KEY Fantasy Questions Facing the Packers with Eli Berkovits
STACKED extracted the fantasy-relevant player signal from this video and kept the full transcript here for context.
25 min
Duration
Estimated from transcript
Aug 13, 2026
Published
Thu, August 13, 2026
14
Player insights
14
Players mentioned
Topics
Aaron RodgersChase BrownChristian WatsonJames CookJayden ReedJordan LoveJosh JacobsKenneth Walker IIIMarShawn LloydMatthew GoldenRomeo DoubsSaquon BarkleySkyy MooreTucker Kraft
Player analysis
Player insights
Aaron Rodgers
NegativeProjection19:15
Matt LaFleur recently stated that Jordan Love is the best pre-snap processor he has ever been around regarding protection calls, explicitly ranking him above Aaron Rodgers in that specific skill set.
Insight pageChase Brown
PositiveValue23:30
Eli Berkovits and Ian Hartitz are both extremely high on Chase Brown, with Berkovits arguing he should be a first-round pick and Hartitz ranking him as his number eight player overall. Berkovits projects a career year and prefers him over Saquon Barkley, James Cook, and late first-round wide receivers, while Hartitz has moved him ahead of Jonathan Taylor in his rankings.
Insight pageChristian Watson
PositiveRole7:44
Eli Berkovits confirms that Christian Watson is locked into a full-time role on the outside for the Packers, given the significant financial investment the team made in him. Berkovits projects Watson to be a primary starter in two-receiver sets and highlights him as a top target for fantasy drafts, noting he possesses as much upside as any receiver in the league.
Insight pageJames Cook
NegativeValue23:40
Eli Berkovits explicitly states he is taking Kenneth Walker and Chase Brown ahead of James Cook in his draft rankings.
Insight pageJayden Reed
NegativeUsage7:04
Eli Berkovits notes that Jayden Reed has been highly efficient downfield but faces a significant usage hurdle in two-receiver sets, where Christian Watson and Matthew Golden are locked in as the primary outside options. Reed has historically seen almost no usage in two-receiver sets, with only one career target in that alignment. Berkovits expects his role to remain limited unless an injury occurs to Watson or Golden.
Insight pageJordan Love
PositiveUsage16:00
Eli Berkovits expects the Packers to increase Jordan Love's passing volume this season, noting that head coach Matt LaFleur has explicitly stated he intends to 'let him cook.' LaFleur also praised Love's pre-snap processing ability, claiming it is the best he has ever been around, even surpassing Aaron Rodgers. While his fantasy outlook is capped by a conservative offensive pace, leading to a QB15 ranking, Love excels in no-huddle situations and has shown a strong rapport with Matthew Golden, frequently targeting him as his primary read on 70% of snaps.
Insight pageJosh Jacobs
NegativeProjection2:20
Eli Berkovits expresses concern for Josh Jacobs' fantasy outlook due to the Packers' offensive line, which he describes as potentially the worst the team has had in 15 years and particularly poor at run-blocking. While Berkovits expects Jacobs to play in 17 games and remain the primary goal-line back, he argues that centering the offense around him is questionable given the line's struggles. Jacobs is also dealing with a groin injury and potential legal issues, though Berkovits leans toward him avoiding a suspension.
Insight pageKenneth Walker III
PositiveValue23:17
Eli Berkovits argues that Kenneth Walker should be a first-round pick, projecting a career year and suggesting he should be drafted in the 8-12 range rather than his current 14-18 ADP. Berkovits prefers him over Saquon Barkley, James Cook, and late first-round wide receivers, citing the team's financial investment as a reason to expect heavy usage.
Insight pageMarShawn Lloyd
PositiveBreakout0:07
Eli Berkovits highlights Lloyd's explosive burst, noting he consistently gains significant yardage upon touching the ball. Despite historical health concerns, Berkovits views him as a high-value handcuff and a must-roster player for anyone drafting Josh Jacobs, especially in dynasty formats. Berkovits projects Lloyd to earn 7-10 touches per game when healthy, serving as a boom-bust flex play in deeper leagues and a strong DFS target due to his explosive scoring ability from anywhere on the field.
Insight pageMatthew Golden
PositiveBreakout7:44
Eli Berkovits is high on Matthew Golden, noting that Jordan Love has explicitly identified him as the locked-in X receiver. Despite a quiet rookie season, Golden is a standout route runner with reliable hands. At camp, Love has consistently targeted Golden, often making him the first read on 70% of snaps. Berkovits projects him to catch 4-6 passes per game and views him as a high-upside WR4/flex option. He is currently a significant value in Yahoo drafts (WR55, round 11), being undervalued compared to peers like Juwan Jennings.
Insight pageRomeo Doubs
NegativeDepth Chart8:26
Eli Berkovits notes that the departure of Romeo Doubs is part of the Packers' strategy to consolidate their receiver rotation and focus on a smaller core of primary targets. Berkovits also highlights a specific play where Doubs stopped his route in the end zone, contributing to a viral interception that unfairly damaged Jordan Love's reputation.
Insight pageSaquon Barkley
NegativeValue23:38
Eli Berkovits explicitly states he is taking Kenneth Walker and Chase Brown ahead of Saquon Barkley in his draft rankings.
Insight pageSkyy Moore
NegativeUsage9:19
Eli Berkovits notes that Skyy Moore rotates in with the starters during practice, but this is not indicative of a meaningful role in the Packers' offensive game plan.
Insight pageTucker Kraft
NegativeValue20:13
Eli Berkovits ranks Tucker Kraft as his TE4 and considers him the best value at the position in current drafts. Despite recovering from a torn ACL, Berkovits expects him to be ready for Week 1, noting that he looks healthy in rehab and possesses a 'psychopath' mentality that makes him a potential difference-maker. There is minor concern regarding his recovery to 100%, but he is a strong candidate for increased target volume if the offense plays with more tempo and higher pass volume, especially if competition like Wicks and Doubs are not factors.
Insight pageFull transcript
Episode Transcript
0:00What's going on everybody? Today we're breaking down all things about the Green Bay Packers getting some of our most fantasy relevant questions answered.
0:07Seeing if it's just me who's crazy to still be believing in Marshawn Lloyd if there could be a segment or just a
0:12figment of truth to that. What to make of this new look wide receiver room. How is Tucker Kraft feeling? All that much
0:18much more on a very special guest today to help us accomplish all that. We got Eli Berkovits in the house at
0:23bookofeli_nfl over on the old Twitter sphere. You can find his writing over at 24/7 Sports and the Packer Report. Also co-host of
0:31Pack-A-Day Podcast. Eli, welcome my man.
0:35>> Appreciate it Ian. Uh been a big fan of yours on all your fantasy content Twitter. Got to say one of the best
0:42Twitter follows out there. I'm sure you get that a lot, but you know, always love your your meme posting and all
0:48that. Very good stuff over there. And yeah, happy to talk fantasy with you Packers football. I was out in training camp for a few days already. Obviously
0:56have a lot of friends who have been there either every day or most days. So feel very confident in what's going on
1:02over there. And yeah, Marshawn Lloyd I'm right with you. We'll get into it, but I will never give up on that man.
1:09>> Eli is an awesome follow as well. Again, really does a good job blending of course his Packers propaganda, but also
1:14plenty of good actionable fantasy related stuff. And that's what we're looking for man. I know it's a fantasy football and real life we always have
1:21this weird divide going on because let's face it a lot of us fantasy nerds can be quite annoying when our team loses and
1:26that stuff. But end of day we're all looking for usage and just seeing who's playing well. I like to think someday we
1:31can all get along and maybe this is a good first step Eli. But let's not bury the lead. Let's start off with the
1:36Marshawn Lloyd propaganda that I wanted to bring you on here and talk about.
1:40Obviously Josh Jacobs has been out with a groin injury for a little bit. Also in some legal issues. From what you've seen
1:45with your two eyes, does Marshawn Lloyd look like the real deal Holyfield?
1:50>> He does man. And and I don't say this as a Packer fan. Like I was huge on Marshawn Lloyd coming out of the draft
1:56out of USC when I had no idea he'd be a packer probably I mean I didn't expect him to be a packer so I've always been a
2:02fan of his and from the very first time day he stepped foot in Green Bay it's like the guy touches the ball and he's
2:09already like 6 yards down field you know I feel like in a way like Aaron Jones had that effect to him but Jones was
2:14more like strategic with the way he ran the ball Lloyd is just like boom just burst he's just down the field already and the
2:21first few days of practice he had a couple big runs one for touchdown where it was an outside run to the left and
2:28you know I think it was Jevon Bullard who's fast was chasing him down to the pylon and he really didn't stand a
2:33chance to get to Lloyd there he beat him by multiple yards into the end zone and the whole thing with Lloyd as as you
2:39said everyone knows the Marshall Lloyd it's always been about health if the guy could stay healthy I think he is going
2:44to be a good NFL player so like you said Jacob's right now dealing with an injury potentially dealing with a suspension I
2:50thought that might not happen but now Adam Schefter recently said on the Pack-A-Day show that it's still being reviewed I still
2:59lean towards he probably gets doesn't get suspended but regardless if Lloyd is healthy I think he is someone you're going to want to have on your fantasy
3:05teams especially if you do draft Josh Jacobs or if you have Josh Jacobs in a dynasty league and you don't have Lloyd
3:12I would look to acquire him because I think he's going to be one of the most valuable handcuffs you know knock on
3:17wood that he's if he's healthy week one >> still pretty much free at the end of Yahoo and ESPN drafts right I know
3:24there's plenty of high stakes leagues where we got the sickos already chasing them up in the round 11 or so but you
3:29know a lot of you guys and me and Eli we will be playing in some of these more casual leagues as well Marshall Lloyd
3:34priority late round handcuff it was hilarious man and again it sucked that he got injured that part was definitely not funny but we finally did get the one
3:41preseason game last year and it's like Laflore just completely dusted off the entire section of Lloyd plays I just looked it up man he played 11 snaps in
3:48that game he got four targets he got six rush attempts just every single play.
3:53Let's see what this guy could finally do, but seeing what he could do, actually being used downfield with the wheel and stuff like that, it does seem
4:00like I'm with you, probably going to see Josh Jacobs in 17 games, but remember, man, LaFleur, even going back to Tennessee, Dion Lewis, Derrick Henry,
4:07and then Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams and AJ Dillon, like I'm not saying Lloyd's going to overtake Josh Jacobs, but could you see it being a little bit
4:14more of a committee than what it's looked like these past two seasons?
4:17>> For sure. I think, you know, the Packers, they just did not have anyone besides Jacobs that they trusted. Like Lloyd was not to be that guy. He got
4:24hurt. Emanuel Wilson, to be fair, filled in very admirably. I was a big Emanuel Wilson fan. Um but this is different.
4:31Like Lloyd, I don't know if it's going to be a full-blown committee, but I definitely think that as Jacobs ages, last year he dealt with the knee injury
4:38and it really kind of messed up that back half of his season. They don't want to have that happen again, so I
4:43certainly think Lloyd is going to get a fair share of touches. I would put it in the I don't know, 7 to 10 range per
4:49game, but let's say when they're both healthy. But I will say, like Josh Jacobs is just so good at the goal line.
4:56When it comes to those touchdowns, I do think Jacobs will own that. But Lloyd's the kind of guy, he doesn't need to be
5:01in inside the 3-yard line to score, you know, he could take a ball from anywhere on the field and score. I would say
5:07with Jacobs being on the field, I think Lloyd will be a really fun like DFS play any week and just have one big, you
5:13know, touchdown run, and so on, you want to target, probably pretty cheap. But in fantasy, I do think he'll get touches.
5:19He could be like a boom-bust flex play in a deeper league. But realistically, if Jacobs is healthy, I don't think he's
5:25someone you're going to want to start too often. But there will be some weeks where he just has that explosive play,
5:31and right there, that's going to be, you know, a 12-point play for you.
5:34>> Definitely prime handcuff. Maybe getting a little bit overzealous with thinking there could be some flex value, but hey, big plays, certainly don't hate that in
5:41some of these bigger leagues. Chris Brooks, seems like he is back at practice. We also got Damien Martinez, there seems to still be dozens of
5:47truthers out there. Do you have any comments or thoughts on these backup running backs?
5:51>> So Brooks I think is just simply what he is, which is a third down basically pass blocker, really good at it, but not
5:57really, you know, fantasy value I would say there. And then Damien Martinez, yeah, like coming out of that draft and fantasy football nerds draft nerds were
6:05big fans of his. I was a big fan of his.
6:07Kind of surprised he fell as late as he did in that draft. And he's looked pretty good in Packers training camp so
6:13far, had a couple nice runs on family night uh last Friday. So obviously someone that uh you know, I don't think
6:19he's competing right now for many regular season touches, but a Jacobs suspension or the scoring injury worsens, I would think that he will end up being
6:28that guy who ends up making the roster because Brooks has been dealing with an injury and there's really no one else uh
6:33that I think on the roster on the 90-man roster would push for a spot on the 53.
6:39>> It did seem like there were murmurs of some off-the-field stuff potentially pushing Damien Martinez down the, you know, draft in the first place. Things
6:45that again, we don't know, but I'm with you, certainly were some promising things about him as a pure on-the-field prospect. You mentioned family night.
6:52It's becoming one of my favorite like just kind of charades that we have going on in the fantasy community where we got
6:57all these, you know, training camp reports and then preseason first team uh stuff going on. But then we also have the Green Bay Packers family night. I
7:04noticed that they came out in the two tight end formation and we did not have Jaden Reed on the field. Eli, have you
7:10seen with your own two eyes the Packers have multiple tight ends on the field with Jaden Reed at any point this
7:16August? Cuz I know everyone in the fantasy community would love to see it at least once.
7:20>> I do believe yes. He has at least been out there. I don't believe he's been targeted, but it has happened. But Ian,
7:26I don't want you to get your hopes up too high cuz I will say I just don't I don't agree with it
7:32because Reed has been one of the most like efficient downfield receivers in football since he's entered the league and I do think he has the ability even
7:38at his size to play outside. But they obviously just paid Christian Watson a lot of money. He's going to be on the
7:44field every play on the outside. And then, Jordan Love just was quoted himself saying, you know, Matthew Golden's locked in at the X receiver
7:50spot. So, I definitely think for the most part in two receiver sets, it's going to be Watson and Golden. That being said,
7:58I do think Reed will certainly see at least some snaps in two receiver. Like previously, I think I I feel bad. I
8:04don't remember exactly who gave the snap the stat. I think it was one of the guys at the Fantasy Points team. But, I think
8:09Jayden Reed has either one target or literally one route in a two receiver set like in his career.
8:15>> target. It's one target. I looked at myself and started crying.
8:19>> Yeah, which is just crazy to me. Does not make any sense. But, you never know, like with Wicks and Dobbs gone,
8:26these guys are going to play more. I think they made a a real effort to consolidate this receiver room. So, I do think Reed can
8:33definitely find himself It's not going to be a ton, but he could and and let's be real, right? I don't want to I hope
8:39this doesn't happen, but Watson's dealt with injuries before. Golden missed a few games last year. If either one of those guys goes down, I do think Reed
8:46will find himself in two receiver sets quite often.
8:49>> Now, that's going to be my next question because there has been this annoying when I don't want to say annoying cuz
8:54you know, Packers had a really good offense. They had Dobbs, they had Wicks, they had a lot of depth at wide receiver
8:58last few years, but you would always see four or five guys kind of out there and it would kind of limit the upside to all
9:02them. You mentioned it, Watson, Golden, Reed. Have we not been seeing Xavier Williams and Travis Homer? Oh, sorry, Bo Melton. It's a different right. Sky
9:11Moore, we got these backup guys. Have you seen them rotating in as much as past years or has it really been, you
9:15know, noticeable that they are leaning more so just on the top three?
9:19>> So, the other guys will rotate in, but that's practice like the what the weird thing is they'll do like on the first
9:25snap of practice, it's like starters, Xavier Williams, Sky Moore, and then they won't play another snap with the starters the rest of the day. So, it
9:31doesn't mean much. I think Matt LaFleur just likes to make people upset, but for the most part, I think like Matt LaFleur
9:38said it this offseason multiple times, Jordan Love has said it, Brian Gutekunst has said it. I think they realize that as nice as it is to have that kind of
9:45depth, it's just not the most, I don't know, logical way to run an offense where you have so much rotation at
9:51receiver. I think there was a reason they let Dobbs walk and there's a reason they traded Wicks for not a ton when I
9:57think people who watch football see that Dontayvion Wicks is a talented player.
10:01Um and I think they traded him because they knew like not only do they want to consolidate around these three guys. I
10:06think they complement each other very well. You have Watson, that stereotypical big body, downfield kind of guy. He could also work it on the bit
10:12underneath. Doubs, Golden speedster, X receiver. And then Reed, your classic slot guy, really good after the catch with the ball in his hands. So, I do
10:21think it'll be more consolidated on those three. And I've for years, since Davante left, basically, been a big like do not draft Packers receivers. I think
10:30they're great NFL players, but for fantasy, they're just they don't play enough, they're not consistent enough, and you're going to frustrate yourself.
10:36This is the first year where I don't think I've left a best ball draft without at least one. Whether I mean
10:43Watson, obviously, being the top target.
10:45And I would say Golden, who I think right now is going after Reed, is probably my next uh target and then
10:51Reed. And again, I think Reed's a great football player. It's different for fantasy, but this is the first time in years where no Packers bias because
10:58again, year after year I said, "Don't draft them. Draft the tight end. Draft the running back." This year, draft yourself some Packers. I think Christian
11:05Watson has as much upside as anyone uh at the receiver position.
11:10>> It's funny you say that, too, cuz I recently did a video looking at kind of guys who are going earlier in
11:14high-stakes drafts versus the home leagues. You know, it just make you think maybe more money's going on with the pros, maybe they know a little bit
11:19more than the Joes, especially in early August. And Christian Watson was one of these guys standing out again with the more, you know, high-stakes draft was
11:25taking them earlier. And all the pushback was immediately just, "I'm done with this. I've drafted Packers wide receivers every single year. It just
11:32doesn't work out. It does seem like the tide could be turning there. Interesting to hear you pretty high on Matthew Golden here, man. He flashed, obviously
11:39had a great playoff game, and there were plays, I think it was the uh the one catch down the sideline against the
11:43Browns or whatever, you know, nearly could have stayed in bounds for 95 yards when they played against the Cowboys. I get it. I Personally, I look back at his
11:51season though, and I'm like, man, Watson was out, Reed got hurt. Like, it kind of went his way early, and he had his
11:57opportunities. He just didn't make much of it. Do you see, like just again, reason to believe that he has taken a
12:02next step and not only has more opportunity, but could actively be further along his development and just ready to be a better NFL player?
12:10>> Yeah, I mean, I really do. I think he's one of those guys where you're not wrong. Like, last year, Reed went out in
12:16the week two, Watson missed the first eight games, Dobbs missed a couple games, Wicks missed a couple games, like, Kraft obviously got hurt. It
12:23should have been there for him, but it wasn't like he was getting eight targets and catching two balls. Like, he just
12:28wasn't getting the targets, and that was the story out of college, right? He wasn't a high-end target earner, and I know a lot of, you know, uh fantasy
12:35nerds are very into the target earning uh kind of statistics, but I I think if you watch his film, you see how
12:42good of a route runner he is. He's consistently getting open, and one thing, maybe the thing that I noticed the most when I was at Packers camp, and
12:49it's been a steady drumbeat since then, is that Jordan Love is just targeting this guy over and over and over and
12:54over. I mean, and it it's just when I was there specifically, it was Love gets the snap, and it looked like
13:01Golden was his first read on on literally 70% of those plays. Like, yes, Tucker Kraft's not out there right now, but still, like, Watson's on the field,
13:08and more often than not, it was Love gets the snap, looks for Golden. If he's not open, then Watson a little
13:15deeper downfield becomes the option.
13:17But, I think Golden is going to get peppered with a lot of targets.
13:20There's a reason they drafted this guy in the first round after going 20-plus years without drafting a receiver, and I get it. There are some people who
13:27didn't like his profile, but I just think if you watch him play, you watch the way he runs his routes, and he has
13:33great hands. Like he didn't struggle with drops a lot of Packers receivers have in the past. He wasn't doing that.
13:37So again, I don't think it's going to be the kind of guy you want to have to trust week in week out in your fantasy
13:42team, but I really like him. Like you get him as like your wide receiver four, and he's like a great boom bust guy
13:48where you put him in at your flex, and I don't just think it's like, well, hopefully he comes down with a 60-yard
13:53touchdown like Marquez Valdes-Scantling back in the day. Like he's going to I think catch four to six passes a game.
13:59It's just a matter of will one of those go for 40 yards? Will one of them be for a touchdown? But I know that they want
14:04to get him the ball based on everything they're saying. Jordan Love really loves him. Every photograph that comes out of Packers camp of like guys on the
14:11sideline, it's always Love and Golden, Love and Golden standing next to each other. I think I I think they want to
14:17get this guy involved, and I think they're going to do it.
14:20>> And that's half the battle sometimes, man. So and honestly, you can't say enough good things about the price on Yahoo specifically cuz it can't change,
14:26you know, across providers. And I know, guys, maybe not in your league, you know, kudos to you, a scholar for being
14:31in a sharper league and stuff, but just based on the drafts going on in Yahoo, man, wide receiver 55 going all the way
14:37in round 11. Guys like Juwan Jennings and Deebo Samuel going ahead of Matthew Golden. Not in our drafts though, Eli.
14:43Not in our drafts.
14:45The offense as a whole, this stat blow my blows my mind. Rich Rebar, he's been on the show before at Lord Reebs, again,
14:50legend. The 2025 Packers averaged 8.9 possessions per game that did not end in kneel downs. That is the fewest for a
14:57team that he has seen since 1999.
15:00The Packers had 31 fewer possessions than the Lions last season, man. And the reason I bring this up is cuz one of the
15:05notes I heard could have been from you or one of the other great Packers beat reporters, but they were saying there's
15:10a bigger emphasis on getting out of the huddle, getting lined up faster, maybe moving with a quicker pace. Like have you noticed that out there cuz it sure
15:16as hell would be nice to have a few more possessions to rack up fantasy points?
15:20>> Yeah. Uh when I saw that tweet by Rich, it was like the room around me started to like go fuzzy. I was like, is this a
15:26real stat? Like it it's it's crazy to me. I feel like that should be a statistic for like the Raiders where
15:32it's like all right, we want to limit as you know, just stretch out this game where we're just running the ball and just try to
15:37get out of this game and maybe we managed to win a one possession game.
15:41And that is my one biggest like knock on Matt LaFleur is that he I in my opinion has an incredibly talented offense with
15:48a very talented quarterback and he plays like he has no talent on offense and a very untalented quarterback. He's afraid to just let them go and play. It's very
15:56frustrating, but like you said, they have repeatedly said how they want to go a little faster, get out of the huddle
16:01faster. I wish they would even like I don't see it happening. Like when they go no huddle in like two minute
16:07situations, they're one of the best offenses out there and Love is great at it. For some reason, LaFleur just doesn't want him to do it outside of
16:13when they have to, but I do think that they're at the very least going to get out of the huddle quicker. It won't
16:18always be, you know, four seconds left on the play clock and they're snapping the ball, but Well, what what did you
16:23say? It was 8.9 possessions per game?
16:26Like maybe maybe he gets to 10. I don't think all of a sudden they're going to be, you know, the Kellen Moore Saints or
16:31something, but I agree, man. It is so frustrating and it is something that it seems like a crazy little detail to
16:39think about for fantasy, but when your guys aren't on the field, it's something you got to think about. So, I get it and
16:44that's why Jordan Love is someone that I think a lot of people find to be a very talented real life quarterback, but
16:49someone that, you know, maybe you'll have as like the 15th quarterback in fantasy. You're not really drafting him much higher than that.
16:56>> His efficiency numbers are incredible. I think he gets bad, you know, PR because he doesn't throw many picks, but he has
17:03thrown some bad ones over the years and we all remember the screenshot of, you know, him hitting the Panthers player in
17:08the chest in the end zone, which I hate that backlash, man, cuz look, you can find bad plays, but Dobbs went out of
17:14the end zone and stopped and then it was fourth down, so he just threw it up, man. Like the fact that play gets held
17:19so much about Jordan Love pisses me off.
17:21>> Yeah, I was in the end zone. I was at that game in the end zone of that play, and I'm like, "What number one? Of
17:26course, I had to go. I'm like, 'Packers Panthers, I get to go watch a win.'" They lose to the Panthers. Brutal.
17:31But I agree, and also that play, if Dobbs just came back in bounds, the defender dropped the ball. Like Dobbs could have probably caught that off the
17:39deflection. He just stopped. I'm like, "What are you doing?" But I was going to say, it's true. Like Jordan Love over
17:44the last 2 years has the fewest number of interceptions of any quarterback, I think with like 500 attempts, like of any real starter. Like everyone assumes,
17:53"Oh, he's a gunslinger, throws a bunch of interceptions." It's really not the case. It's just the problem is he has two or three like horrendous
17:59interceptions that go viral, and then he gets that he gets that you know, reputation, but it's not it's not reality.
18:06>> Could you see them maybe opening up the offense a little bit more? Cuz again, Love has largely been great. I know he's
18:12been banged up, particularly at the very start of 2024, so that didn't make life easier, but you know, these young receivers have grown up, and they've
18:18paid them a lot, and they've used a first-round pick on Golden, and again, maybe putting the entire offense kind of around Josh Jacobs and the running game
18:25doesn't make quite as much sense. Any thoughts there? Because again, on the one hand, I say that as someone who wants more fantasy points and passing,
18:32but on the other hand, LaFleur is obviously a smart guy. He's had plenty of success kind of doing what he's doing.
18:37>> No, I actually do think that will it get to the extent that people like us want? Probably not. But I do
18:44think that LaFleur, he said it himself multiple times this offseason, I I think they're going to start putting more on Love's plate. I mean, you have the
18:51weapons. The offensive line right now, unfortunately, it's it's probably got to be the worst offensive line the Packers have had in probably the last 15 years,
18:59and it's definitely worse as a run-blocking unit than pass-blocking. So even if they want to run the ball, you saw it down the stretch last year, they
19:06couldn't do it. And Josh Jacobs, as much as I love him, like what are you going to do? Ashton Jeanty, great running back
19:11last year with the Raiders, couldn't get anything done because of how bad that line was. So, I do think they're going
19:15to put more on Love's plate and LaFleur was just interviewed on NFL Network by Stacey Dales, and he said that Jordan
19:22Love is the best pre-snap processor when it comes to calling out protections he's ever been around, and he included Aaron Rodgers in that. And that obviously made
19:30the rounds over on Twitter, and like if you if he really believes what he's saying and Dales even said like you said
19:37ever been around that includes Aaron Rodgers and LaFleur didn't back down from it, then I would hope that means he trusts him to call out protections in
19:44the pass game and the communication I think has been the best it's ever been.
19:48So, again, I don't think it's going to be the most pass-happy offense in football, but I do think even if it's three or
19:55four more pass attempts a game, that makes a big difference and I do think with with the offense they have now,
20:01it's time to really let Jordan Love and LaFleur said this quote, I'm going to let him cook. You got to let him cook.
20:07>> Nice.
20:08Let Jordan Love cook. We would absolutely love to see it. You're cooking, Eli. We appreciate your time.
20:13Last thing I want to ask you about though is obviously the other big piece of this passing game, Tucker Kraft.
20:19Maybe Darnell Washington and George Kittle are more entertained to watch with the football in their hands, but maybe not, man. Tucker Kraft, absolute
20:26savage out there. So many big plays, so fun to watch last year. Just unfortunately had that season-ending injury. Obviously didn't start off
20:33training camp on the field with everyone, but it seems like he's been working his way back. Do you expect him to be out there week one just from your
20:39vantage point? Has he looked close to 100%?
20:43So, as of now, everything we're seeing, I fully expect him to be there week one.
20:47Barring any setback, he's been saying it for months, and he's practicing. I think uh the goal is for him to be back at
20:54full practice by the uh joint practices with the Cardinals, which will be the third week of the preseason, so a couple
21:00weeks from now, not too far out. And I was there at training camp, and he was working off to the side, and they told
21:06us specifically we're not allowed to film uh players in rehab, but this guy was moving you would never in a million
21:14years guess that this guy's coming off a torn ACL doing sprints, cutting, running with the you know the bands around your waist like the resistance
21:22bands and just powering through it. He was doing like jump squats.
21:26He looks healthy and anyone who watches interviews of him or hears him miked up and I say this in the best way possible.
21:32The guy is a legitimate psychopath. Like he just doesn't care.
21:36I have full confidence in him and I think right now if you're doing drafts right now you're doing best ball drafts take Tucker Gra
21:44Graf Kraft sorry cuz it is the best value you're going to get at the tight end position. I have him ranked at tight
21:49end four behind Bowers, McBride and Loveland and like I have him ahead of Warren, Pitts, Fanning.
21:55He we saw what he could do last year and I really think maybe week one and two it takes him a minute, you know, really
22:01knock the rust off. But I I think we're going to see pretty much the Tucker Kraft we're expecting to see this year
22:07and it you know, I don't want it to sound like oh everything's amazing.
22:10Everyone's the best on the Packers, but if there's one guy that like if I had to come out with only one player in my
22:16drafts this year from the Packers, it's Tucker Kraft because it's a onesie position and I'm that confident that he is going to be a difference maker at
22:23tight end and that's saying a lot cuz I love Christian Watson this year, but Tucker Kraft right now you're getting him as like the tight end five, six,
22:31seven, maybe even eight. Like people love LaPorta. I also love LaPorta this year. But Kraft is someone that I'm super confident in and I just think
22:40he he just doesn't care. Like LaFleur's going to have to protect him from himself a little bit, but once he's out
22:45there he's out there.
22:47>> My only concern with Kraft has been the idea that maybe he's not back to 100% yet and just the way they kind of use
22:52him underneath. We would like to see him at full strength to make the most out of it, but sounds like he's pretty close
22:57and then just kind of the volume factor, but again if we are getting a little more tempo, we are getting a few more
23:02pass attempts, and we don't have Wix and Dobs to worry about. Why not have Tucker Kraft stepping into those extra targets
23:07as well? So, fantastic stuff, Eli. Last thing, do you have any bold calls you want to get through? I mean, sounds like
23:13you're pretty high on Tucker Kraft, but if you want to throw something provocative out there, we'd appreciate it.
23:17>> All right.
23:19Something provocative out there. I right now think Kenneth Walker is going I mean, I I don't know if I want to talk about the Packers. I'm just
23:26talking fantasy in general, but All right.
23:30There's like that big cluster of running backs there in the second round, and I think both Kenneth Walker and Chase Brown should be first-round picks. I'm
23:38taking them ahead of, you know, Saquon.
23:40I'm taking them ahead of James Cook. I'm taking them ahead of the late first-round receivers.
23:45Very high on both of them. I think they're both in for career years, and I've seen them go around that like 14 to
23:5218 range. I think they could go in like the 8 to 12 range.
23:56>> [snorts] >> Yeah, I've been calling out the great wall of RBs that we got going on that round one, two turn. Chase Brown
24:01couldn't be with you more. He's my number eight player overall. I even moved him ahead of Jonathan Taylor. What could go wrong at that point, you know?
24:07But and then Kenneth Walker, obviously, 43 million reasons for you to choose to force-feed him the football. Absolutely love that call. Eli Berkovits, again,
24:15@bookofeli_nfl, find his writing 24/7 Sports and Packer Report, co-host on Pack A Day Podcast.
24:22We appreciate your time, my man, and we appreciate your time checking out another edition of this lovely show {slash} podcast. I still don't have an
24:28official name for it, but we'll worry about that some other day. If you like the show, then please like the show and
24:32hit that subscribe button. Always does help as well. So, hope everyone enjoys a weekend full of actual preseason football. We are so back, and we'll be
24:39so back again breaking down more football throughout the summer and throughout the season, obviously. So, for Ian for Eli, I'm Ian. Thanks again
24:46for tuning in, and until next time, take care.
