Green Bay Packers: Week 8 fantasy football profile
By Kenn Korb
WRs – Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, Davante Adams, Ty Montgomery
Week 7 Statistics:
Nelson – 1 catch (4 targets), 9 receiving yards; 0.90 fantasy points
Cobb – 11 catches (15 targets), 95 receiving yards, 5 rushes, 21 rushing yards, 1 TD; 17.60 fantasy points
Adams – 13 catches (16 targets), 132 receiving yards, 2 TDs; 25.20 fantasy points
Montgomery – 10 catches (13 targets), 66 receiving yards, 9 rushes, 60 rushing yards; 12.60 fantasy points
Quite a surprising showing from these guys last week.
Cobb, Adams, and Montgomery each saw double-digit catches in wholly different roles, while the usual top man of this group (Jordy) was unable to get anything going.
Montgomery was the biggest story, showing up in a high-usage role as a pass-catcher from the backfield to gather in 19 different touches resulting in 126 yards. It was his rush up the middle for 30 yards following the fumble-TD by the Bears which sparked the offense into a rhythm, but he was an integral part of the game even prior to that. When the Packers had a 4th & goal from the Chicago 1 yard line, Green Bay turned to Montgomery to get the score up the middle; it failed, but his place in the offensive gameplan was set, and given continued chances he provided positive output for the team.
Adams’ role was arguably more meaningful, if less multi-faceted in his usage. With Nelson struggling (whether due to health of coverage), Adams stepped up for a historic night. His first TD catch was the kind of close-quarters, highlight-reel grab the networks love to show over and over, and he continued to make plays with guys right on him all night on the way to the first-ever 10+ receptions/100+ yards/2 TD game at Lambeau Field.
While those two were making the more memorable showing, Cobb just did what he’s always done at his best: carve up a defense underneath. His contributions included his third-straight 11+ target game, and he was close to having multiple TDs (had he gotten his other foot down on an endzone pass in the first half).
This week the gameplan the team likely wants to go with would see those three be huge contributors again, but it is worth giving some pause when building your fantasy lineups. Both Cobb and Montgomery have come down with maladies to get themselves listed as questionable; if one or both are hobbled or even miss the contest, it changes everything dramatically for the Packers.
Right now, even a healthy Jordy likely won’t see too much focus; Trufant is likely to see a ton of time lined up against him, and that should nullify his impact to an extent. If Cobb and Montgomery can play — and without hindrance — Rodgers can let the targets for Nelson come more naturally within the flow of the offense and the defensive coverages thrown his way; if Cobb and/or Montgomery can’t go however, Jordy’s going to be needed for a much bigger role regardless of who is on him.
Regardless of the other players though, Adams should be poised for another hugely important showing. Depending what Atlanta does coverage-wise he could see some of Trufant, but he’s most likely going to have to take on Robert Alford (who, per Pro Football Focus’ grades, is barely average) and should be able to make hay in that matchup. If everyone is healthy, he should have a strong game; if Cobb and/or Montgomery aren’t playing or are held back by injuries, Adams might have to put up another Chicago-esque performance for the Packers to win — and he might just do so.
For now, my expectations are banking on Rodgers having all his guys out there, using the same non-Nelson trio to slowly pick through the Falcons which did so against the Bears.
Week 8 Predictions: