Jayden Reed catches 1/19 in slot receiver role

Although a potential, albeit brief, matchup against Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers is intriguing, the Packers’ wide receiver rotation is the real reason to tune in. Packers WR Christian Watson should be the team’s top target earner this season, and Love said WR Matthew Golden is set to assume X-receiver duties. Will slot WR Jayden Reed get to take snaps in two-receiver sets? That is to be determined.

Golden was held out of practice for a couple days with a toe issue. He was spotted running with the Green Bay first team offense on Tuesday. The Packers seem intent to use Golden in an every-down role rather than the rotational role he had during his disappointing 2025 rookie campaign. The speedy Golden, who has drawn praise from Jordan Love this offseason, should profile as a high-variance weekly fantasy option in 12-team formats.

Hopefully, this ends up being a non-issue, but we do need to keep an eye on it. Fortunately, if Reed does need to miss a few practices, he should have ample time to get right before Week 1. Reed has a chance to take on a larger role than he has had in previous seasons with the Packers’ front office thinning out the wide receiver corps this offseason.

No word yet on the severity, but we should get clarity on this at some point. Golden fared well at the Packers’ recent Family Night event, and according to QB Jordan Love, is set to assume the X-receiver role vacated by former Packers WR Romeo Doubs. Golden turned in a disappointing rookie season, but a second-year breakout is certainly possible, good health pending.

We know this is getting into the weeds, but Reed’s weekly range of outcomes will be somewhat dependent on his access to heavy personnel packages. Through three NFL seasons, Reed has taken just 31 snaps in 12 personnel, so even a mild increase would boost his target-earning opportunities. Packers QB Jordan Love confirmed that second-year WR Matthew Golden is replacing WR Romeo Doubs as the X-receiver when speaking with the media today, so Golden and Watson (Z-receiver) will likely take the majority of 12 personnel reps this season. If Reed can at least send Golden to the sideline for a decent share of those opportunities, his fantasy managers would stand to benefit.

Reed did end up playing with the first-team offense, at one point snagging back-to-back completions from QB Jordan Love. Golden disappointed as a rookie last year, posting a 29.361/0 receiving line. Reed went 19/207/1, but played in only seven games due to injury. Golden, a first-round pick from 2025, is getting his chance to earn a role in two-wide receiver sets opposite WR1 Christian Watson. Returning reliable FLEX value is difficult if one is limited to the WR3/slot role. If Reed is unable to beat out Golden in training camp, we could be looking at another volatile season from Reed. Golden’s outlook is tough to forecast, but getting on the field in heavy personnel packages would be positive.

Reed’s deal includes $20 million in financial guarantees. His 2025 season was disrupted by a foot injury and a broken clavicle. Reed has not yet cracked the PPR WR2 ranks in season-long finishes, but he averages 2.01 yards per route run over the course of his three-year career. Reed turns 26 next week. It will be interesting to see whether the Packers bring aboard a rookie wide receiver later today. As things currently stand, Reed is set to man the slot and may be allowed to compete with second-year WR Matthew Golden for snaps out wide.

The Packers let Romeo Doubs walk in free agency and just traded away Dontayvion Wicks, so this isn’t exactly groundbreaking news. Still, fantasy managers are keeping close tabs on the Golden drumbeat after his dreadful rookie season, and this qualifies. Golden was limited to 361 yards in 2025 and struggled to find a consistent role in Green Bay’s crowded receiver room. Now there are no excuses for the former No. 23 overall pick. Golden will likely be stuck in a downfield role in his second season, but he has the speed to make the most of those opportunities. Fantasy managers should treat him as a boom/bust WR4 for now, though that could change in either direction very quickly.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter breaks the news, adding that Wicks will now sign a one-year, $12.5 million extension with the Eagles. Over the last four weeks, they also signed WR Hollywood Brown and WR Elijah Moore as well. Schefter reminds us that if the Eagles were to trade away WR A.J. Brown, that would probably happen after June 1st, “when the cap burden would be more manageable for the Eagles.” As things currently stand, Wicks will likely compete for WR3 duties. The trade also leaves Packers WR Christian Watson, WR Jayden Reed and WR Matthew Golden as the team’s top-three options after allowing WR Romeo Doubs to sign with the Patriots last month. The Eagles tacked on an additional year to Wicks’ contract after the deal, tying him to the franchise through the 2027 season. The extension includes $12.5 million in maximum money with $9 million guaranteed.

During a Monday interview LaFleur said Green Bay would “strip everything down and start like it’s Year 1 all over again” on the offensive side of the ball a year after the Packers had the NFL’s fourth highest EPA per play and fifth highest offensive success rate. “I just think reinstalling and trying to go through — it might take a little bit more time — but really get into the detail because that’s usually the separator,” LaFleur said. It’s an interesting offseason tidbit that would lead to a new-look Green Bay offense under Jordan Love in 2026. That could mean a slightly less run heavy approach, perhaps, after the Packers had the seventh lowest pass rate over expected in 2025. The Packers will likely be forced to increase WR Matthew Golden’s role after losing Romeo Doubs to New England in free agency.