Zero2Cool
4 years ago

Looking at why the current WR66 could help you tilt your fantasy season in your favor. The immediate aftermath of the 2020 NFL draft  was a healthy dose of commentary on the Green Bay Packers  not adding any weapons to help the Packers “win now.”

The Packers have been insistent on being happy with the weapons they have and, frankly, they’re probably right. Allen Lazard  will be a better option for the Green Bay Packers in 2020 than any rookie pass catcher they could’ve gotten at the 26th pick in the draft.

Lazard  is big, can track a deep ball, and is still relatively anonymous in fantasy draft circles and in the national sports media. Lazard  had a really good last third of the season when he finally started getting the attention he deserved from Aaron Rodgers  and from the gameplan.

Looking at Lazard ’s success last year (albeit in little action) and how it adds up to winning Rodgers ’ trust, Lazard finished with the fifth highest situational success rate at WR, per Warren Sharp. Among WRs with 40+ targets, Lazard finished 12th out of 96 in passer rating when targeted (117.9). It’s one thing for a QB to have favorite targets, but another thing entirely when those targets actually equal analytical success.

It took time to build that trust, however, and for Lazard to earn his spot in the rotation. While receiving no targets in September, Lazard got 26 targets in October and November, then had that same amount in December alone. The Packers won five games during the month of December and Lazard was a big part of that success. He turned those 26 targets into 16 catches for 250 yards (15.63 Y/R) and two TDs.

Currently, Lazard’s average draft position is sitting at WR66. That’s snugly between future Hall of Famer Larry Fitzgerald — who’s going to be 37 by the time the season starts — and rookie Tee Higgins. This area of the draft is, to put it nicely, not great, but Lazard can be an easy fantasy WR2 this year providing the most bang for your buck. WR66 is ridiculously low considering a few other numbers, too. Per Football Outsiders, Lazard was ranked 36th in Defense-adjusted Yards Above Replacement (DYAR) in 2019 and was all the way up at 18th in DVOA. (Side note: DYAR measures the plays total value, while DVOA measures value per play.)

Davante Adams  is, rightfully, the Packer pass catcher to get the most attention, but Lazard should be in play for second on the team in targets. Securing the WR2 spot behind Adams  will keep him on the field despite the Packers going with more heavy personnel this season. Lazard is 6’5”, 227 pounds and uses that frame in run blocking to great effect. Per Pro Football Focus, Lazard was fourth among WRs last year in run blocking grade (82.0).

Lazard may have been a practice designee in his past, but that doesn’t mean he lacks pedigree to be a Pro Bowl  caliber NFL player. He was a USA Today All-American in high school and a four-star WR prospect who chose to play his ball at Iowa State, despite offers from Cal, Iowa, Nebraska, Notre Dame, and Stanford. Despite owning a ton of records at Iowa State, he went undrafted. He didn’t produce a particularly fast 40 time (4.55, still decent) and was considered a tweener prospect due to his size.

But sometimes it’s about finding the right fit and getting the right opportunity. Expect Lazard to be securing the edge and getting more looks like season in the passing game. If you can draft Lazard at a time when kickers and D/STs are being drafted, you might just get a serious game changer.

Continue Reading @ Jordan E. Smith 

Jordan E. Smith wrote:



Who knows!! But I'll take him in the 14th round.
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dfosterf (3-Jul) : Make sure to send my props to him! A plus move!
Zero2Cool (3-Jul) : My cousin, yes.
dfosterf (3-Jul) : That was your brother the GB press gazette referenced with the red cross draft props thing, yes?
Zero2Cool (2-Jul) : Packers gonna unveil new throwback helmet in few weeks.
Mucky Tundra (2-Jul) : I know it's Kleiman but this stuff writes itself
Mucky Tundra (2-Jul) : "Make sure she signs the NDA before asking for a Happy Ending!"
Mucky Tundra (2-Jul) : @NFL_DovKleiman Powerful: Deshaun Watson is taking Shedeur Sanders 'under his wing' as a mentor to the Browns QBs
Zero2Cool (30-Jun) : Dolphins get (back) Minkah Fitzpatrick in trade
Zero2Cool (30-Jun) : Steelers land Jalen Ramsey via Trade
dfosterf (26-Jun) : I think it would be great to have someone like Tom Grossi or Andy Herman on the Board of Directors so he/they could inform us
dfosterf (26-Jun) : Fair enough, WPR. Thing is, I have been a long time advocate to at least have some inkling of the dynamics within the board.
wpr (26-Jun) : 1st world owners/stockholders problems dfosterf.
Martha Careful (25-Jun) : I would have otherwise admirably served
dfosterf (25-Jun) : Also, no more provision for a write-in candidate, so Martha is off the table at least for this year
dfosterf (25-Jun) : You do have to interpret the boring fine print, but all stockholders all see he is on the ballot
dfosterf (25-Jun) : It also says he is subject to another ballot in 2028. I recall nothing of this nature with Murphy
dfosterf (25-Jun) : Ed Policy is on my ballot subject to me penciling him in as a no.
dfosterf (25-Jun) : I thought it used to be we voted for the whatever they called the 45, and then they voted for the seven, and then they voted for Mark Murphy
dfosterf (25-Jun) : Because I was too lazy to change my address, I haven't voted fot years until this year
dfosterf (25-Jun) : of the folks that run this team. I do not recall Mark Murphy being subject to our vote.
dfosterf (25-Jun) : Ed Policy yay or nay is on the pre-approved ballot that we always approve because we are uninformed and lazy, along with all the rest
dfosterf (25-Jun) : Weird question. Very esoteric. For stockholders. Also lengthy. Sorry. Offseason.
Zero2Cool (25-Jun) : Maybe wicked wind chill made it worse?
Mucky Tundra (25-Jun) : And then he signs with Cleveland in the offseason
Mucky Tundra (25-Jun) : @SharpFootball WR Diontae Johnson just admitted he refused to enter a game in 41° weather last year in Baltimore because he felt “ice cold”
Zero2Cool (24-Jun) : Yawn. Rodgers says he is "pretty sure" this be final season.
Zero2Cool (23-Jun) : PFT claims Packers are having extension talks with Zach Tom, Quay Walker.
Mucky Tundra (20-Jun) : GB-Minnesota 2004 Wild Card game popped up on my YouTube page....UGH
beast (20-Jun) : Hmm 🤔 re-signing Walker before Tom? Sounds highly questionable to me.
Mucky Tundra (19-Jun) : One person on Twitter=cannon law
Zero2Cool (19-Jun) : Well, to ONE person on Tweeter
Zero2Cool (19-Jun) : According to Tweeter
Zero2Cool (19-Jun) : Packers are working on extension for LT Walker they hope to have done before camp
dfosterf (18-Jun) : E4B landed at Andrews last night
dfosterf (18-Jun) : 101 in a 60
dfosterf (18-Jun) : FAFO
Zero2Cool (18-Jun) : one year $4m with incentives to make it up to $6m
dfosterf (18-Jun) : Or Lions
dfosterf (18-Jun) : Beats the hell out of a Vikings signing
Zero2Cool (18-Jun) : Baltimore Ravens now have signed former Packers CB Jaire Alexander.
dfosterf (14-Jun) : TWO magnificent strikes for touchdowns. Lose the pennstate semigeezer non nfl backup
dfosterf (14-Jun) : There was minicamp Thursday. My man Taylor Engersma threw
dfosterf (11-Jun) : There will be a mini camp practice Thursday.
Zero2Cool (11-Jun) : He's been sporting a ring for a while now. It's probably Madonna.
Martha Careful (10-Jun) : We only do the tea before whoopee, it relaxes me.
wpr (10-Jun) : That's awesome Martha.
Mucky Tundra (10-Jun) : How's the ayahuasca tea he makes, Martha?
Martha Careful (10-Jun) : Turns out he like older women
Martha Careful (10-Jun) : I wasn't supposed to say anything, but yes the word is out and we are happy 😂😂😂
Mucky Tundra (10-Jun) : I might be late on this but Aaron Rodgers is now married
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