Green Bay’s Matthew Golden, Emanuel Wilson, Israel Abanikanda and Malik Willis headline a jersey-number reshuffle that mirrors a broader shift in the Packers’ roster dynamics. Golden’s move to 0 marks the first time GB has seen that digit worn, underscoring the team’s willingness to experiment with its inexperienced playmakers. Wilson shifts to 23, while Abanikanda lands 28 after a summer stint with the number, and Willis slides into 2 as the backup quarterback.

For fantasy managers, the numbers are a side note to potential opportunity. Golden arriving as a top pick signals a real chance for expanded targets if he secures a clear role in a crowded receiver group. Wilson’s 23 and Abanikanda’s 28 could carve out specialized roles behind the veterans, while Willis’ QB2 status adds speculative upside if injuries arise. Track how training camp reps translate into early-season opportunity.

In short, the Packers’ digit shuffle reads as a microcosm of a rising-internal mobility trend: players moving into flexible roles, with coaches signaling openness to unconventional paths to fantasy relevance. The rookie and depth-chart implications feel more consequential than the sparkle of a new jersey number.

Green Bay trims to a newly minted 53 with Jordan Love atop a reimagined offense. The receiving core leans into Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, and Malik Heath, paired with Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft at tight end. Josh Jacobs and Emanuel Wilson anchor the backfield, with MarShawn Lloyd on IR. Watson is on PUP, adding a wait for the big-play potential. Front to back, the Packers project a faster, versatile attack that could unlock surprising fantasy upside if Love hits in efficiency and volume.

Josh Jacobs returns to fantasy prominence in 2025 with Green Bay as his home base, a run-first scheme that should keep his TD opportunities plentiful and solid volume intact after a strong 2024 season. Jacobs posted 1,329 rushing yards, 16 total TDs, and 36 receptions in a year when he outperformed expectations in a crowded backfield. The Packers’ depth backs, MarShawn Lloyd and Emanuel Wilson, bring potential change-of-pace contributions, but Jacobs remains the clear lead option. The 2025 projection backs this up: 263 carries for 1,263 yards (4.8 APY) and 10 rushing TDs, plus 38 receptions for 294 yards and 2 receiving TDs, totaling roughly 13 TDs and around 270 fantasy points in standard formats. In a run-heavy system, he’s a stable RB1, though handcuffs Lloyd and Wilson could push upside when goal-line touches are scarce. The fantasy takeaway is trust Jacobs as the centerpiece while monitoring the backfield for late-round depth those players could carve out in the GB attack.

Behind the numbers, the outlook signals Jacobs’ role is secure, not merely a product of one season in a favorable setup. The year-by-year arc suggests Jacobs can sustain big-volume output if he stays healthy and cobbles together efficient drives. With Lloyd healthy and Wilson in the mix, the GB backfield offers a glimmer of instability in the later rounds, but Jacobs’ path to top-tier fantasy production remains clear. Fantasy managers should target him as an anchor RB1, with Lloyd and Wilson serving as intriguing late-round fliers or insurance handcuffs who could shift value if the Packers expand their usage early in the year.

Green Bay waived Jalen White with an injury designation to clear a roster spot for Tyrion Davis-Price ahead of a trip to Indianapolis for joint practices with the Colts. White, undrafted from Georgia Southern, left the preseason game with a foot injury and was not practicing. Davis-Price, a veteran back who was a 2022 third-rounder for the 49ers, provides immediate depth and a capable every-down complement for a Packers room facing multiple health concerns. Israel Abanikanda also missed practice with a hamstring issue, while Emanuel Wilson (knee) and MarShawn Lloyd (groin) just returned to 11-on-11s, underscoring the short-term urgency at RB. The team faces two big events this week—joint practices and a preseason game against the Colts—as it evaluates options and potential short-term roles for newly signed and returning backs.

As the 2025 NFL season approaches, the Green Bay Packers are preparing their running game, spearheaded by Pro Bowl running back Josh Jacobs. After a stellar first season in Green Bay, Jacobs is expected to once again shoulder a significant load for the offense, following an impressive performance in 2024 that included a franchise record for consecutive games with a rushing touchdown.

However, the depth behind Jacobs has been challenged due to injuries to MarShawn Lloyd and Emanuel Wilson, sidelining them during critical training camp sessions. Fortunately, with a month remaining until the season opener, there’s optimism about their recovery. Meanwhile, Jacobs will be expecting a repeat of his record-setting form to help solidify the Packers' ground attack.