Lloyd does not start, winds up with 13 carries

Brooks left the Packers’ Week 4 win over the Bucs with an ankle injury in the first half. He did not return after the break and LaFleur didn’t have any definitive answers about the injury on Monday. It sounds like his status for Week 5 is very much up in the air. After coughing up a goal line fumble, Kaleb Johnson would likely take a backseat to MarShawn Lloyd once again. Lloyd has some low-end RB3 appeal as the potential lead back, but this is ultimately a backfield to avoid for fantasy purposes if possible.

The Packers largely played in a trailing game script last night. Lloyd does not have meaningful access to passing down snaps, logging just one snap on third down and none in the two-minute drill, making him mostly dependent on decent rushing workloads. He played 45.5 percent of the red zone snaps and took the lone snap inside the five-yard line, but was held out of the end zone. Lloyd’s six touches led the backfield, but are hardly enough to keep him locked in 12-team FLEX spots.

The two backs combined for the only eight running back rush attempts on a night the Packers’ offensive line was completely manhandled by an aggressive and athletic Atlanta front. Lloyd took his four carries for 11 yards while Johnson managed only six on his four totes. Both backs were targeted three times through the air, with Johnson going for 10 yards on one reception and Lloyd managing just seven yards on two grabs. This backfield is a complete mess amidst Josh Jacobs’ absence and mounting injuries along the offensive line, with neither back anywhere near a usable fantasy asset ahead of a Week 4 road matchup with the pass-funnel Buccaneers.

Perhaps more importantly, Lloyd lost a key fumble in the second half and then was barely on the field after that. The 25-year-old had plenty of trouble earning yards in the running game, but he was wide open on a well-designed screen pass in the first half for a touchdown catch. Lloyd played on just 16 of the Packers’ 53 snaps and handled seven of their 19 carries. This is a confusing committee that isn’t giving any running back real value, and Josh Jacobs could return at some point near the middle of the season. Fantasy managers in shallow leagues don’t need to hold onto Lloyd, and others could look to trade him away on the back of his receiving touchdown.

The NFL is “closely monitoring all developments in the matter, which remains under review of the personal conduct policy.” We expect Jacobs to receive a suspension, but the league can move at its own pace. Packers RB MarShawn Lloyd is expected to serve as the fill-in starter.

Jacobs’ trial was initially slated to take place on November 17th. That date was recently moved up to today, signaling that Jacobs wanted to wrap up his legal proceedings quickly. He has been on the Commissioner’s Exempt List since the end of training camp. Roger Goodell could have kept him on the list indefinitely, especially with the trial previously scheduled multiple months into the season. With the legal matter now settled, Jacobs will likely serve a minor suspension as a result of the charges. MarShawn Lloyd is expected to handle the bulk of the carries until he returns.

“Asked if there’s a scenario in which the Packers release Jacobs, Gutekunst says he wants to let the process play out,” The Athletic’s Matt Schneidmann said. Jacobs on Sunday was placed on the Commissioners Exempt List while his legal situation plays out. Jacobs in May was arrested and booked on five charges, including felony strangulation. ESPN’s Adam Schefter said Monday that Jacobs’ time on the exempt list was, for now, indefinite, and hinged entirely on how his legal situation unfolds. If damning video evidence is released, Jacobs could miss most or all of the regular season. MarShawn Lloyd would start the year as Green Bay’s lead back and has a chance to be one of fantasy’s best running back values.

Jacobs was charged on two misdemeanors last week after initially being arrested in late May on five counts, including one felony. Jacobs will still be paid but will be unable to participate in practice while he remains on the exempt list, although players are typically allowed to participate in team meetings. There is no telling how long Jacobs will remain on the exempt list as only the Commissioner holds the authority to remove him. Jacobs’ initial appearance in court is not scheduled until November, coinciding with Week 11, leaving a wide range of outcomes for fantasy managers to begin the season. Reading the tea leaves paints a morbid picture for Jacobs’ availability to start the 2026 regular season in less than two short weeks. MarShawn Lloyd suddenly finds himself atop the backfield depth chart in Green Bay and is a priority waiver addition for leagues that have already drafted, and should be treated as an upside back in the middle rounds of drafts.

Pelissero reminds us that Jacobs was “originally booked on five charges, including felony strangulation.” He now faces “reduced charges of misdemeanor battery and criminal damage to property.” The NFL continues to monitor all developments in the matter, which remains under review. Jacobs could end up being suspended. His backups are RB MarShawn Lloyd, who has performed well all spring and summer, and RB Chris Brooks. Lloyd should be a priority in drafts at this time. According to The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman, the police department’s full incident report indicates that the department is in possession of a video showing Jacobs striking a woman after throwing her to the ground.

“We’ve obviously been preparing for that in case that happens,” Gutekunst said when asked about Jacobs, who in May was arrested on domestic abuse charges. “But at the same time, I feel really good about the guys we have in that room.” ESPN’s Adam Schefter said in August that the league would likely suspend Jacobs, though the length of the suspension had yet to be determined. MarShawn Lloyd would likely function as Green Bay’s lead back if Jacobs — who’s dealing with a lingering groin issue — misses regular season games. The oft-injured Lloyd has stayed healthy this offseason and has reportedly run well in training camp and joint practices. In last week’s preseason game against Denver, Lloyd played on 5-of-7 snaps during the first drive with the team’s starters.