Fantasy Football: Packers rest-of-season rankings
What is the status of the Green Bay Packers in fantasy the rest of the way?
Have any Packers on your roster and not sure what to do with them? Thinking of making a trade? While the offense has struggled to help Green Bay win games, there is still plenty of fantasy value on this team.
With Eddie Lacy on injured reserve and James Starks still sidelined, the Packers have taken to throwing the football more often, which is good news for owners of Aaron Rodgers‘ favorite targets.
Let’s breakdown the Packers fantasy values the rest of the season.
Aaron Rodgers — QB1
Despite Rodgers’ struggles in real football, he’s still posting high QB1 numbers. In fact, over the past four weeks only Drew Brees has more fantasy points. Due to a high number of pass attempts and the fact he’s still the best quarterback in the league, Rodgers enters each week with a high floor and sky-high ceiling.
Looking ahead to the playoffs, there are some tough matchups to consider. Rodgers faces off with Seattle (allow the seventh-fewest fantasy points to QBs) and Minnesota (third-fewest) in playoff season.
Both of those games are at Lambeau Field, which helps. Rodgers is still a QB1 and is posting good numbers each week.
Jordy Nelson — WR2
After a disappointing spell, Nelson has posted back-to-back games of 94 yards and a touchdown. He’s performed at a WR1 level the past two weeks, but he remains a WR2 for the remainder of the year. It’s tough to trust Nelson on a weekly basis and other options should be considered as the Packers schedule gets tougher.
Nelson isn’t the same dominant deep threat he was in 2014, and just a drop of a few percent is affecting his ability of breaking free from opposing No. 1 corners.
If you can trade Nelson for a WR1 on the back of his past two performances, do it. If not, he’s a low-floor WR2 the rest of the way.
Randall Cobb — Low-end WR2/WR3
If you can plug Randall Cobb into your WR3/Flex spot, you’re laughing. Once he shakes off his hamstring injury, he should resume his spot as a WR2.
Rodgers spreads the ball around plenty, and Cobb’s value may fall somewhat when James Starks returns, potentially limiting Cobb’s time in the backfield.
Cobb is a low-end WR2/WR3 from here on out. He will produce WR1 numbers at times, and should see a healthy number of targets in the short-to-intermediate passing game once fully healthy.
Davante Adams — WR3/Flex
Adams’ Week 9 was saved by a late touchdown catch, but the Colts bottled him up nicely for much of the game. The Packers utilized him out of the backfield often, but it wasn’t fooling Indianapolis.
Still, the third-year receiver saw another healthy number of targets (seven), and is averaging eight per contest. Adams leads the Packers in receptions (44) and trails only Nelson in targets. He has found the end zone six times in eight games and is emerging as one of Rodgers’ favorite receivers.
Adams has a low-floor due to the nature of the Green Bay passing game, but he has now posted at least eight fantasy points in five of his eight games, and is the WR11 over the past four weeks.
Ty Montgomery — WR/RB3
Montgomery has proven he can be the X-factor on offense for the Packers, but Mike McCarthy hasn’t sent the ball his way often enough to trust him as anything more than a WR/RB3.
He looked poised for a big day against the Colts after rumbling his first carry for 24 yards, but only received nine more touches the rest of the game.
Still, Montgomery has a safe floor while James Starks is out. He finished with 10 total touches for 91 yards versus Indianapolis. Until Starks returns, Ty is the best option the Packers have at running back.
James Starks — Flex
If you have roster space, stash Starks. He returned to practice last week and is set to return to action soon. Don’t make this a priority. While he will likely take on the RB1 duties, he averaged just 1.8 yards per carry in the games he played this year.
Starks will likely be the lead back, but he won’t be a true workhorse. Montgomery, Cobb and Don Jackson will also see time in the backfield.
Don Jackson — Drop to waivers
Jackson received just four carries against Indianapolis and has 10 total in three games. Starks’ imminent return will only further reduce his role on offense. Even with injuries to the position, the Packers haven’t trusted Jackson in a major role. Drop him to waivers.