Packers First-Round Pick Poised for Massive Rookie Year

First-round pick Matthew Golden has been identified as the Green Bay Packers’ most important non-QB by CBS Sports.

Golden, selected 23^rd overall, was the first wideout to be drafted in the first round by the Packers since 2002. Green Bay head coach Matt LaFleur was long adamant his team didn’t need a WR1, but he clearly didn’t believe that.

Golden enters the NFL as Jordan Love’s top receiving option. Green Bay’s receiving corps was mediocre at best in 2024, despite the offense finishing eighth in points per game. Jayden Reed was the Packers’ top-scoring receiver in fantasy football with the 30^th-most points overall. Reed was WR45 by points per game.

Reed led the team with 75 targets. No Packers receiver recorded more than seven total touchdowns.

Writing on CBS, Jared Dubin explained his decision, “They need Golden to be the guy who both draws coverage away from others and takes advantage when he has one-on-one situations, taking the offense to a higher level.”

Golden’s Fantasy Credentials

Green Bay was third in net passing yards per attempt, 10^th in passing touchdowns, and 12^th in total passing yards in 2024. This is a competent passing offense, which has added a first-round talent to pair with Reed.

Highly productive with Texas and Houston in college, Golden boasts elite speed and has showcased the ability to play any receiver spot. It looks like a great fit for a Packers offense with the upside to be in the top five in the NFL.

Fantasy managers, however, remain unconvinced about Golden’s role as a rookie. He’s WR47, per his ADP at Fantasy Pros, leaving him five spots behind Reed. Having been WR30 by total points, and now getting drafted outside the top 40 wideouts, managers are clearly wary of some of Reed’s targets being redirected towards Golden.

With top-end speed, Golden was an effective deep threat throughout college. He led the SEC in catches thrown 25 or more yards downfield during the 2024 season and he was tied for the most touchdown catches in the SEC. From a fantasy perspective, his big-play threat and knack for finding the endzone make him a legitimate asset who could be WR15 or better in 2025.

That might sound like a big ask, but Green Bay was already an above-average passing offense. They might have added one of the NFL’s best deep threats, who can stretch defenses and destroy one-on-one matchups with his raw speed.