FOX Sports has the Green Bay Packers sitting 12th in its ranking of NFL skill position groups, placing them just ahead of the Minnesota Vikings and just behind the Indianapolis Colts.
That group is built around quarterback Jordan Love, running back Josh Jacobs, tight end Tucker Kraft and receivers Christian Watson, Matthew Golden and Jayden Reed. FOX Sports sees plenty of upside there, but also plenty of uncertainty.
"There is potential for greatness in this group, but that’s always the case and it’s often unrealized," FOX Sports wrote. "No doubt, Josh Jacobs is one of the toughest backs in the league, when healthy.
Tucker Kraft was one of the NFL’s best tight ends before tearing his ACL last season. The Packers also have a potential No.
1 WR in Christian Watson, when he’s healthy, and former first-round pick Matthew Golden. And Jayden Reed could be a strong No. 2 or 3 if he’s over his foot injury.
All of them have injury concerns, not to mention unfulfilled potential. So the ranking is probably lower than they’d like, but the ceiling is definitely high."
Jacobs remains the headline name in the backfield. His second season in Green Bay was less productive than his first, but he still delivered 929 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns last season. In 2024, he made the Pro Bowl after piling up 1,329 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns.
Across his NFL career since entering the league in 2019, Jacobs ranks No. 2 in rushing yards with 7,803, rushing touchdowns with 74 and rushing first downs with 414. He also ranks No. 3 in yards from scrimmage with 9,875.
The free-agent addition from 2024 is also one of only four players in NFL history to record at least 7,500 rushing yards, 70 rushing touchdowns, 250 receptions and 2,000 receiving yards in his first seven seasons, joining Emmitt Smith, LaDainian Tomlinson and Barry Sanders.
Kraft gives the group another major piece once he gets back on the field. He tore his ACL on November 2 against the Carolina Panthers, appeared in eight games last season and finished with 32 catches for 489 receiving yards and six touchdowns. Drafted 78th overall in 2023 out of South Dakota State, Kraft has totaled 113 receptions, 1,551 receiving yards and 15 receiving touchdowns for Green Bay.
Love is the player who ties it all together, and the Packers are counting on a jump from him in 2026. Last season, he threw for 3,381 yards and 23 touchdowns while completing 66.3% of his passes. Green Bay finished 9-7-1 and fell to the Chicago Bears in the wild-card round of the 2025 NFL playoffs.
The Packers open the 2026 season against the Minnesota Vikings, and the timing adds another layer to the spotlight on Love. Micah Parsons will miss the start of the campaign while recovering from his ACL tear.
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Packers-Bears Just Got Another Wrinkle For Their Week 16 Rivalry
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For Green Bay, it is one more detail to file away as the season approaches, especially after an offseason that brought real changes to both rosters. The Bears addressed needs with veteran additions, while the Packers added defensive tackle Javon Hargrave and cornerback Benjamin St-Juste, setting up a rivalry that could look different by December even before the uniforms come into play. [Read more 🡒]