Focus on Green Bay Packers Pass-Catchers, Not Only the Receivers

Even with Davante Adams, there were oftentimes many who felt that the Green Bay Packers didn’t have enough weapons at the receiver position. So now, with Adams in Las Vegas, that feeling has been magnified.

And understandably so–this is a Green Bay Packers wide receiver unit filled with question marks.

Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb have both been effective in their specific roles, but now with more attention from the defense along with additional opportunities, can either emerge as a consistent go-to option for Aaron Rodgers? Sammy Watkins is the most talented of the three, but he has struggled to stay healthy throughout his career.

Then when it comes to the rookies, they will likely begin in niche roles while Rodgers relies on the veteran receivers, but it remains to be seen how quickly Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs will be able to get on the same page with the veteran quarterback to earn more targets.

All of these concerns are valid, but when pontificating about the Green Bay Packers passing attack, we aren’t looking at the entire picture if we focus solely on the receiver position. Under Matt LaFleur, the tight ends and running backs have been very active pass-catchers as well.

LaFleur doesn’t lean as heavily on 11 personnel (1 RB, 1 TE, and 3 WRs) as Mike McCarthy did and instead utilizes more two tight end and two running back sets. Speaking of two running back sets, I do expect the Packers to use those personnel more frequently in 2022 after seeing a dropoff in usage this past season.

In each of the last three seasons, Aaron Jones has finished second on the team in targets, behind only Adams. In 2021 specifically, Jones had eight games with at least five targets, two of which he had over 10.

He also had five games with over 40 receiving yards, including 129 in the Packers’ playoff loss to San Francisco. Jones would also take nearly 18% of his snaps either lined up in the slot or out wide—another figure that could increase in 2022.

AJ Dillon, in his second season, was effective in the passing game as well, finishing sixth on the Packers in total receiving yards and targets. Not to mention that, like Jones, he also had four games with at least 40 receiving yards.

This Packers offense will also be getting a big boost with the return of Robert Tonyan, which appears could happen fairly early on this season. During his breakout 2020 season, Tonyan’s 59 targets were the fourth most on the Packers, while his 586 receiving yards ranked third. Tonyan would also find the end zone 11 times and had five games with more than 50 yards through the air, according to PFF ($$).

In addition to Tonyan, the Packers also have Marcedes Lewis and Josiah Deguara at the tight end position as well. The two would combine for 61 targets and 459 receiving yards in Tonyan’s absence last season.

At the end of the day, there is no replacing Davante Adams–and we know this. But even with the question marks at the receiver position, it’s not as if Rodgers is going to be lacking options in the passing game either. Jones, Dillon, and Tonyan, specifically, will all play key roles in helping this offense move the ball through the air.

So while wide receiver will remain a hot topic through training camp and the preseason, when discussing the Packers’ passing game, it’s important to also mention the running backs and tight ends because both positions will be factors in this LaFleur system.