With Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks out of the picture, former No. 23 overall pick Matthew Golden faces a “no excuses” sophomore season after a quiet 361-yard debut. His 1.14 Yards Per Route Run (Rank #78) was abysmal, but his 15.2 Average Target Distance (Rank #12) reflected an ability to command deep targets.
He must now transcend his game to earn consistent volume. While his 4.33 speed (99th-percentile Speed Score) offers league-winning upside, he remains a volatile WR4 until he proves he can win at all levels of the field. Based on his first round pick status, and suddenly wide open depth chart in Green Bay, Golden is an interesting draft capital vs. production buy-low option for dynasty leagues.
A first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Green Bay Packers ...
The Green Bay Packers are "clearing the way" for wide ...
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Matthew Golden had a ...
The Eagles have finalized a trade and one-year, $12.5 million extension for Dontayvion Wicks, adding him to a revamped receiving corps that recently signed Hollywood Brown and Elijah Moore. While Wicks currently projects as the WR3, his arrival further sets the stage for Philadelphia to trade A.J. Brown after June 1st to alleviate the team’s cap burden.
On the other side, the Packers have consolidated their WR room to Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, and 2025 first-rounder Matthew Golden (4.29 40-yard dash) following Romeo Doubs’ departure to New England.
This trade is good all for all side and all parties, including fantasy gamers. If/when Brown heads to the Patriots, Devonta Smith, Wicks and Hollywood will all experience an ADP surge. Wicks at just 24.8 years of age, would be biggest beneficiary in dynasty leagues.
LaFleur said the team plans to “strip everything down” on the offensive side of the football in 2026. While Matt LeFleur clearly wants to seize control of the narrative, simplicity and “role clarity” only matters if Green Bay’s best playmakers get to see the field. Fortunately, the team jettisoned albatross WR Romeo Doubs, opening up snap share for speedy sophomore Matthew Golden and spike week specialist Christian Watson.
Boosting Watson’s 72.9% Route Participation and Golden’s 58.5% Route Participation will also help Jordan Love threaten defenses vertically. If Love can marry his elite efficiency in 2025 with more pass volume, he and his wide receivers would exceed their fantasy football ADP expectations in 2026.
Rookie wide receiver Savion Williams was held out of practice today at Green Bay Packers training camp. Williams was a third round selection for the Packers in the 2025 NFL Draft and had made a few nice catches at the start of training camp.
Williams is competing for snaps in a crowded Green Bay wide receiver room so he won’t want to miss much time but the team is prioritizing his health in this situation.
Williams is behind Jayden Reed, Matthew Golden, Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks on the depth chart and is a late round dart throw in fantasy drafts, the concussion won’t help his stock but also wouldn’t expect his ADP to fall much either.
Author: David Leonard (@RealDelcoDave)
Dontayvion Wicks was a hyped up sleeper for 2024, often drawing comparisons to a young Davante Adams. Those are large shoes to fill for most any wideout and Wicks certainly didn’t measure up with his WR72 finish in 2024.
On Underdog, Wicks has fallen 5.9 spots in the last week from the late 17th round to the early 18th round. With Texas wide receiver Matthew Golden being selected in round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft, all Packers receivers have become more questionable for their role in the upcoming season. While Jayden Reed takes the most obvious hit, further down the depth chart the enthusiasm for Dontayvion Wicks has wavered.
At best, Wicks is a late dart throw in best ball drafts when stacked with Jordan Love or correlated with the Packers fantasy playoff schedule. Otherwise, there are better dart throws to be had.
Author: Jeremiah Retzlaff (@coachretzlaff1)
The Green Bay Packers select Texas wide receiver Matthew Golden with the 23rd pick in the first round. This is the first time since 2002 that the Packers have selected a wide receiver in round 1, Javon Walker.
This is an excellent move and much needed for quarterback Jordan Love. Christian Watson is perpetually dealing with hamstring injuries and Jayden Reed is wildly inconsistent. Matthew Golden saw his draft stock rise significantly after running a 4.29 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. Look for Jordan Love’s stock to rise in dynasty and expect Matthew Golden to creep into round 1 of superflex rookie drafts.
Author: Jeremiah Retzlaff (@coachretzlaff1)
