The Green Bay Packers have a ton of players at the wide receiver position that can cause headaches for fantasy managers this season. Despite all of the bodies, there is one player I think will stand out above the rest once the season gets underway. If I’m targeting a receiver out of the bunch, it’s got to be rookie wide receiver Matthew Golden. The Packers selected Matthew Golden with the 23rd overall pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft. This should signal fantasy managers that Golden’s role should be significant this upcoming season.
Before the 2025 draft, the Packers added then-rookie wide receivers Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks to the mix alongside Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson. Hence, targeting a wide receiver for fantasy football can feel like a headache. The group didn’t perform up to snuff last season, as no wide receiver from the Packers’ 2024 roster ranked inside the top 25 among fantasy wide receivers.
Of the Packers’ wide receivers last season, then-rookie wide receiver Jayden Reed had the highest fantasy points per game average with 11.6. Reed did have nine games with double-digit fantasy points and finished the season with a 73% catch rate. Reed also finished with 857 receiving yards, leading the group.
With the Packers needing a “true wide receiver one”, the Packers drafted Matthew Golden to be the main weapon in the Packers’ passing attack. Golden has a significant set of skills that will be useful during his rookie campaign. One thing to note is that Golden is versatile, being able to play all over the field. This will allow Golden to have a large share of offensive snaps. Last season, Romeo Doubs led the Packers in Snap Share per game at 50.8 and Snap at 64.4, with Jayden Reed coming in second with 40.3 and 63.2% respectively.
Golden’s usage of the field at different receiver spots will be a huge asset for the Packers and fantasy managers this season. And another attribute that will stand out for Golden this season is his speed. Being clocked at the NFL Combine with a 4.29 40 time, Golden is one of the fastest wide receivers in the 2025 draft class. That speed, combined with his reliable hands and his strong ability to separate from defenders, will make Golden a solid target. It also seems that the fantasy football community is taking notice of just how good Golden can be.
At this moment, Jayden Reed is being taken ahead of Matthew Golden, but the gap isn’t as far apart as you might think. Reed is being taken at the 8.02 in 12-team, PPR formats. Matthew Golden is being drafted later in the eighth round at the 8.10 spot. So if you’re targeting a wide receiver from the Packers, you may be able to get Golden in the early part of the ninth round. Darnell Mooney, Michael Pittman, and Stefon Diggs are also being taken during the eighth round, according to FFCalculator’s ADP chart, so there’s a chance Golden will still be on the board after some veteran names come off.
My Outlook for Golden This Season
I believe that Matthew Golden and Jayden Reed will be the Packers’ top two options for the 2025 season. Golden’s versatility and speed are attributes that the Packers have been looking for in a wide receiver who wasn’t already on the roster. Jayden Reed certainly separated himself from the pack last season, but his drops were something that held him back from being a true “WR1”. During the 2024 season, Reed had 10 drops among wide receivers who saw more than 50 targets. That total tied him for third among all wide receivers. Dontayvion Wicks had eight drops, and Romeo Doubs finished with five drops.
The Packers want a wide receiver who can come down with the pill. Matthew Golden looks to be the solution to that particular problem. Also, factoring in the draft capital invested in Golden, it wouldn’t make sense for the Packers to draft him in the first round and not use him or consider him a starter-ready player.
Golden will be asked to do a lot for his rookie season, but he looks more than ready to assume the role. Jordan Love needs to have a reliable option that he can trust to get the ball downfield and in other areas, too. Should Golden be as advertised, he’ll make an excellent addition to fantasy rosters and a solid investment in the later rounds of redraft leagues.
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