Matthew Golden
Wide Receiver #22
Matthew Golden News
Matthew Golden Continues to Enjoy a Remarkable Year 2 Breakout
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Matthew Golden has carved out an enormous role in his second pro season, cementing himself as a low-end WR1 in fantasy scoring so far. Golden was highly disappointing as a rookie last year with a WR89 finish in scoring. However, he is enjoying an enormous Year 2 breakout so far this season with 24 catches, 397 yards, and two touchdowns. Relative to last year, he has more yards, more touchdowns, the same number of targets, and just five fewer catches, despite playing just five games so far this season and 14 last season. Equally impressive is the fact that Golden has achieved these marks despite sharing volume with Christian Watson. The Packers have supported top-tier production from both receivers, with Golden ranking as the WR11 and Watson as the WR3. Golden's big-play upside should allow him to continue to produce in Week 6 against the Dallas Cowboys, whose secondary has repeatedly shown it can be susceptible to giving up big plays over the top.
Oct 14, 2026 8:20 PM EST
Matthew Golden Continues to Ascend With 100-Yard Performance
Green Bay Packers second-year wide receiver Matthew Golden could not find the end zone in the team's Week 5 blowout win over the division-rival Chicago Bears, but he had a 100-yard performance for the second time in the last three weeks. In the 31-7 win on Sunday, Golden caught six of his seven targets for a season-high 123 yards. He tied Christian Watson for the team lead in catches and was one shy of Watson in targets. Golden averaged a healthy 20.5 yards per catch, but Watson had 23.8 yards per catch and both of quarterback Jordan Love's passing touchdowns. With Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks no longer in town, Golden is seeing the breakout that many projected in his second season in the NFL. There is enough volume to go around in this Green Bay Offense (still without starting RB Josh Jacobs) for both Watson and Golden to be every-week starters in fantasy football lineups. Golden has a great matchup to go over the 100-yard mark for the second straight week in next Sunday night's game against the Dallas Cowboys.
Oct 11, 2026 7:20 PM EST
Matthew Golden Holds WR2/WR3 Value In Week 5
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Matthew Golden caught three of seven targets for 21 yards and a touchdown against Tampa Bay. He now has 18 receptions for 274 yards and two touchdowns on 37 targets through four games. Despite the drop in yardage, Golden scored for the second consecutive week. Following a 12-target performance against Atlanta, his seven targets tied Tucker Kraft for the team lead. Chicago has held opponents below 200 passing yards per game and allowed only four passing touchdowns through four games, giving Golden a tougher test as he looks to score for a third straight week. Golden continues to see regular targets alongside Christian Watson and has established himself as a consistent part of Jordan Love's passing game. RotoBaller ranks Golden WR18 for Week 5, making him a solid WR2/WR3 start.
Oct 9, 2026 2:49 PM EST
Matthew Golden Solidifying His Place in Packers' Passing Game
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Matthew Golden didn't put up much yardage in Week 4, but he still found the end zone for the second straight game. Golden caught three of seven targets for 21 yards against Tampa Bay, including a two-yard touchdown on fourth down. The second-year receiver now has 18 catches for 274 yards and two scores through four games, already putting him within 87 yards of his entire rookie-season total. More importantly, the targets have been there. Golden has drawn 37 looks, five more than Christian Watson and the most on Green Bay's roster. He saw 12 targets in both Week 1 and Week 3, turning the latter opportunity into his first 100-yard receiving game of the season. Watson remains the more productive receiver, but Golden has established himself as a regular part of the passing attack rather than a complementary option. His catch rate still leaves room for improvement, though the opportunities have been consistent. RotoBaller ranks him WR18 for Week 5 against Chicago, reflecting how much his fantasy value has grown.
Oct 8, 2026 7:38 AM EST
Matthew Golden in the Midst of a Breakout Season
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Matthew Golden has been in the midst of a breakout season in 2026. In three games, the second-year receiver has hauled in 15 of 30 targets for 253 yards and a touchdown, averaging just under 13 half-PPR fantasy points per game. After struggling mightily in his rookie season, Golden has turned the corner, with the Packers using him more frequently and implementing the second-most pass-heavy offense in the NFL this season. While Christian Watson will remain a key part of this passing game, there's no reason he and Golden can't both produce in this pass-heavy offense, with running back Josh Jacobs on the commissioner's exempt list. As they face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 4, Golden is a must-start wide receiver as he looks to build on his hot start.
Sep 30, 2026 5:11 AM EST
Matthew Golden Hits the Century Mark, Leads Team in Targets
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Matthew Golden caught five of his 12 targets for 100 yards and one touchdown during Thursday's Week 3 loss against the Atlanta Falcons. The Packers suffered an ugly three-score loss at home, but Golden benefitted from the negative game script and was even able to find the end zone in garbage time. He has been a pleasant Year 2 breakout receiver so far this season, amassing 12 targets in two of his three games so far. He is also averaging 15.4 fantasy points per game in full-PPR leagues, which is a refreshing improvement from his average of 5.0 points as a rookie last year. It has also been encouraging to see that he can produce as a low-end WR2 despite the presence of wide receiver Christian Watson and tight end Tucker Kraft, who are also firmly established as fantasy-relevant options. Look for Golden to remain a productive fantasy receiver in Week 4 against an underperforming Buccaneers squad.
Sep 24, 2026 8:30 PM EST
Matthew Golden Offers Strong Value In Week 3 Against Falcons
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Matthew Golden has quickly established a steady role in the passing game. He enters Thursday's Week 3 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons as a solid WR2/WR3 after catching four of six targets for a team-high 58 yards against the Jets. The second-year receiver out of Texas now has 10 receptions for 153 yards on 18 targets, including 12 targets in the season opener. Jayden Reed (neck) has been ruled out, which should keep Golden heavily involved alongside Christian Watson in two-receiver sets. Golden has yet to score a touchdown, but his production has remained consistent. The matchup may work in his favor, with Atlanta missing top cornerback A.J. Terrell (groin) and edge rusher Samson Ebukam (hamstring). Green Bay will be without left guard Aaron Banks (knee/toe), so protection remains worth monitoring. RotoBaller ranks Golden WR22 for Week 3 and lists him as a must-start for Thursday night. Treat him as a dependable WR2/WR3, with his steady target volume giving him a solid floor even without touchdown production.
Sep 23, 2026 12:56 PM EST
Matthew Golden Taking First Steps Toward Year 2 Breakout
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Matthew Golden will look to build on his existing momentum during Sunday's Week 2 contest against the New York Jets. After a relatively disappointing rookie season, Golden took a huge step forward in Week 1 of the 2026 season with six catches for 95 yards. He's working on solidifying himself as the No. 2 receiver behind Christian Watson and ahead of Jayden Reed, and another big game on Sunday would help that effort. The Jets posed a tough matchup for the Titans last week, but we wouldn't be surprised to see their secondary get exposed by a combination of Watson and Golden. The 23-year-old Texas product remains a high-end WR3/flex while continuing to build his track record in Year 2. Specifically, he ranks as the WR31 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football rankings for Week 2. He can be started in most leagues with 10+ teams.
Sep 19, 2026 8:37 PM EST
Matthew Golden Showing Signs of Much-Anticipated Year 2 Leap
All offseason, plenty of buzz suggested Green Bay Packers wide receiver Matthew Golden was a prime candidate to make a big Year 2 leap. That started to come to fruition on Sunday, as Golden caught six of 12 targets for 95 yards in the Packers' Week 1 loss to the Vikings. In addition to the high volume and yardage total, he also saw the field quite often, taking on an 82% snap share. Golden has officially solidified himself as the Packers' No. 2 receiver over Jayden Reed, who played just 57% of the snaps. Golden's emergence as a weekly fantasy threat is great news for managers who drafted him in the first round of dynasty league drafts last year, and also for redraft managers who got a potential steal in the back half of 2026 fantasy drafts. It also bodes well for the Packers' offense, which needed more receivers to step up after Josh Jacobs' placement on the commissioner's exempt list may have shifted the team's approach from run-heavy to pass-heavy. Golden is still behind Christian Watson on the depth chart, but all that matters is that the Texas product is on the fantasy radar and he's here to stay. He ranks as a low-end WR2 or high-end WR3 for Week 2 against the New York Jets.
Sep 16, 2026 6:28 AM EST
Matthew Golden Has Loads of Fantasy Upside In Week 1
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Matthew Golden looks to hit the ground running in Week 1 when the Packers face the Minnesota Vikings in both teams' season opener. Last season's first-round pick, Golden was just a few complete deep passes from a whole different discussion about him for fantasy football this season. With just 40 targets and 29 receptions in 2025, along with sporadic time on the field, Golden was a bust on the stat sheet and for fantasy managers. This season, things could be different in the Packers' receiver room with Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks in new locations, so Golden will get every opportunity to stay on the field this season and produce. For fantasy, Golden is an immediate flex-worthy upside play against the Vikings in Week 1, who struggled to contain outside receivers as they allowed the third-most fantasy points to that cohort last season.
Sep 11, 2026 4:05 PM EST
Matthew Golden Steps Into Bigger Role in Year 2
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Matthew Golden has a much clearer path to playing time entering his second season. Golden was the top breakout choice in a poll of NFL executives and scouts conducted by ESPN's Jeremy Fowler after a quiet rookie year in which he caught 29 passes for 361 yards on 44 targets. One AFC executive questioned why Green Bay didn't use the former first-round pick more and pointed to his speed as a reason for optimism. The opportunity looks different now. Romeo Doubs left in free agency and Dontayvion Wicks was traded to Philadelphia, while Golden is listed with Christian Watson and Jayden Reed among Green Bay's starting receivers. He also flashed in the playoffs, catching four passes for 84 yards and his first NFL touchdown against Chicago. Golden still has to turn the opportunity into production, but the path to a much larger Year 2 role is there.
Sep 9, 2026 7:34 AM EST
Matthew Golden Brings Breakout Potential in Expanded Role
Green Bay Packers Matthew Golden is set for a larger role in the Packers' offense this season and could be a late-round sleeper with true breakout potential. Last year, as a rookie, the first-round pick from Texas totaled 29 catches for 361 receiving yards. He scored his first NFL touchdown in the team's playoff game against the Bears, finishing with four catches for 84 yards and a score. After inconsistent playing time, Golden is locked into a top-three role on the Packers for this year after the team traded Dontayvion Wicks to the Eagles and watched Romeo Doubs sign with the Patriots as a free agent. Golden should be locked into three-wide sets alongside Jayden Reed and Christian Watson. As an outside threat with breakaway speed, Golden could be a big-play-reliant starting option in deep leagues based on his more consistent role. He's ranked as RotoBaller's No. 44 WR in PPR leagues, and he's a solid late-round option to consider as you build depth into your receiving corps. The first-round pick has plenty of upside, even though he remains unproven, and he is therefore a high-risk, high-reward sleeper to target.
Sep 3, 2026 5:13 AM EST
Matthew Golden Has a Much Better Setup in Year Two
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Matthew Golden didn't have much to show for his rookie year until the very end. He caught 29 passes for 361 yards during the regular season, then went for 84 yards and his first NFL touchdown against Chicago in the playoffs. Green Bay has cleared out some of the traffic since then. Romeo Doubs left in free agency and Dontayvion Wicks was traded, leaving Golden in the top three with Christian Watson and Jayden Reed. The summer has helped his case, too. Golden caught a 57-yard touchdown from Jordan Love on Family Night, missed a couple of practices with a toe issue, then came right back without much trouble. On Friday against Denver, he was out there with the starters and caught a 19-yard pass from Love on fourth-and-inches during the opening touchdown drive. There are still plenty of mouths to feed once Tucker Kraft is included, so Golden isn't guaranteed a huge target jump. The opportunity is a lot cleaner than it was last year, though. RotoBaller has him 113th overall in PPR, and he's looking more interesting as a bench receiver with upside.
Aug 23, 2026 10:25 AM EST
Matthew Golden Returns to Practice After Toe Injury
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Matthew Golden (toe) returned to practice Tuesday, according to Rob Demovsky. Golden had been sidelined since Family Night, where he caught a 57-yard touchdown from Jordan Love and continued a strong start to his second training camp. The 2025 first-round pick had 29 catches for 361 yards and no touchdowns in 14 regular-season games as a rookie, but Green Bay has created more room for him this year after Romeo Doubs left in free agency and Dontayvion Wicks was traded. Golden, Christian Watson and Jayden Reed are expected to lead the receiver group. The quick return is encouraging, especially after Golden dealt with shoulder and wrist injuries during his rookie season, but it is not yet clear how much work he handled Tuesday. For now, the toe issue looks like a brief interruption rather than something that should change his fantasy outlook.
Aug 11, 2026 10:35 AM EST
Matthew Golden's Toe Injury Not a Long-Term Concern
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Matthew Golden (toe) is dealing with an injury, but head coach Matt LaFleur said Sunday that it is not considered a long-term concern, according to Matt Schneidman. No timetable has been given for Golden's return. The second-year receiver is expected to take on more responsibility after catching 29 passes for 361 yards across 14 games as a rookie. He finished the year with his best performance, posting four catches for 84 yards and his first NFL touchdown in Green Bay's playoff loss to Chicago. Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks are both gone, opening more opportunities for Golden alongside Christian Watson and Jayden Reed. The toe issue is worth watching during camp, particularly with Golden preparing for a much larger role in the Packers' passing game.
Aug 9, 2026 9:31 AM EST
Matthew Golden to Operate as X-Receiver in 2026
In an interview with NFL Network's Stacey Dales, Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love said he's looking forward to seeing wide receiver Matthew Golden as the "X-Receiver" in 2026. Love said, "[Golden] is locked in over there now at X, so I'm expecting big things. He's had a great training camp so far." With Romeo Doubs now in New England, Golden appears set to take over Doubs' role in the offense, while Christian Watson handles the Z and Jayden Reed will continue to operate as the slot receiver. The 2025 first-round pick had 361 yards on 29 receptions in 14 games last season, while playing just 53% of the snaps. With a larger workload coming for the former Texas Longhorn receiver, fantasy managers should be monitoring Golden in the late rounds of drafts.
Aug 2, 2026 5:42 PM EST
Matthew Golden Showing Out in Friday's Training Camp Practice
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Matthew Golden is making more noise early in training camp during Friday's practice, according to Ryan Wood of USA Today Sports. Golden skied to catch a pass from quarterback Jordan Love in the middle of the field for an 18-yard gain, which Wood says was the "best catch of camp so far." It didn't take long for Golden to top that with a 20-yard fade down the right sideline from Love. Cornerback Keisean Nixon had great leverage on the sideline, but Golden shielded him with his back and caught the ball over his shoulder in the same motion. It displayed "tremendous body control" and immediately became the new best catch of camp. With Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks no longer in town, the 22-year-old former 23rd overall pick out of the University of Texas has clear Year 2 breakout potential in the Packers' offense as a locked-in starter in three-wide sets next to Christian Watson and Jayden Reed. Golden only had 29 receptions for 361 yards and zero touchdowns in 14 regular-season contests, but he became the team's most consistent wideout late in the year, and he found the end zone for the first time in his career in the playoffs. His fantasy APD figures to continue rising this summer as one of the more intriguing young pass-catchers in the league.
Jul 31, 2026 10:07 AM EST
Matthew Golden Flashing Big-Play Upside Early in Camp
Green Bay Packers second-year wide receiver Matthew Golden is flashing big-play upside early in training camp, and he had another 20-plus-yard catch in practice on Thursday, per Ryan Wood of USA Today Sports. Golden, who was the 23rd overall pick last year from the University of Texas, failed to stand out in his rookie campaign in the team's crowded WR picture, ultimately finishing with 29 receptions on 44 targets for 361 yards and zero touchdowns in 14 regular-season games (five starts). But with Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks no longer on the team, the 22-year-old is primed for a much larger role in the Packers' passing attack in 2026. Golden was the team's most productive pass-catcher late last year as well, so fantasy managers targeting him are banking on a Year 2 breakout. He caught four passes for 84 yards and his first NFL touchdown in the playoff loss to the division-rival Chicago Bears. Given his current ADP, Golden is undervalued and profiles as an excellent value pick later in fantasy drafts in 2026.
Jul 30, 2026 10:00 AM EST
Matthew Golden Could Take a Major Step Forward in 2026
As a first-round rookie in 2025, Green Bay Packers wide receiver Matthew Golden was never able to build any consistency, six times being held beneath 10 receiving yards in a game, but his performance in a Wild Card playoff loss to the Bears provided a glimpse of bigger things to come in year two. The Packers traded away Dontayvion Wicks and allowed Romeo Doubs to depart in free agency, so when the team kicks off its first practice of training camp on Wednesday, Golden will be penciled in to the starting outside spot opposite Christian Watson. Jayden Reed's usual role out of the slot could expand in 2026 out of necessity, but Golden will have every opportunity to prove he belongs on the field in two-receiver sets, and his breakout candidacy is gaining steam. After dealing with a nagging ankle injury throughout his rookie season, better health and increased opportunity could lead to notable growth in year two, making Golden a potential bargain at RotoBaller's WR50.
Jul 27, 2026 5:49 AM EST
Matthew Golden a Second-Year Breakout Target in Green Bay
Green Bay Packers second-year wide receiver Matthew Golden has clear breakout potential in Year 2 in 2026 and should get plenty more opportunities in the passing game with a year in Green Bay's offense under his belt and with the offseason departures of Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks, according to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic. Golden, a first-rounder last year, didn't perform up to expectations in his first year in the NFL in a crowded WR room in Green Bay. He was tied for 84th with 29 catches and 78th with 361 receiving yards, according to TruMedia. The 22-year-old product of the University of Texas didn't score for the first time until the playoffs. Golden will be a clear top-three wideout for quarterback Jordan Love alongside injury-prone receivers Christian Watson and Jayden Reed. He'll be an excellent buy-low target in dynasty formats and a nice sleeper to target in redraft drafts with plenty of speed (4.29-second 40-yard dash), even though he doesn't impress anyone with his size (5-foot-11, 191 pounds).
Jul 14, 2026 10:37 AM EST
Latest Fantasy News
