We are proud to be among the first, if not the first, to publish full projections for the upcoming season, going live just days after the Super Bowl. Publishing detailed projections in early February comes with trade-offs, not the least of which is a near-total lack of clarity on how free agency, cap transactions, and the NFL draft will reshape rosters.
We've been updating our projections in near real time, including during the recent onslaught of free-agent transactions. This version will remain largely stable until we can layer in the April NFL draft, but stable projections don't mean settled debates.
We have a staff of sharp analysts with sharp takes of their own, so I thought it would be worthwhile to solicit their views on the key coin-toss situations that will shape each team's outlook in the coming months. These are important questions where reasonable, informed people can credibly land in very different places. I asked my colleagues to weigh in with one assumption: they were answering strictly through the lens of a standard 0.5-PPR redraft league.
Green Bay Packers Coin-Toss Questions
- Where Should Watson, Reed, and Golden Be Drafted?
- Is Love Even Worth Drafting in a Normal Fantasy League?
- Can Lloyd Finally Be a Real NFL Backup Running Back?
Do you expect MarShawn Lloyd to finally emerge as a reliable No. 2 for the Packers this year? If not, do you believe the team's No. 2 is currently on the roster?
Maurile Tremblay: I wouldn't count on it. Any contributions from Lloyd should be considered a bonus, not something the team can bank on. He remains a dart throw with talent, but injuries have undermined his reliability in each of his first two NFL seasons. Probably not on the roster question, either. Emanuel Wilson has gone to Seattle. Chris Brooks is a situational third back. Pierre Strong Jr. and Damien Martinez are reserve depth. The Packers ought to find a strong secondary option behind Josh Jacobs in the draft.
Meng Song: No. I wish him all the best, but Lloyd seems to be hurt every other week. I would rather roll the dice on Chris Brooks, although it's likely that Green Bay will add a late-round or undrafted rookie to the backfield.
Andy Hicks: No. Lloyd was a late third-round pick and has had six carries in two years in one appearance. Jonathan Brooks has more playing time. He may make the final roster — not a given — but he cannot be trusted to stay fit. Even if he stays fit, we know nothing of his ability to play in the NFL. Chris Brooks would fill me with more confidence as the No. 2, but another option needs to be found. Josh Jacobs can endure a heavy workload, but as he gets older, a solid backup is needed. It isn't apparent now.
Jeff Haseley: Lloyd has only played 10 snaps in two years due to health. It's hard to rely on him. I believe the Packers' true No. 2 is not currently on the roster, and they'll likely look to the draft or a late veteran signing.