Jordan Love will suit up tonight against Steelers

Reed played 7-of-9 snaps on the first drive before calling it a night. He was in the slot for all seven snaps. Reed snagged a 19-yard pass via a post route from the slot on 3rd-and-5. He was targeted again on a corner route just outside the end zone on 3rd-and-4 from the Steelers’ 19-yar4d line, but the pass was broken up. Packers WR Matthew Golden led the first-team offense with nine snaps.

You, of course, cannot simply flip a switch and “finish better,” but it remains notable that the Packers’ players and coaches have spent the entire offseason and summer pledging to avoid the late-game collapses that have so often plagued them in recent seasons. It would appear coach Matt LaFleur and company are dead serious about changing their mindset. That is always easier said than done, but offensive balance just for the sake of it looks like it might be out the window in Green Bay this season. Hopefully the same will be true of taking the air out of the ball the second they have a second half lead. Again, it would be far from surprising if nothing really changes, but it is rare you will hear a team have these kinds of conversations out in the open. A more aggressive mindset would obviously only mean good things in fantasy football.

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.

This is one of two games being played on Christmas, which is the Friday of Week 16. The Packers beat the Bears in Week 14 of the 2025 season before losing their final four regular season contests, one of which was an overtime loss to the Bears. They were then bounced from the playoffs by Chicago in the Wild Card Round. Their Christmas matchup will have major playoff implications and could even determine the winner of the NFC North.

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.