Week 1 hasn’t even started, and the injury bug is already rearing its ugly head. After a full offseason with no health issues, Allen Lazard popped up on this week’s injury report with a foot issue. What is the latest information on Lazard’s injury, and how should fantasy football managers react if he can’t play?
Allen Lazard’s injury status
Injuries are, by far, the worst part of fantasy football. Much like 16-year-old me playing Madden, I wish we could just turn them off. Unfortunately, the real world doesn’t work that way. There are a handful of fantasy-relevant players whose injury status is up in the air heading into Week 1. Lazard is among them.
Earlier this week, reports surfaced that Lazard was no lock to play in Week 1 due to a foot injury. On Wednesday, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur revealed Lazard had his foot stepped on during a practice last week and hasn’t practiced since.
The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman spotted Lazard rehabbing at Wednesday’s practice. He noted Lazard “seems to be running fine…” This observation paints a far more positive outlook on Lazard’s status.
Nevertheless, Lazard officially did not practice Wednesday. Players who do not practice almost never play. Given that it’s Week 1, it’s safe to say Lazard will be inactive this week unless he can manage at least a limited practice by Friday. Packer fans and fantasy managers alike will be closely monitoring the team’s Thursday and Friday injury reports for updates on Lazard’s status.
Who will be the Packers’ WR1 if Lazard’s injury keeps him out?
The Packers’ wide receiver room was already one of the most questionable in the NFL. Following Davante Adams’ departure, the Packers were left with no true WR1 or WR2.
Currently, Lazard sits atop the depth chart. If he can’t go, Sammy Watkins will be elevated into the WR1 role. Alongside him in two-receiver sets is most likely going to be Randall Cobb, as he’s the man Aaron Rodgers trusts the most. It certainly won’t be rookie Christian Watson, who missed the entire preseason due to an injury of his own.
The other possibility is fellow rookie Romeo Doubs sees heavier-than-expected playing time in Week 1. Doubs balled out in the preseason and is listed as the guy behind Lazard on the Packers’ unofficial depth chart. At the very least, Doubs should be the guy in three-receiver sets, as he’s far more game-ready than Watson and far more talented than Amari Rodgers.
If Lazard plays, should fantasy managers start him against the Vikings?
Based on Lazard’s ADP, fantasy managers did not draft him to be a starter outside of deeper lineup leagues. Lazard probably wasn’t cracking your lineup anyway.
Although he’s Rodgers’ WR1 and scored 19.2 PPR fantasy points against the Vikings last season, Lazard is probably best left on benches this week. It doesn’t sound as if he will play anyway. But even if he does, Week 1 is not the time to force banged-up fringe fantasy starters into lineups.
The reality is we don’t know who exactly Rodgers will favor in a post-Adams world. The consensus believes it will be Lazard, but it could easily be Watkins, Cobb, or Doubs. The best course of action for fantasy managers is to take a wait-and-see approach with Lazard.
Should fantasy managers pick up another Packers wide receiver?
At 32 years old, Cobb probably isn’t the answer. He may be Rodgers’ right-hand man, but he hasn’t really been a productive fantasy asset since 2015. Last season, Cobb averaged 7.8 ppg, his lowest mark since his rookie season in 2011.
Given the circumstances, I can’t say I’m not intrigued by Watkins and Doubs. We all know the legend of Week 1 Watkins. The man shows off in the season opener and then disappears/gets hurt the rest of the season. What if Watkins stays healthy?
Once upon a time, Watkins was a very talented receiver. I don’t think he’s that guy anymore, but maybe I’m wrong. Maybe there’s a fountain of youth somewhere in Green Bay. I can’t go so far as to advise starting Watkins, but if he does smash on Sunday, he will be atop the Week 2 waiver wire list. You could potentially save yourself a boatload of FAAB by stashing Watkins now if, of course, you have the roster spot.
As for Doubs, he was likely drafted in a fair amount of leagues. Doubs caught eight of 15 targets for 82 yards and two touchdowns in the preseason, generating significant buzz. But if he’s out there in your league, he might be worth a speculative add as well. However, I cannot recommend starting him in Week 1.
