The Green Bay Packers have one of the most dynamic offenses in the NFL. That’s not earth shattering news, but could there be a changing of the guard coming? The team is likely going to start phasing out the 37-year old Donald Driver, who had just 37 receptions on 56 targets in 2011.
That is going to open an opportunity for someone to flourish in the third receiver spot, behind Jordy Nelson and Greg Jennings. Randall Cobb and James Jones are the two most likely options. Look at their numbers last season:
- James Jones – 38 receptions (55 targets), 635 yards, 7 TD
- Randall Cobb – 25 receptions (31 targets), 375 yards, 1 TD
Obviously Cobb is going to receive an increased look, but is it a guarantee that he jumps into the third receiver spot? It’s far from a certainty.
The second year receiver is a tremendous athlete and could easily settle in as the Packers’ deep play threat, being utilized in four-receiver sets and getting occasional looks at other times. However, at 5’10”, he is not going to be a red zone target very often. Jones, who has scored 17 TD over the past three seasons, makes a much better option in that role.
Also, while the Packers are a passing offense, how many targets can we really expect Cobb to get in 2012? Assuming everyone is healthy, the football has to be thrown to Nelson, Jennings and Jermichael Finley early and often. With only so many footballs to go around, that doesn’t make Cobb’s potential very high.
Is he worth targeting in dynasty leagues? Yes.
Could he hold value in the deeper of redraft formats? It’s not impossible.
Would I consider drafting him as anything more than a WR6? Not likely.
Many people may speculate he will be a potential sleeper this season, but I see way too much working against him. Obviously, if he gets off to a good start in training camp and wins the third receiver spot, things would change. As of right now, however, there’s too much risk and not enough reward.
Make sure to check out our 2012 fantasy football rankings:
