Packers 2018 prediction: Davante Adams will post career-best numbers
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams will set a career-best for receiving yards in 2018, while also posting double-digit touchdowns for the third straight year.
The Green Bay Packers’ second-round pick in 2014, Davante Adams has become one of the most important players on offense.
Considering new general manager Brian Gutekunst was willing to release Jordy Nelson this offseason, it’s clear the Packers have all the faith in the world in Adams.
And they should.
Two years ago Adams dominated as the team’s second receiver behind Nelson. Adams made 75 receptions for 997 yards and 12 touchdowns. Only Nelson had more receiving yards for the Packers, and Nelson was the only player with more touchdowns than Adams in the entire league. That’s impressive considering he was the “number two” receiver.
Arguably even more impressive was Adams’ level of play without Aaron Rodgers last season.
When Rodgers went down with a broken collarbone, there was little consistency on offense.
Nelson, for example, had six touchdowns prior to Rodgers getting hurt, but failed to add to his tally for the remainder of the season, with Brett Hundley playing at quarterback the majority of the time.
Adams, however, continued to produce at a high level. He finished the season with a team-high 885 yards and 10 touchdowns. While his numbers were slightly down from the year before, that was a result of the quarterback. But even with Hundley in and the Packers struggling to keep the offense moving, Adams continued to produce.
He now enters the 2018 season as the Packers’ clear leader at wide receiver. And Rodgers is healthy. As long as No. 12 avoids injury, Adams should have no trouble hitting the 1,000-yard mark.
In fact, I expect Adams to surpass 1,200 receiving yards this season with 10 more touchdown catches. It would be the third year in a row that Adams had posted double-digit touchdowns.
Few players in the NFL can match Adams’ release off the line of scrimmage, making him so tough to defend. He’s often wide open, and has the ability to make tough catches, particularly in the end zone.
While new addition Jimmy Graham will get his share of red zone targets (no player in the NFL had more than Graham last season), he needs to get on the same page as Rodgers. Adams already has that chemistry with the two-time MVP.
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As the Packers’ top receiver, Adams can dominate. Assuming he stays healthy, the 2018 season will be his best yet. By a long way.