Congratulations and firm handshakes! It’s been a long year, but it’s finally time for some Packers’ football. To help you prep your lineup tomorrow, I’ve put together some analyses and fantasy projections for what you should be expecting out of Green Bay’s Fantasy studs.
We’ll be here for you all season for your Green Bay fantasy needs.
Methodology
My projections are based on a Half PPR format, but I am going to include the stat line I used so that you could do your own math based on your league’s unique format.
If you’re looking for additional analysis that is updated each game, check out some of my other analytics as well.
Fantasy Projection: Quarterbacks
Player | Pass TDs | Rush TDs | INTs | Fumbles Lost | Pass Yds | Rush Yds | 2 Pt Conversion | Fantasy Point Projection |
Aaron Rodgers | 2.0 | – | – | – | 215.0 | 15.0 | – | 18.1 |
Aaron Rodgers has given the Vikings fits for his entire career, but as of late he has looked rather pedestrian. Last year, he was asked to be more of a game manager who could go for the kill shot if the right opportunity presented itself.
Game management is essential for a team to be able to play a complete game, so when I say that about a future Hall of Famer it is by no way an insult. In fact, I think it makes Green Bay even more dangerous because they’re not as one-dimensional as they used to be.
I expect more of the same in week one. Look for him to have a big passing play or two, but don’t expect a 20+ point game from him.
Fantasy Projections: Running Backs
Player | Rush/Rec TDs | Rush/Rec Yds | Receptions | Fumbles Lost | 2 Pt Conversion | Fantasy Point Projection |
Aaron Jones | 2.0 | 148.0 | 3.0 | – | – | 28.3 |
Jamaal Williams | – | 33.0 | 1.0 | – | – | 3.8 |
Tyler Ervin | – | 16.0 | 1.0 | – | – | 2.1 |
AJ Dillon | – | 9.0 | – | – | – | 0.9 |
Aaron Jones is clearly the engine of the offense, and he completely owned Minnesota’s defense last year. Expect him to keep that going in week one.
If anything, I think I might be underestimating Jamaal Williams. There has been a lot of talk coming out of camp that he is much more of a complete back. I think that will do two things:
- It will make him a bigger fantasy threat this year
- It will probably lead to a diminished role for A.J. Dillon until we get to December
Time will tell on how this new-look backfield takes shape, but we could all be surprised at how the touches get spread around.
So now we get to the rookie. I think Dillon is going to be an X-Factor towards the end of the season, but what his immediate contributions look like is anyone’s guess. On Sunday, I expect him to get 3-5 snaps, two of those being carries.
Fantasy Projections: Receivers
Position | Player | Rsh/Rec TDs | Rsh/Rec Yds | Receptions | Fumbles Lost | 2 Pt Conversion | Point Projection |
WR | Davante Adams | 1.0 | 82.0 | 12.0 | 1.0 | – | 18.2 |
WR | Marquez Valdes-Scantling | – | 32.0 | 3.0 | – | – | 4.7 |
WR | Allen Lazard | – | 41.0 | 4.0 | 1.0 | – | 4.1 |
WR | Equanimeous St. Brown | – | – | – | – | – | – |
WR | Malik Taylor | – | – | – | – | – | – |
TE | Marcedes Lewis | – | 28.0 | 2.0 | – | – | 3.8 |
TE | Robert Tonyan | – | 14.0 | 2.0 | – | – | 2.4 |
TE | Jace Sternberger | – | – | – | – | – | – |
TE | Josiah Deguara | – | – | – | – | – | – |
There are a lot of mouths to feed in Green Bay’s offense. I think there has been a bunch of unwarranted criticism sent their way over the last several months that they don’t have a lot of star playmakers.
On the contrary, I think they have a variety of playmakers which gives them depth. This depth makes them dangerous as a team. However, it really doesn’t make anyone outside of Jones and Adams a top tier fantasy option.
I expect very solid contributions from Lazard and Valdes-Scantling, but the tight ends will do most of their work in the trenches as opposed to the stat column.
Defense and Special Teams
Fantasy Projection: 7.0 Pts
- 14-20 Points Allowed: 1.0 pts
- Four Sacks: 4.0 pts
- One Interception: 2.0 pts
Kirk Cousins will be under pressure all-day and is bound to make a mistake sooner or later. I think Green Bay has one of the most underrated defensive fronts in the league, and God help Cousins if Rashan Gary made a second-year leap.
Minnesota will put up 17 points, but the Smith Brothers and their adopted brother are going to live in the pocket. Four sacks and an interception are a reasonable expectation.
Mason Crosby
Fantasy Projection: 13.0 Pts
- Two FGs 0-39 Yds: 6.0 pts
- One FG 40-49 Yds: 4.0 pts
- Three Extra Points: 3.0 pts
Old reliable will be called upon for another day in the office. I have Green Bay finishing the day with a 30-17 victory. Nine points from Crosby and three touchdowns from Adams and Jones.
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