Packers' Romeo Doubs Continues Strong Start | Is Doubs a Starter Going Forward?

Not much went right for the Green Bay Packers in their Thursday night loss to the Detroit Lions in Green Bay. 

Quarterback Jordan Love threw for 246 yards and had two total touchdowns, but was also picked off twice and sacked five times. The Packers’ rushing game went for just 27 net yards. Green Bay’s defense was decimated and allowed 401 total yards.

One of the few bright spots in the game was wide receiver Romeo Doubs, who continued a strong start to his season. Our charts show Doubs is owned in just 65% of leagues and started in 14%. Is it time to not only add Doubs to your roster, but start him? Let’s talk about it.

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Romeo Doubs’ Continues to Impress

Doubs came into the season as the Packers No. 2 option at wide receiver, but he’s looked like the top option through a month of play.

Doubs received double digit targets for a second straight week, catching 9-of-13 passes against the Lions. He went for 95 yards. 

He had a long reception of 16 yards and was the only Packer over four targets. Doubs was playing alongside presumed No. 1 wideout Christian Watson for the first time this season, and finished with seven more catches and 70 more yards. Watson did catch a touchdown to even the gap in fantasy points scored between the two.

Doubs was limited in the first couple of games with a hamstring injury. He caught four passes on five targets in the opener for just 26 yards, but scored twice. He played just 48% of the team’s offensive snaps.

Doubs caught two passes on three targets for 30 yards in week 2 while playing 76% of the snaps.

He was the team’s top option in the passing game in weeks 3 and 4 while at full health. Before his strong week 4 showing, he caught five passes on 12 targets for 73 yards and a touchdown in week 3 while playing 86% of the snaps.

Doubs was already in the top echelon of wide receivers for fantasy points scored through three weeks, and he should remain up there after his week 4 showing.

Doubs' Fantasy Outlook

The big question now is whether Doubs can continue to be the Packers’ leader in the receiver room. Green Bay has started slow in a couple games already and have abandoned the run game. It’s resulted in the team playing from behind and throwing the ball a lot.

With a first-year starting quarterback in Love, that’s not a real effective way to find success and win games. I’d expect the Packers to emphasize the running game more starting in week 5, but they certainly are going to throw it plenty of times too.

Seeing how many times Doubs has been targeted over the past couple weeks, and with him on the field nearly 90% of the time, that makes Doubs worthy of considering for a spot in your starting lineup each week. 

The targets might not be quite as high as they have been, but Love clearly trusts Doubs and will continue to look his way. If the offensive line continues to struggle, like it did against the Lions, Doubs is the better option, as Watson is more of a deep threat.

Should You Add, Start Doubs

I’m hoping that considering Doubs for your starting lineup is more to do with him starting strong and not because you have no clearly better options or are dealing with a number of injuries. I look to Doubs as a fringe starter, playing only against weak defenses until further notice.

Green Bay plays the Las Vegas Raiders in week 5 before a bye week. The Pack will then take on the Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Rams to finish out October.

The Rams are the only team in that trio to rank in the top half of the league against opposing wide receivers, and they are just barely in the top half. The Vikings enter week 4 as the third-worst team in defending receivers, while the Raiders are closer to the middle of the league, but in the bottom half.

Given the fairly favorable schedule for the extended future, I’d add Doubs if he’s still available in your league, especially if your receivers have underperformed so far. I’d take things week by week with Doubs, but at this time, I’d say he’s start worthy for all three of the team’s October games.