Five Packers to watch vs. Panthers in Week 10 matchup

4. Allen Lazard

One reason Rodgers made the statement he did about Graham and Adams in September was because none of his other receivers stepped up to be a consistent, productive receiver. Five weeks later that is still mostly true. The exception has been Allen Lazard.

Since the fourth quarter of the game against Detroit, Lazard has been the most consistent weapon for Aaron Rodgers outside of Jones and Williams.

With Adams back in the lineup, that should only create more opportunities for Lazard. Adams will draw the focus, Jones and/or Williams will be next in line to stop, teams will still have to respect Marquez Values-Scantling’s speed. That should give Lazard plenty of opportunities against teams’ third and fourth best defenders and the opportunity to put up big numbers.

Lazard has the look and the feeling of a player who can do some big damage in the second half for the Packers. His size and speed automatically generates a mismatch against defensive backs. The rapport he is building with Rodgers is growing. If Lazard can stay healthy and keep being the reliable player he has been in the past four weeks, his playing time will increase, numbers will go up, and he will be another receiver defenses will have to account for.