Packers: 3 bold predictions for Marquez Valdes-Scantling’s 2021 season
Marquez Valdes-Scantling is one of the most polarizing players on the Green Bay Packers‘ roster and is sure to draw strong emotions from fans one way or the other. In the same play, he can blow past his defender downfield, get wide open, and drop a sure touchdown. This exact sequence has played out many times since he was selected in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft.
The Packers need him to step up in 2021. He’s their only true deep threat and he can keep a safety occupied while Davante Adams and others work the middle of the field. Valdes-Scantling did set career-highs in receiving yards in 2020 with 690 yards and six receiving touchdowns. His 33 receptions was second to his rookie campaign. The bad news is he also had seven drops in just 63 targets–a 11.1 percent drop rate.
We’ve already made bold predictions for fellow wide receivers Adams and Allen Lazard as well as running backs Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon. So, without further ado, here are three bold predictions for Valdes-Scantling’s 2021 season.
The Green Bay Packers are looking for a second wide receiver to step up. Let’s make bold predictions about what the 2021 season holds for Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
3. Valdes-Scantling’s drop rate falls below 6 percent
Although he had a career-high seven drops in 2020, Valdes-Scantling is close to turning the corner. Remember, Adams also struggled with drops early in his career and now has one of the surest hands in all of football. I’m not predicting an Adams-like rise, but I’m not not predicting it either. Valdes-Scantling will sure up his hands over the offseason and we’ll see his drop rate plummet as a result.
2. Valdes-Scantling passes Lazard as no. 2 receiver
I made this same prediction in Lazard’s section and I think it’s worth noting here as well. Valdes-Scantling has the raw athletic talents to take a larger role from Lazard in the offense and I expect him to do so next year. It will start in training camp and preseason and I predict it will happen early on in the regular season. There’s nobody else at the position who has the same athletic tools as Valdes-Scantling and his technical traits will begin to catch up this season.
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1. Valdes-Scantling records a 1,000-yard season
All of this leads to a monster breakout season for Valdes-Scantling. He’s not that far off from achieving this feat–accruing 690 receiving yards on an insane 20.9 yards per reception in 2020. He was tied with Aaron Jones for the second-most targets in the Packers’ offense despite only having the fourth-most receptions which shows me Aaron Rodgers trusts him even if he wasn’t always consistent. Even if Valdes-Scantling only sees a slight increase in targets (I think he’ll see around 80), hauling in more receptions as a result of his improved drop rate will help him sky-rocket toward the 1,000-yard milestone.