2015 Team Outlook: Green Bay Packers

WR Jeff Janis, --- - Deep-league Only

Jeff was a late flier (7th round) in the 2014 NFL draft by Green Bay. He attended a small school (Saginaw Valley State University). Janis has excellent size (6'3" and 219 Lbs.) with plus speed (4.4 forty) with surprising quickness. He has 246 catches in his college career for 4305 yards with 46 TDs. His best year was his junior season when Jeff caught 106 passes for 1635 yards and 17 TDs. In 2013, Janis was only on the field for 15 snaps, which led to two catches for 16 yards on two targets. Back in February, the Packers head coach Mike McCarthy made a statement that he expected Janis "to take a big step in his second season". Jeff has plenty of tools to show growth, but he needs to prove he can create separation from top caliber CBs plus make tough catches in the heat of the battle. He has upside and the injury to WR Jordy Nelson will give him chance to get more snaps in 2015. Janis is a player to watch headed into the 2015, but his lack of experience will lead to mix results over the short term. Jeff is expected to be the WR4 with a minimal opportunity unless he passes WR Ty Montgomery on the depth chart.

WR Jordy Nelson, --- - Stud (low risk)

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Over the past two years, Nelson has really blossomed into one of the top receivers in the league. His targets total grew by about 20 percent in 2014, from 127 to 151. Jordy has caught 67.1 percent of his career targets, which just screams, 'Give me the ball!' Last season, he set career highs in catches (98), yards (1,519) and targets (151). Over his last 60 games, Nelson has 43 TDs. In his career, Jordy has three 1,000-yard campaigns. He is coming off a year in which he posted seven 100-yard games, finished nine games with at least six receptions and ended eight contests with double-digit targets. In multiple games in 2014, the Packers didn't need Nelson much after the first quarter because they had already built such a big lead. Jordy has big-play ability and value at the goal line. I expect Green Bay to get its No. 3 wideout more involved this fall, but barring an injury, Nelson offers too much upside to have any regression. He has a chance to record at least 100 catches, 1,500 yards and 10 TDs. His early ADP is 13th overall, making him the sixth WR off the board. If you are deciding between him and some of the other elite wide receiver, just remember who is throwing Nelson the ball.

WR James Jones, --- - Bye Week Fill-in

Week 14 DFS Update (12/12): The guy has been dead money in seven of his last eight games. He has two catches or less in seven games with three TDs. On the year he has two games of value (7/139/1 and 6/109/1). Jones is averaging 4.8 targets per game with seven TDs. His catch rate (52.5) continues to be a liability. His bar is two pesos short of a ticket out of the league. Only a diehard Packers' fan can make a case for this dying flame.

UPDATE (9/30): Reunited and it feels so good! James Jones left Green Bay after seven seasons on the frozen tundra. After a decent, but far from great year with the Oakland Raiders, his reunion with Aaron Rodgers is off to a great start. Despite only collecting 12 receptions, Jones has found the end zone four times. This pace is unsustainable, but he looks like a great TD only league play and could be a flex option in standard formats.

TE Richard Rodgers, --- - Super Sleeper (high risk/potential)

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Week 14 DFS Update (12/12): After his first impact game of the year (8/146/2), Rodgers may become more active in the passing game. He has six TDs (four in his last five games), but only one game with more than 45 yards receiving. He averages 5.7 targets per game and only 9.2 YPR. Dallas is 8th in the NFL in TE Fantasy defense, with 10 teams scoring 10 Fantasy points or less. Possible rise in opportunity with a solid catch rate (70.5), but this isn't a great matchup.

UPDATE (11/18): With so many injuries to tight ends this season, Rodgers has been a decent desperation plug-in. He's not an ideal starter, but with all the injuries, he may be necessary at times. So far this season, he's made 33 receptions for 256 yards and five touchdowns. He's come on strong as of late with 10 receptions and three touchdowns in the past two weeks. He should be considered a mid-range to low-end TE2 at this point.

Rodgers finished his rookie season with 491 snaps, which led to 20 catches on 30 targets for 225 yards and two TDs. Late in the year, Richard had two decent games -- two catches for 35 yards and a touchdown, and five catches for 40 yards. In three seasons at the University of California, he caught 59 passes for 898 yards and two TDs. Although his resume is short in all areas and he has minimal upside, I expect him to lead Green Bay in TE production this year. However, even with more playing time, his ceiling is probably 35 receptions with a small handful of touchdowns.

Green Bay Packers TE Richard Rodgers

TE Andrew Quarless, --- - Not Draft Worthy

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Quarless is a low-upside option at the tight end position. Last year, he caught 29 passes for a career-high 323 yards and three touchdowns on 46 targets while being on the field for 645 plays. Andrew finished only one game with more than three catches and had no games with more than 60 yards receiving. He has low Fantasy value.

PK Mason Crosby, --- - Stud (low risk)

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After having his job on the line following a poor 2012 season when he made only 63.6 percent of his field goal tries, Mason has made 60 of his last 70 kicks (85.7 percent). He is 9-for-14 from 50 yards or longer since the end of that 2012 season. In his career, Crosby has made 79.1 percent of his FGs and is 23-for-47 from long range. The Packers have scored at least 45 touchdowns in seven of his eight years in the league. In 2014, Green Bay had only 169 possessions, but they scored on 50.3 percent of those chances (58 TDs and 27 FGs). Mason has a top-10 opportunity in Fantasy even though his production can suffer due to the Packers' efficient offense. Crosby finished seven games last year with no more than one field goal attempt.