areas over the past three seasons.
Draft
CB Eric Stokes
His press and chase style grades well while having more upside when he gets stronger. Stokes projects to be a liability against the run early in his career. When given a chance to return a turnover, he brings scoring ability, but Stokes doesn’t offer playmaking ability early in his career.
C Josh Myers
His foundation skill set points to an upgrade in run blocking with the base to handle bull rushers. Pass rushers will test Myers outside his frame. Green Bay expects him to win the starting job in 2021.
WR Amari Rodgers
His game should rise to another level under the guidance of Aaron Rodgers. He gives Green Bay an open-field runner with the route running and hands to succeed out of the lot. His first challenge is improving his release vs. press coverage.
G Royce Newman
His pass blocking has risk against power and defenders with the ability to beat him with width off the snap. He should upgrade the run game while offering depth at both tackle and guard.
DT Tedarrell Slaton
Slaton has an inner battle to keep his weight under control, limiting his endurance and motor. He looks like an anchor against the run with surprising quickness and push in the pass rush, but his strength isn’t where it needs to be to produce consistent wins.
CB Shemar Jean-Charles
Jean-Charles has a couple of flaws (weakness against the run and lack of size to handle physical receivers in press coverage). He does project well in reading routes and staying connected to receivers out of their routes. Jean-Charles defers to holding in the deep passing game when in chase mode and trailing by a step.
G Cole Van Lanen
Van Lanen will transition to guard in the pros. His range looks limited, with questions about his value in pass protection. He brings vision while offering the hands to help in the run game.
LB Isaiah McDuffie
McDuffie has a green light feel in run support. When given a clean run, his vision and feel for play development put him on time when moving toward the line of scrimmage. McDuffie takes a hit in heavy traffic areas while lacking the size to push to higher as an interior defender. He works hard and shows up for every play, which increases his chance to get on the field.
RB Kylin Hill
Hill is a power runner with the wiggle to make defenders miss in the open field. His vision and patience hold him back from reaching a higher ceiling. He’ll provide depth on early downs with questionable value on passing downs.
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Offensive Line
Green Bay averaged 4.8 yards per rush, moving them to 8th in rushing yards (2,118) with 16 rushing touchdowns. The Packers averaged 27.7 rushes per game with 10 carries over 20 yards.
The Packers climbed to 11th in passing yards (4,299) with an impressive 48 touchdowns and only five interceptions. They gained 8.2 yards per pass attempt with 57 plays over 20 yards and 14 catches over 40 yards. Their offensive line allowed only 21 sacks.
LT David Bakhtiari
Bakhtiari has been one of the top players at his position over the previous five seasons, with his best value coming in pass protection. In 2020, he pushed to an elite area in running blocking while allowing minimal pressure on the quarterback. His only strike came from six missed games (including the postseason) due to a chest issue and a torn ACL in his left knee that ended his year in late December. Bakhtiari won’t be at full strength in early September, pointing to a downgrade in his play early in the season. Green Bay drafted him in the fifth round in 2013.
LG Elgton Jenkins
In his first two seasons, Jenkins made 35 starts over the 36 games played by the Packers. He keeps Aaron Rodgers clean in the pocket on most plays, but his run blocking did regress slightly last year. Green Bay added Jenkins in the second round in 2019.
C Josh Myers
Myers should slide into the starting lineup after the Packers drafted him in the second round of this year’s draft. He’ll be replacing a top player while owning the foundation to play well in the run game. In addition, the quick-release and decision-making by Aaron Rodgers should help his learning curve in pass protection.
RG Lucas Patrick
After seeing minimal playing time over his first three years with Green Bay, Patrick made 17 starts in 2020. He allowed some pressure on the quarterback, but most plays ended with a low number of sacks. His run blocking improved to a neutral area. The Packers signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2016.
RT Billy Turner
Turner signed a four-year $28 million contract in March of 2019. He provided insurance at left tackle last year, but Tampa exposed his pass blocking in the postseason. At right tackle, Turner allowed pressure in his two seasons in Green Bay with league-average results in the run game. Incoming rookie Royce Newman should push him for playing time in 2021.
OL Snapshot
Aaron Rodgers helps out his offensive line by his movements in the pocket and his ability to find the open man quickly. However, this season, his offensive line looks to have more risk due to one injury and questions at three other spots in the starting lineup. The Packer should run the ball well, helping Rodgers move the ball while his offensive line develops. This line ranks below average at the start of the year.
Offense
As great as the stats were for Aaron Rodgers in 2020, the Packers still finished with only league average pass attempts per game (32.9). They ran the ball 45.5 percent of the time.
Quarterbacks
Aaron Rodgers
The future of Rodgers remains in flux as the calendar gets closer to July. At age 36, he finished with a career-high in touchdowns (51 – 48 passing) while continuing to be the best quarterback in the league in minimizing the damage in interceptions allowed (five in 2020 – 11 over his previous 48 starts). Unfortunately, Rodgers settled for too many short plays from 2015 to 2019, leading to dull results in his yards per pass attempt (6.7, 7.3, 7.0, 7.4, and 7.0). However, he bounced back in a big way in this area last season (8.2) while setting a new ceiling in his completion rate (70.7).
Over his 18 starts, including the playoffs, Rodger had a floor of three touchdowns in 15 matchups. His worst showing came in Week 6 against Tampa (160/0 with two interceptions). Half of his six interceptions thrown came in two games vs. the Bucs. When at his best, Rodgers passed for over 300 yards in five games in the regular season.
He finished third in quarterback scoring (434.15 fantasy points) in four-point passing touchdown leagues. Rodgers had a floor of 26.00 fantasy points in 15 of his 18 starts, but his ceiling came in Week 1 (34.40 fantasy points).
Fantasy Outlook: In the 2019 NFL Draft, the Packers' management turned their "love" for Aaron Rodgers in another direction. This decision puts the starting quarterback position in JEOPARDY heading into training camp. Rodgers has a 126-63-1 record in his career, with 10 trips to the postseason (11-9). His highlight season came in 2020 (Super Bowl win). Fantasy owners ranked him ninth in the 12-team high stakes market in late June.
Rodgers has one of the top wide receivers in the game (Davante Adams), and his secondary receiving options showed more value in 2020. Amari Rodgers gives the Packers a missing link in the passing game (chain mover) while owning more explosiveness in Green Bay. My only negative is the passing window due to the offseason changes on the offensive line.
The great KGB line in Rounders seems fitting here, “Pay that man his money.” If not, Rodgers will finish his career leading another franchise to a Super Bowl title. His floor in 2021 is 4,500 combined yards and 35 touchdowns.
Love came to the NFL with size (6’4” and 225 lbs.) and a strong arm. He’ll make easy deep throws with a flick of his wrist. At times, he hesitates and waits for a player to break open. I expect him to have success if given time to throw and surrounded by talented receivers. His decision-making and reads need improvement while owning some concern with his accuracy.
I don’t like how he slides in the pocket on some rollout passes, leading to a longer transition time to unload the ball. Love will struggle to break free from a tight pocket under pressure while lacking the release to get the ball out quickly and on time.
Based on 2019, Love doesn’t belong in the top college QB conversation. He passed for 3,402 yards with 20 touchdowns, but 17 of his throws ended up in the hands of his opponents. Love also rushed for 175 yards on 81 carries while failing to score on the ground.
His stock was trending up after his sophomore season (3,567 passing yards and 39 combined touchdowns). However, Love saw his yards per pass attempt fall from 8.6 to 7.2 in 2019.
Fantasy Outlook: For now, Love doesn’t offer any fantasy value unless Aaron Rodgers has an injury. He’ll see starting snaps in the early OTAs, which is a win for his development.
Other Options: Blake Bortles, Kurt Benkert, Jacob Dolegala
Running Backs
The running back opportunity in Green Bay improved for the second season. Their backs gained 2,686 combined yards with 15 touchdowns and 96 catches. The most impressive stats came from the 4.9 yards per rush.
Aaron Jones
Jones was on a higher path last season despite missing two games and scoring fewer touchdowns (11 – 19 in 2019). His yards per carry (5.5) rebounded to an electric area, which matched his first two seasons in the NFL. A calf injury cost him two matchups, plus toe and chest issues led to some missed snaps.
His best play came at home (122/843/5 with 24 catches for 216 yards and two touchdowns) over eight games, highlighted by four games (45.60, 22.10, 23.80, and 24.80 fantasy points). Jones finished as the fifth-highest scoring running back (258.90 fantasy points) in PPR leagues while averaging 17.7 touches per game. He averaged only 15.0 fantasy points on the road.
Over his final seven starts, Green Bay gave him over 20 touches in only one contest. Jones signed a four-year contract in March for $48 million.
Fantasy Outlook: The Packers moved on from Jamal Williams in the offseason, pointing to Jones pushing higher in his opportunity in the passing game. Green Bay will shift the RB2 carries to AJ Dillon, who flashed in one game (21/129/2) after getting drafted in the second round in 2020. Jones has an ADP of 15 in the early draft season as the 12th running back off the board. His natural progression should be 1,600 combined yards with a minimum of a dozen scores and 60 catches.
AJ Dillon
Dillon has a fullback’s body (6’0” and 245 lbs.) and the speed (4.53 40-yard dash) of running back. His game is all about power. When asked to run up the middle, he drifts and weaves rather than drives and accelerates after the snap if faced with tight quarters. Dillion needs almost two full strides to hit top speed in the open field. If given daylight, his game plays well while gaining more yards after breaking arm tackles.
He shined in his freshman season (300/1589/14) while losing some value in 2018 (1,149 combined yards with 10 touchdowns and eight catches on 235 touches. Dillon matched his early success (318/1685/14) in the run game while adding a few catches (13/195/1) in 2019.
Dillon has a strong lower half of his body with minimal upside in the passing game.
He gained 263 combined yards in his rookie season with two touchdowns and two catches on 48 touches. His only game of value (21/129/2 with one catch) came in a relief role after an injury to Aaron Jones.
Fantasy Outlook: Jamaal Williams delivered RB4 stats as the back runner for the Packers over the past four seasons. Dillion won’t see as much action in the passing game, but he could snipe Aaron Jones at the goal line at times. At the very least, Dillion is a high-end handcuff while being drafted as a backend RB3 (ADP – 99).
Kylin Hill
After a breakout season in 2019 (1,530 combined yards with 11 touchdowns and 18 catches) at Mississippi State, Hill opted out last year after three games. His season started slowly on early downs (15/58), but he was more active in the passing game (23/237/1).
Other Options: Dexter Williams, Patrick Taylor
Wide Receivers
Over the previous two seasons, the Packers’ wideouts caught about 53 percent of the team’s completions. They gained more yards per catch (13.3) in 2020 while being more productive in scoring (27 touchdowns). Despite a three-low in targets (297), Green Bay showed growth in their completion rate (69.7) to their wide receivers.
Davante Adams
Aaron Rodgers' MVP success was sparked from an excellent season by Adams. He set career-highs in catches (115) and touchdowns (18) despite missing two-plus games with a hamstring issue.
His season started with an electric showing (14/156/2), but Adams only had 23 catches for 253 yards and two scores heading into Week 7. Over the next 13 games, including the playoffs, he had 110 catches for 1,254 yards and 18 touchdowns. Adams scored in every game over this stretch except Week 15.
He had six impact games (14/156/2, 13/196/2, 7/53/3, 10/173/1, 10/121/2, and 11/142/3), pushing him to first in wide receiver scoring (359.40 fantasy points) in PPR leagues. Adams had a floor of six catches in 15 of his 16 contests played. His catch rate (77.2) came well above his career average (62.1).
Fantasy Outlook: In late June, Adams had an ADP of 14 as the second wide receiver selected. His consistency factor added with his scoring ability sets him apart from most receivers in the game. If Aaron Rodgers didn’t play this year, Adams would fall dramatically in the rankings. He looks to be on a path for 125-plus catches for 1,500 yards with a minimum of a dozen scores.
Amari Rodgers
Over four seasons at Clemson, Rodgers caught 181 passes for 2,144 yards and 15 touchdowns in 237 targets. He took advantage of his increased opportunity in 2020, leading to 77 catches for 1,020 yards and seven scores on 102 targets. In his career, Rodgers has an elite catch rate (76.3) while doing most of his work over the short areas of the field.
Fantasy Outlook: Rodgers has a chance to slide into the former Randall Cobb role in the Packers’ offense. He’ll work the short-areas of the field with the ability to make a defender miss in space. His speed catches defenses off guard when breaking off his pattern to challenge in the deep passing game. Rodgers is a player to follow this summer, as a slot opportunity could lead to WR2 targets in Green Bay’s offense. My gut says he catches 60-plus balls.
Allen Lazard
Over the past two seasons, Lazard almost had the same output (35/477/3 and 33/451/3), but he played six fewer games in 2020. His path last year pointed to 53 catches for 722 yards and five touchdowns, putting him in the back-end WR4 conversation.
Lazard played well in Week 1 (4/63/1) while flashing in Week 3 (6/146/1). After missing six games with an abdomen injury, he posted only one outing (4/96/1) with playable fantasy value.
Fantasy Outlook: The WR2 role in Green Bay looks cloudy, and not one player may emerge as a viable fantasy option. Lazard brings size (6’5” and 225 Lbs.), and he will make long plays (12 catches over 20 yards in 2019 and 2020).
Marquez Valdes-Scantling
The Packers have three years of data on Valdes-Scantling. Over 48 games, he has 97 catches for 1,723 yards and 10 touchdowns on 192 targets. His catch rate has been a problem in his career (50.5) and in 2020 (52.4).
Valdes-Scantling works best as an overlooked deep threat. His ticket came in six times (4/96/1, 2/53/2, 4/149/1, 6/85/1, 2/87/1, and 4/115/1) in his 18 chances last year. In each of those games, he had six targets or fewer. Over his other 12 matchups, he had only 19 catches for 253 yards and no scores, making him extremely tough to time and trust.
Fantasy Outlook: In his career, Valdes-Scantling has 26 catches of 20 yards or more, and 16 of those plays reach the 40-yard mark. His yards per catch (20.9) were a career-high in 2020, along with his touchdowns (6). At best, a bye-week cover if the Packers have a favorable matchup.
Equanimeous St. Brown
Over the last two years in college, St. Brown caught 91 passes for 1,476 yards and 13 touchdowns. His game is built more to use the middle of the field on crossing routes while showing the ability to play out of the slot or on the outside. His stats look boring in college, but he didn’t have the best talent throwing him the ball. Brown needs to improve his route running and his in-game motor. His release and strength gave him a chance to surprise in the proper role down the road.
Injuries at wide receiver helped St. Brown get meaningful snaps over the last 12 games of 2018. His best success came in Week 5 (3/89) and Week 16 (5/94) while failing to score. He finished with 21 catches for 328 yards on 36 targets.
St. Brown missed all of 2019 with a high ankle sprain while also sitting out nine games last year with knee and concussion issues.
Other Options: Devin Funchess, Malik Taylor, Reggie Begelton
Tight Ends
The Packers led the league in touchdowns (14) by tight ends last year. They finished with 82 catches for 851 yards on 101 targets, which came in below their success in 2018 (81/922 on 124 targets). As with every team in the NFL, if there is talent at a position, they generally command the ball.
Robert Tonyan
Green Bay gave Tonyan the majority of tight end snaps in Week 1, but he didn’t have a target. The next game, he bumped his production to two catches for 25 yards and a score. After Week 3 (5/50/1), fantasy owners scooped him up off the waiver wire. Tonyan beat the Falcons for six catches for 98 yards and three scores before coming up empty over the following five contests (14/174 on 18 targets).
Aaron Rodgers keyed on Tonyan in the end zone down the stretch, leading to 33 catches on 35 targets with 321 yards and seven touchdowns over nine matches. He averaged 3.9 targets per game during his hot scoring stretch, which matched his last 17 matchups.
Fantasy Outlook: Despite a low opportunity, Tonyan finished fourth in tight end scoring (176.60) in PPR leagues. His ADP (114) ranks him 12th in the early draft season. I don’t consider his success as a fluke, but I would have a tough time paying full price for his opportunity. Tonyan catches the ball when thrown to him (88 percent catch rate), and he made nine of his catches gained over 20 yards. In essence, he is a big wide receiver in the Packers’ passing game. Next step: 65 catches for 700 yards with some value in scoring. I view him as a high TE2 with upside.
Jace Sternberger
The Packers took a swing at TE Jace Sternberger in the third round in 2019 after a breakthrough season at Texas A&M (48/832/10). He comes to the NFL with questions about his blocking skills despite a willingness to work in the trenches on early downs.
Sternberger runs well with strength in his route running. He’ll make tough catches with the ability to pick up yards after the catch.
He failed to win a starting job last summer, leading to an empty season (12/114/1). The NFL suspended him for the first two games of 2021 due to failing a drug test.
Josiah Deguara
Over his final two seasons at Cincinnati in college, Deguara caught 77 combined passes for 972 yards and 12 touchdowns with similar success in both years (38/468/5 and 39/504/7). He gained over 50 yards in just three games (4/53/1, 5/64, and 2/76/1). The best game of his college career came in 2018 against Connecticut (5/112/1).
Deguara shines as a run-blocker with a chance to surprise in the passing game. His route running isn’t ideal, which requires some additional head fakes to create space. His passing success will come more on dump-off passes after a play breaks down.
His season ended in mid-October in 2020 due to a torn ACL in his left knee.
Other Options: Marcedes Lewis, Dominique Dafney, Isaac Nauta
Kicker
Mason Crosby
Crosby was at his best from 2013 to 2016 when he made 85.9 percent of his 128 field-goal tries. Over this span, he made 14 of his 21 kicks from 50 yards or longer.
Over the past two seasons, Crosby made 95.2 percent of his 40 field goals (16 in 2020 – lowest in the league). He missed 12 of his 222 extra-point opportunities over the last five years. Crosby made 39 of his 70 kicks from 50 yards or more (4-for-4 in 2020) in his career.
He projects to be a backup kicking option in the fantasy market due to the Packers having so much success scoring in the red zone.
Defense
Green Bay climbed to 14th in rushing yards allowed (1,805) with 16 touchdowns and nine runs over 20 yards. Ball carriers gained 4.5 yards per rush, with 24.8 rushing attempts per game.
The Packers rebounded to seventh in passing yards allowed (3,539) while allowing 23 touchdowns with interceptions (11). Quarterbacks gained 7.1 yards per pass attempt with 39 completions over 20 yards. Their defense picked up 41 sacks for the second straight season.
DT Dean Lowry
Lowry struggled in all areas over the last two seasons. Earlier in his career, he excelled in run support. His job looks to be at risk based on his decline in play. Lowry finished 2020 with 36 tackles and three sacks.
DT Kenny Clark
Over the last two seasons, Clark picked up 104 combined tackles and eight sacks. In 2017 and 2018, he ranked highly defending the run while remaining an asset in 2020. Clark gets after the quarterback, but he doesn’t finish on enough plays. Green Bay drafted him in the first round in 2016.
DE Kingsley Keke
Keke saw a bump in playing time in his second year after getting drafted in the fifth round. His run defense came up short while picking up 21 tackles and four sacks. He projects to be rotational players.
LB Preston Smith
In his first season with the Packers, Smith set a career-high in sacks (12) and tackles (56). He struggled to pressure the quarterback in 2020 (four sacks) with a slight bump in his run defense. Green Bay needs him to regain his lost pass-rushing value.
LB Kamal Martin
The Packers added Martin in the fifth round in 2020. His vision lowers his ceiling while also lacking change of direction quickness. Martin will only have success moving forward in run support, but his range is limited. He made 24 tackles with one sack in his rookie season.
LB Oren Burks
Burks will compete with multiple players on the Packers’ defense for the second inside linebacker job. Over his first three seasons after getting drafted in the third round in 2018, he only has 56 tackles and no sacks in 42 games off the bench.
LB Krys Barnes
Green Bay gave Barnes 14 starts in 2020 after signing him as an undrafted free agent. Despite 80 tackles and one sack, he failed to offer an edge in any areas. His best asset came from his tackling.
LB Za’Darius Smith
Smith ended up being an excellent addition to Green Bay’s defense in 2019. Over the past two seasons, he finished with 107 combined tackles and 26 sacks. He developed into one of the top pass rushers in the league, but Smith regressed vs. run last year.
CB Jaire Alexander
In his third year, Alexander has become one of the better coverage corners. In 2020, he allowed short yards per catch with a low completion rate while picking up 51 tackles, one sack, one interception, and 13 defended passes.
CB Kevin King
After a strong start to his career, King has struggled with very inconsistent play and injuries. There's a reason why the Packers opted to draft a corner in the first round and King could be on the outside looking in for a starting job.
CB Eric Stokes
The Packers need Stokes to seize the CB2 job in 2021 after drafting him in the first round. His defense and style should work well in the red zone, but his game does have risk when asked to support the run.
S Adrian Amos
Amos has been a productive player in his six seasons with the Bears and Packers. His run defense slipped in 2020, but his career resume suggests he’ll play much better in this area this year. He tends to be a sure tackler with strength in pass coverage.
S Darnell Savage
Over his first two seasons after getting drafted in the first round, Savage made 130 tackles with six interceptions and 17 defended passes in 29 games. He improved against the run while continuing to miss too many tackles.
Fantasy Defense Snapshot
Green Bay continues to improve its secondary. They want to rush the quarterback from the outside at linebacker while also creating a push up the middle of the defensive line. I’m concerned with their options at middle linebacker and defensive end. If the Packers can get after the quarterback, their pass defense will push up the defensive rankings. A viable matchup option that should play much better when grabbing a big early lead.
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