Fantasy Football 2021: The WR2 in Green Bay?

The Green Bay Packers have one of the best offenses in the NFL. That means good news for fantasy football fans. Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams have had a magical connection over the past couple of seasons. With that said, can anyone else step up this season? Who will take over the WR2 role in Green Bay? Let’s talk about that.

Allen Lazard – Great Size

Lazard was a great pick up by Packers’ GM Gutekunst. Green Bay picked up Lazard from the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2018; Since then, he’s carved out a role in the Packers offense. Allen Lazard isn’t the fastest receiver, but he makes up for that in size. Lazard is listed at 6’5”, and has shown the ability to get open and the ability to get up for the football. 

Early Success in 2020

In the opening stages of the 2020 NFL regular season, Lazard was really good. In the first three weeks he had 13 receptions on 17 targets for 254 yards and two touchdowns. He was the team’s WR1 after Week 3, totaling 52.1 fantasy football points. That was actually higher than Davante Adams’ 48.2 points. Also, he was the WR10 among all receivers in fantasy football after Week 3.

2021 Fantasy Football Outlook

Lazard still faces a ton of competition for targets this season. Aaron Jones is likely to receive a decent chunk of targets himself out of the backfield. In addition, the Packers have Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Devin Funchess, and rookie 3rd round pick Amari Rodgers competing for targets.

The Packers passed on 56.2% of plays in 2020. Davante Adams eats up a majority of the target share in Green Bay. Over the past two seasons, Adams has averaged 32% of the team’s targets and 53% of all WR targets for the Packers.

Aaron Jones is likely to be second on the team in targets and total receptions. Over the past two seasons, he’s averaged 65.5 targets and 48 receptions. With Jamaal Williams out of the picture, his target share could very well increase.

I believe Lazard will be the WR2 on the Packers this season, but how much value does that actually bring to your fantasy team? It’s unlikely that Lazard will get the consistent target share he needs in Green Bay to be a consistent fantasy player that you can plug into your lineup any week. 

With Aaron Rodgers under center, anything is possible. Lazard could potentially take a leap in his production this season. If Lazard stayed healthy throughout the season, he would’ve had his best season yet. He was on pace for 75 targets, 54 receptions, 733 yards and five touchdowns. That would place him at about WR46 among all receivers in 2020. If Lazard produces those numbers in 2021, that puts him in flex territory!

Conclusion

Even though it’s not likely that Lazard will provide numbers needed to be a consistent fantasy play, he’s still worth a late-round flier. Lazard was on pace to be the WR46 in fantasy last season, and could produce similar numbers this season if all goes well. Draft him as a borderline flex play and nothing more.