It can be hard to properly transcribe how incredibly important one player is to the overall success of their team. Fortunately, or in this case, sadly, numbers can tell a story that words sometimes can't.
Green Bay Packers star tight end Tucker Kraft woefully rang in his 25th birthday with MRI results that confirmed he suffered a season-ending torn ACL. His absence legitimately swings the race for NFC supremacy, and more importantly, Super Bowl LX.
Saying the loss of Kraft puts a severe damper on the Packers' championship aspirations isn't hyperbole. By virtually every metric, he's been their de facto No. 1 target. His value to a shortlist title contender cannot be overstated, as Underdog's Josh Norris properly encapsulates with one eye-opening stat.
Key stat shows just how much Tucker Kraft meant to Packers' Super Bowl hopes
Kraft generated 347 yards after the catch across eight contests in 2025 before getting hurt, which led his position through Week 9. As Norris calls attention to, Romeo Doubs is the next-closest Packers wide receiver or tight end in this department -- with 98.
For whatever it's worth, Packers star Josh Jacobs closes the gap between Kraft and Doubs in this category if we include running backs. Nevertheless, the Packers' high-powered yet inconsistent offense has relied heavily on Kraft's explosiveness and dynamism with the ball in his hands.
This singular chasm between Kraft and his Packers comrades should adequately highlight how irreplaceable he is to them, especially on such short notice. But just in case, here's where he ranks in some key data points among 67 tight ends who've run at least 50 routes this year:
- Third in receiving yards (489)
- Second in yards per route run (2.57)
- Fifth in yards per target (11.64)
- Third in yards per reception (15.28)
- First in yards after contact (115)
- Tied for second in receiving touchdowns (six)
- Tied for second in red zone targets (11)
- Tied for first in missed tackles forced (nine)
We've seen Kraft showcase an ability to evade or run through defenders and thrive as a trusted option in high-leverage situations. His presence in the middle of the field has made all the difference for Green Bay. Moreover, and perhaps most notably, he's developed a strong rapport with quarterback Jordan Love, particularly when in the Packers are in scoring position.
Outstanding individual numbers aside, Kraft accounted for 19.1 percent of Green Bay's first read targets, trailing only Doubs. He also paces the squad in designed looks, illustrating head coach Matt LaFleur's intent to get him the ball; who will get those chances now?
Who will soak up Kraft's workload for the Packers is certainly a question that everyone is asking, especially folks in Titletown. But it's fair to wonder if Green Bay has someone even remotely capable of being as productive as he was with the opportunities. The 2023 third-round pick was nothing short of exceptional, and suddenly, the club must move forward without him.
Note: Stats courtesy of Fantasy Points' data suite.