Green Bay Packers Fantasy Profile: Week 2
By Kenn Korb
Sep 13, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Green Bay Packers outside linebacker Clay Matthews (52) is congratulated for making an interception during the second half Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Green Bay won 31-23. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Defense
Last Week: 23 Points Allowed, 2 Sacks, 1 INT; 4.00 fantasy point
Well, I must say I was off on this last one.
It wasn’t a great performance by the defense, but it was enough for a win.
I should have seen the coming issues in terms of fantasy production however.
The run defense was massacred (189 yards allowed), with Matt Forte tearing things up — especially in the first half — as part of a ball-control gameplan to keep Rodgers and Co. off the field.
Sep 13, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears tight end Martellus Bennett (83) leaps over Green Bay Packers free safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (21) on his way to a touchdown during the second half at Soldier Field. Green Bay won 31-23. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
The yardage doesn’t matter in fantasy, but the fact that he was able to keep their offense moving meant there were less opportunities to harass Jay Cutler into his usual mistakes.
Cutler only turned it over one time, and was sacked only twice. That, plus a late ultimately meaningless score, took away the potential scoring of the defense.
I’ll be sure to remember in the future that having two of the top guys in their defensive line rotation (Letroy Guion and Datone Jones), plus missing Morgan Burnett, means the offense of opponents can stay more balanced and exploit the run-stopping issues Green Bay can’t ever seem to fix.
With that in mind, this week could be trouble.
Marshawn Lynch is on the other side this time, and he’ll be aching to make an impact perhaps more than usual; Seattle’s game against St. Louis ended on him being stuffed on a 4th-down rush attempt.
Even with all their horses, Green Bay would probably struggle in this aspect again. Their hope here will be two-fold: dismember the passing game like they did in their last meeting up until the end, and deconstruct the sieve of an offensive line Seattle is using.
In terms of the first aspect, that is definitely a possibility. Though they have inexperienced guys that could see playing time in key moments in the secondary, there is so much talent on the back end to line up against the limited talents Seattle puts out at wide receiver.
Guys like Doug Baldwin and Jermaine Kearse aren’t talentless hacks by any means, but as Green Bay showed during the vast majority of the last meeting they can be blanketed one-on-one. Block out that final TD pass and remember how Russell Wilson threw 4 INTs — all intended for Kearse — and was completely ineffective until things fell apart at the end. These guys can be beaten.
As for the line, I think this is the spot that will decide the game more than anything.
Green Bay will have back one of their depth players in Datone Jones, but even with everyone this is a mediocre group at best in terms of what they consistently show on the field.
That Seattle line is looking mighty beatable right now though; even if it was against that nightmare defensive line St. Louis assembled, they should not have managed to play THAT poorly. If they don’t step it up Russell Wilson may start losing body parts before October.
I doubt they will play as bad as they did in Week 1, but I also think Green Bay will step up their own game. Hopefully the Packers prove to have the stronger weakness on the day; if not, prepare for 1-1.
As far as fantasy goes, however, the hopes for them doing well will be weighting the scales enough in the direction of sacks and turnovers to offset the yardage and likely points they’ll end up giving away in the running game.
I think in a scenario where Green Bay wins (something I’m tenuously expecting will happen right now), they do put up those coveted stats.
For your fantasy purposes though, it’d be best if you counted on another option until they prove themselves to be worthy of our trust.
Week 2 Prediction: 20 Points Allowed, 4 Sacks, 2 Forced Turnovers (1 INT, 1 Fumble); 8.00 fantasy points
Verdict: Hedge Your Bets Ladies & Gents