The Packers selected South Dakota State TE Tucker Kraft in Round 3 of the 2023 NFL Draft. Kraft missed most of this past season following ankle surgery. In 2021, he tallied 65-773-6 in 15 games, showing the skill set of a future NFL starter. His fantasy outlook isn’t clear in Green Bay, though, as the Packers selected Luke Musgrave earlier in the night. Kraft is off the redraft radar.
Michigan State WR Jayden Reed went to the Packers in Round 2 of the 2023 NFL Draft. Reed broke out immediately at Western Michigan, outproducing then-junior D’Wayne Eskridge as a true freshman. Reed also quickly carved out a role after transferring to Michigan State, earning 22% of targets or more in each of his three seasons with the Spartans. Reed played inside and outside at MSU and was terrific as a college punt returner (15.3 yards per return, 3 TDs). Senior Bowl week found him working almost exclusively in the slot, which will be Reed’s most likely path to NFL receiving success. (Read more about his development and fantasy outlook in his Dynasty Fantasy Football Value report.) In Green Bay, Reed figures to compete with Romeo Doubs for the No. 2 role behind Christian Watson. The rookie won’t be a priority target in redraft, but if Jordan Love hits, Reed could quickly climb the Dynasty WR Rankings.
The Packers selected Oregon State TE Luke Musgrave in Round 2 of the 2023 NFL Draft. Musgrave stands 6’6, 253 pounds with Mike Gesicki-like athleticism. The 22-year-old was likely on his way to a breakout 2022 before an early-season MCL tear. That wiped out his final college season, although he returned for the Senior Bowl. Musgrave is largely a bet on athletic traits, as he needs to improve both his hands and his YAC ability. He exits Oregon State with a 16.1% career drop rate and only two forced missed tackles on 47 catches. Prior to tonight, Green Bay featured a pair of uninspiring TEs in Josiah Deguara and Tyler Davis. So Musgrave should step into a day-one role alongside Jordan Love. Consider this a strong landing spot for Musgrave's dynasty value.
The Packers selected Edge Lukas Van Ness 13th overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. Van Ness posted 19 tackles for loss and 13 sacks over the past two years but likely hasn’t come close to his ceiling. Van Ness declared early and saw his snaps limited a bit by Iowa’s line rotation. His combo of size (6’5, 272 pounds) and athleticism (91st-percentile 40 time; 80th-percentile 3-cone drill) are exciting. His immediate role in Green Bay might depend on how soon Edge Rashan Gary is ready to return from last year's ACL tear. Find out more about Van Ness in our early IDP rookie rankings.
Raiders RB Josh Jacobs won't report for the start of the team's voluntary offseason program on Monday, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports. Jacobs has yet to sign his franchise tender, ultimately hoping for a longer-term deal. He's unlikely to get it, but at this point we don't expect a holdout into the summer. We'll keep an eye on the situation. Giants RB Saquon Barkley and Jaguars TE Evan Engram are also skipping voluntary workouts after getting franchise-tagged earlier this offseason.
TE Luke Musgrave posted an elite Relative Athletic Score (RAS) of 9.94 at the NFL Combine. At nearly 6’6 and 253 pounds, the Oregon State product turned heads with a 36.0” vertical, a 10’5” broad jump and a 4.61 forty-time. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport passed along more good news. Musgrave, who suffered a torn MCL early last season, received “full medical clearance” at the Combine. See where he stacks up among dynasty TEs.
The Raiders plan to use the franchise tag on RB Josh Jacobs, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. The tag deadline is Tuesday, so there's still time for a longer-term deal before the tag is applied. Using the tag would give a mid-July deadline for a longer-term pact. The Raiders, of course, declined the fifth-year option on Jacobs' rookie contract before 2022 ... and then handed him the largest workload of his career and watched him lead the NFL in rushing. If he plays on the franchise tag, Jacobs will make roughly $2 million more than he would have on the original option year. either way, expect him to remain the Raiders' workhorse for 2023. And go back to paying little attention to RB Zamir White.
Packers GM Brian Gutekunst said from the Combine on Tuesday that he'd "absolutely" be confident in QB Jordan Love as the team's Week 1 starter. That's the most likely scenario for Green Bay if QB Aaron Rodgers is traded. “I think he’s ready to play and I think he’s ready to be an NFL starting quarterback,” Gutekunst said of Love. “Not every quarterback comes into this league ready to go out there and play. I think he needed a little time, but over the last year and a half or so, we’ve seen that’s the next step in his progression. He needs to go out and play." Love has thrown just 83 regular-season passes since being drafted in 2020, including 21 last year. But he entered the league as an intriguing prospect with prototypical size, a big arm and plus athleticism. Love is worth considering as a QB3 in early best-ball drafts as we continue to monitor the Rodgers situation.
Raiders RB Josh Jacobs said Saturday that he’d like to re-sign with the team. Per Jacobs, contract talks should begin next week. “This is where I want to be,” the 25-year-old said. “I feel like I’ve left my mark on this organization. With the guys in the locker room — obviously, it’s going to be shaken up next year, but I feel like this is home. For me, this is where I want to be, but I’m not going to discredit myself trying to be here, either. So, it’s just got to make sense.” Jacobs smashed prior career highs with 393 touches and 2,053 total yards in 2022.
Raiders RB Josh Jacobs (hip, oblique) is active for today’s game against Kansas City. Jacobs is the NFL’s leading rusher, and he’ll look to pad his lead in a friendly matchup. Just be aware that the Raiders — now out of the postseason picture — could take a long look at rookie Zamir White.
Packers WR Christian Watson (hip) logged limited practice all week and doesn't carry an official injury designation ahead of Week 18 vs. the Lions. Battling through a hip injury, Watson managed just 1 catch on 5 targets and a 60% route rate last week. He has an awesome matchup on Sunday night vs. Detroit's 26th-ranked WR defense. It's a little tough to trust him in lineups considering the mixed bag of practice results this week. Consider the rookie a low-end WR2.
Packers WR Christian Watson (hip) logged limited participation in practice again on Thursday. The rookie was able to beat this same ailment and suit up last week. We'll know more tomorrow about his status in anticipation of Week 18 vs. the Lions.
Packers WR Christian Watson (hip) only managed to practice in a limited capacity on Wednesday. The rookie managed to suit up last week despite this ailment, but we'll keep an eye on his status just in case. Check back for updates on Watson ahead of Week 18 vs. the Lions.
Raiders RB Josh Jacobs (hip, oblique) did not practice on Wednesday. The team's official website characterizes Jacobs' absence from practice as a personal day. Thursday's injury report will shed more light on whether or not the veteran will be able to suit up for Saturday's Week 18 game vs. the Chiefs. We'll keep an eye on this as more information becomes available.
Raiders RB Josh Jacobs (hip, oblique) was limited in Tuesday's practice. The hip and oblique are new issues for Jacobs, who briefly left last week's loss to the 49ers. But the fact that he was out there at all on Tuesday puts him on track to play in Saturday's finale vs. the Chiefs.
Packers WR Christian Watson (hip) is active for today’s game vs. the Vikings. He got in just a limited practice on Friday and was reportedly a game-time decision, so it’s safe to assume that the rookie won’t be at 100%. Consider him a risk/reward WR3.
Packers WR Christian Watson (hip) "will test his injury pre-game to see if he can play vs. the Vikings," ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. Watson only got in a limited practice on Friday this week and "didn’t take any live repetitions," according to Schefter. Watson will obviously carry elevated risk if he ends up giving it a go. We'll get Green Bay's inactives around 3 pm ET on Sunday.
The Giants are activating S Xavier McKinney from IR ahead of Sunday's game against the Colts, and he's expected to play, according to ESPN's Jordan Raanan. That's a shift vs. Friday, when HC Brian Daboll said he didn't expect McKinney to return. The safety has been out since suffering a hand injury in a 4-weeler accident during the team's Week 9 bye. We'll watch for further word on McKinney's role against Indy, but we've already added him to the Week 17 IDP rankings for a high-upside matchup.
Packers WR Christian Watson (hip) logged limited practice participation on Friday and is listed as questionable for Week 17's game vs. the Vikings. It's certainly encouraging to see the rookie get in some work after not practicing on Wednesday or Thursday. Still, it's tough to say fantasy managers should expect him to play. Watson would be in the WR3 conversation if he does suit up in a great spot against a Vikings defense that ranks as the best matchup for opposing WRs in adjusted fantasy points allowed this season. The "didn't practice all week before Friday" part is where we get hung up. Prepare to make other plans for your roster on Sunday.
Packers WR Christian Watson (hip) did not practice again on Thursday ahead of Week 17 vs. the Vikings. It's not looking good for the rookie's availability on Sunday. Limited participation on Friday would inspire some hope at a minimum. Check back again tomorrow for updates.
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