Packers: 3 Early Breakout Candidates for 2020 Offense
These three players for the Green Bay Packers have a chance to take a huge leap forward in their play for the 2020 season.
In order for the Green Bay Packers to at least make it back to the NFC Championship game they advanced to last season, they’ll need breakout performances from a number of key players on offense.
After the San Francisco 49ers exposed the Packers’ lack of offensive weapons and ended their season, many fans and analysts expected Green Bay to add some playmakers, especially in the passing game, to the roster. However, they fell far short of those expectations.
That forces them to look to internal development for the answer.
Aaron Jones is a prime example of someone who stepped up in 2019 and proved he was ready to handle a larger role. After rushing for 728 yards and eight touchdowns in 12 games in 2018, he exploded onto the scene by running for 1084 yards and 16 touchdowns in 16 games last year.
Not every player can take that same leap, but here are three players who could be labeled as potential breakout candidates early this offseason.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling
Valdes-Scantling has all the speed one could need, and that’s good because he’s the only Packers’ wide receiver with said speed. He started the season on a pretty good note. Through the first four games, he had 16 receptions for 217 yards and one touchdown (a 64 reception, 868 yards and four touchdown pace). Unfortunately, he dropped off the face of the earth after that and never accrued more than two receptions in a single game; including four games with one catch and four games with zero. The Packers’ coaching staff is expecting a huge leap from their third-year receiver and he’ll need to make one if Green Bay wants to stay atop the NFC North.
Elgton Jenkins
It’s hard to justify exactly what qualifies as a breakout for an interior offensive lineman, but Elgton Jenkins likely fits the criteria. After beginning last season as the backup, he took over as the starter at left guard in Week 3 and never relinquished the duties. He only continued to get better and better and will benefit from knowing the playbook and what to expect heading into Year 2. Green Bay could have a very good player in the making.
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Allen Lazard
Allen Lazard garnered a lot of momentum and attention as the 2019 season wore on. After a very slow start to the season, he actually finished second among wide receivers in terms of receptions, and second on the team in yards and touchdowns. He came on strong down the stretch and proved he can be a big-bodied possession receiver for Aaron Rodgers. After his first real NFL action, he’ll have a chance to compete with Devin Funchess for the second wide receiver job and earn a lot more playing time in 2020.