Packers Fantasy Football Outlook for Week 1: Should You Start Jordan Love, Josh Jacobs, Christian Watson, Luke Musgrave and More?
Taking a look at the Packers best fantasy starting options for week 1.
The second regular season game of the NFL season is a fun matchup between the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles.
Just like we did before the Chiefs, Ravens game on Thursday and will do before every primetime game this season, FantasySP will break down the matchup and the fantasy outlooks for players on both teams. We’ll start with the Packers for the Friday night game.
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Jordan Love Fantasy Outlook
In his first season as the starter, Love had some ups and downs. He finished the season extremely hot, and gave fantasy owners plenty to talk about coming into the season.
In 17 starts in 2023, Love completed 64.2% of his passes for 4,159 yards, 32 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He added 247 yards and four touchdowns on 50 rushing attempts.
The matchup with the Eagles is an average one based on last year’s stats. Philly was above average in picking off passes, so that’s something to keep in mind when determining whether or not to start Love in fantasy this week.
Love has pretty much the same group of offensive playmakers around him, but a much better running back (who we’ll get to shortly), so another big fantasy season should be in store for Love. He’s projected for 18 fantasy points in week 1.
Running Back Fantasy Outlook
Josh Jacobs is the running back I was just talking about. Rookie MarShawn Lloyd and Emanuel Wilson are backup options on the active roster, while Chris Brooks could get elevated from the practice squad too.
Jacobs played in 13 games for the Raiders a season ago. He rushed for 805 yards and six touchdowns on 233 carries. Jacobs added 296 yards and no scores on 37 catches and 54 targets - fun fact: Jacobs does not have a receiving touchdown in his career despite having 197 catches and 1,448 yards.
Lloyd was a third-round pick of the Packers in the 2024 NFL Draft. He’s been dealing with a hamstring issue, so his status will be one to watch as the game approaches.
Wilson appeared in seven games for the Packers in 2023, but had just 18 touches. He went for 108 total yards and no scores.
Brooks played in nine games with the Dolphins in 2023. He had 19 rushing attempts for 106 yards and no scores.
Jacobs figures to serve as the workhorse, and the projections back that up. He’s projected for 15 PPR points. It’s an average matchup based on how Philly’s defense defended the run last season.
Lloyd currently holds the final spot in the 61-player projections, but obviously would fall off the list if he can’t play. Even if he does play, this looks like a game where Jacobs is going to dominate the RB touches.
Wide Receiver Fantasy Outlook
The Packers are loaded at wide receiver. Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs and Jayden Reed are the projected starters, while Dontayvion Wicks has also flashed some brilliance.
In nine games last season, Watson had 422 yards and five touchdowns on 28 catches and 53 targets.
Doubs appeared in 17 games, making 59 grabs on 96 targets. He went for 674 yards and eight touchdowns. Doubs is dealing with a hand injury and has been limited in practice, so that’s something to monitor.
Reed was a part of 16 games last season. He had 793 receiving yards and eight touchdowns on 64 catches and 94 targets. Reed also had 119 rushing yards and two scores on 11 attempts.
Wicks helped fill in when Watson missed action. Across 15 games, Wicks had 581 yards and four touchdowns on 39 receptions and 58 targets.
While having depth at the position is great, not having a true No. 1 target makes the group a nightmare from a fantasy football perspective. Reed is the top-ranked Packer WR in the projections, with Watson right behind him, and Doubs and Wicks a bit behind that.
It’s a good matchup for the receivers, but they aren’t helped by some new faces in the Philly secondary and having four decent fantasy options.
Tight End Fantasy Outlook
As if their four good receivers weren’t enough, the Packers also have two tight ends they could turn to in Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft.
Musgrave played in 11 games (nine starts) last season. He had 352 yards and a touchdown on 34 receptions and 46 targets.
Kraft made eight starts over 17 games. He had 355 yards and two scores on 31 grabs and 40 targets.
Kraft has been dealing with a back injury this week, so his status is one to monitor as the game approaches. Musgrave would become a better fantasy option without Kraft active.
Kicker and Defense Outlook
Green Bay cut ties with Anders Carlson and will have Brayden Narveson do the kicking this season.
In the preseason, he made 6-of-7 field goal attempts and both of his extra points. His lone miss was from 58 yards out.
He’s projected for eight fantasy points in week 1.
The Packers have a new defensive coordinator and scheme for 2024, so you can pretty much throw out the 2023 defensive stats.
The Eagles were an average passing team last season, while being one of the better rushing attacks. The Packers’ struggled against the run in 2023, while doing a good job in slowing the pass, so this is a great first test to see how the new defense will look.
The high-flying Eagles’ offense has the Packers D/ST projected for just six points, which is in the bottom half of the league for week 1.
Who to Start in Week 1
I love this matchup almost as much as the Thursday night game. It could have NFC playoff seeding implications by the end of the season. This has the looks of a high-scoring affair, and I think the Packers find a way to prevail, 31-27. Check out more odds and betting details here.
I talked about Love in a quarterback start article earlier in the week and mentioned I like Love more than most people in week 1. I think he starts strong and takes care of the ball, for the most part, to put up some big fantasy numbers. I see him finishing inside the top 10 amongst QBs, with top-five upside.
I also really like Jacobs this week. He not only should have a big workload, but will have a good chance to score. I have Jacobs safely inside the top 10, with a chance to also be in the top five.
Now let’s talk about the receivers. I like Reed the most because the team likes to get him the ball in the running game. Then I like Watson, simply because he’s been a touchdown machine when healthy. Doubs’ injury scares me off him a bit, and if news comes out that he’ll be limited, I’d take Wicks over him.
Reed and Watson are going to be part of start/sit decisions, especially when Friday rolls around. I’d lean toward starting both guys, but would need to see your other options.
Wicks and Doubs are deep league starting options, but ones I wouldn’t mind playing in a balanced offensive attack like the Pack has. Any one of these guys can go off, and I don’t want those fantasy points sitting on my bench.
Musgrave is a streaming option for the week at tight end, but I’d only want him playing in deeper league setups. Even if Kraft doesn’t play, I wouldn’t start Musgrave in a standard league, unless there’s no better option available.
Kraft probably should be avoided in all league types this week considering he’s dealing with an injury.
I don’t mind starting Narveson this week, but think there’s probably more proven options available to you. I see more touchdowns being scored than field goals, so that’s another reason to shy away from him.
The Packers’ defense is one with a lot of talent, but they underwhelm year after year. They have a chance to be a great fantasy D/ST this season, but I’ll need to see it to believe it. Avoid the Pack in week 1.
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