RADIO
Cruising at 6-0, Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers faced off against the Denver Broncos in a showdown and showcase of two undefeated teams. But the Broncos defense shut down Rodgers and the suddenly vulnerable Packers offense; the beginning of a midseason collapse for Green Bay.
The Packers have lost four of their last five games, falling into second place as the Minnesota Vikings continue to win. Green Bay came into the season with fantasy weapons for days. But one Jordy Nelson injury and a tremendously underachieving Eddie Lacy later (despite his recent resurgence), and the fantasy options in Green Bay are in complete disarray.
The last time the division rivals met, nearly four weeks ago, Rodgers attempted 61 passes, completing 35, in one of the most surprising upsets of the season so far. Since losing to the Broncos two weeks prior, Rodgers has been on the rather ineffective side. Despite a four touchdown, 369 passing yard performance against the Carolina Panthers in that span, Rodgers has failed to breach ten fantasy points once and 20 fantasy points twice. Green Bay's red zone production has also dipped a bit, as the Packers now average an uncharacteristically low 3.7 trips to the red zone, but still score at least one touchdown in the air inside the 20.
Rodgers is and will remain a QB1, but it will be interesting to see if he and the Packers can put their midseason woes behind them and reclaim their NFC North throne again. Crazier things have happened, and with playoffs looming, fantasy owners can't afford to take any chances. He is coming off his second worst fantasy performance of the season, and now runs into the streaking Detroit Lions Thursday night; a team with an opposite coming of age story this season.
After starting 0-5 and 1-7 overall, the Lions have now won three straight and have finally seen fantasy production from some of their big names. Last week against the Philadelphia Eagles, Matthew Stafford threw for 337 yards, five touchdowns, and no picks. It's been difficult to rely on Stafford all season, but after not letting off the gas against the Eagles on Thanksgiving, the Lions and their quarterback appear to be heading in the right direction. Stafford is now popping his head back up to a QB1 consideration.
Green Bay's defense is surprisingly ranked lower than Detroit's. According to ESPN.com, the Packers have given up slightly more receiving yards (2920) than the Lions (2857) but the Lions have allowed four more touchdowns through the air. The numbers are extremely close across the board, and it's difficult to say who has the advantage here. According to Yahoo! Sports, the Lions give up the 12th most fantasy points to quarterbacks and the Packers give up the 17th most.
I see your underachieving Randall Cobb, a recent zero-point performance from James Jones, a touchdown-less Devante Adams, and I raise you one Calvin Johnson. If Megatron can perform anywhere close to his three touchdown Thanksgiving fantasy outburst, he and Stafford are surely to continue making fantasy owners smile. Rodgers may rely heavier on a revived Lacy against a Lions defense that has surrendered 15 touchdowns on the ground, according to ESPN.com.
Is it impossible for the Lions to sweep the Packers in a season? No, not necessarily, but it hasn't happened since 1991. This could very well be the year of the Vikings, a year where Rodgers fails to turn it around and the Lions continue to make a run. It's been difficult to rule anything out this season in the NFL, but maybe all those are pipe dreams, mere predictions that'll fail to come to fruition. Regardless, no matter how close the stats are, no matter who out-duels who, there is no clear favorite, at this moment. Rodgers and Stafford are set to clash, and are both set for big fantasy performances. They should both be started in any league.
