Packers' Golden Opportunity: Could Matthew Golden be the Fantasy Football Dark Horse?

(This write up was crafted with the aid of an AI called Castmagic, and has been fact-checked by our team for accuracy. If you spot any errors, feel free to drop us a line.)

Enter the 2025 NFL Draft — stage set for surprises and ‘aha’ moments, especially when the Green Bay Packers decided to go where they’ve largely refused to tread before: selecting wide receiver Matthew Golden in the first round. Fantasy football enthusiasts — and let’s just say myself included — perked up at this move, with expectations buzzing like a pre-game stadium. Over on the latest crossover episode of Yahoo’s Fantasy Forecast and Football 301 podcast, experts Matt Harmon, Nate Tice, and Charles McDonald dove deep into why Golden might just be the secret sauce the Packers cooking with quarterback Jordan Love has been missing, while simultaneously making him an instant target in fantasy drafts.

Green Bay Breaks Its Own Mould — For All the Right Reasons

For 20 years, the Packers have dodged wide receivers in that first circle of the draft, opting instead for more traditional, big-bodied deep threats. Enter Golden, a lighter-than-anticipated talent with a skill set that diverges from the norm in Green Bay’s playbook. Nate Tice — seasoned scout — admitted it was somewhat unexpected, considering the Packers’ typically robust receiver thresholds. But as he eloquently explained, “The positive is, the rest of the room is so big and can handle all these things. You can drop in a quote-unquote, maybe slightly undersized guy in there.”

With physical outside guys likeDoubs and Christian Watson (when not sidelined), and Jaden Reed dominating the slot, Golden arrives as a versatile chess piece. It’s not about size; it’s about fit, and, as Matt Harmon — the analysis guru — noted, Golden’s expertise in route running and ability to snag the deep ball could be just what quarterback Jordan Love needs to win the love from not only Green Bay but from fantasy owners everywhere. LEARN MORE

Advertisement2) Defense Dictation: One myth Harmon wanted to bust: the Packers don’t “need a No. 1” so much as they need someone who forces defenses to pay attention and stretch the field. Golden’s speed and route nuance do that — whether he’s flying by safeties or opening the middle for Reed and Doubs. Harmon stated: “Without Christian Watson … you don’t have anybody that really stretches out the defense … Golden’s going to allow you to do that.”

Green Bay finally breaks out of character — for good reason

AdvertisementIf you’re chasing rookie WR upside in fantasy — and want a player whose skills align perfectly with what his team needs — Matthew Golden is the name to circle. The Packers and your fantasy lineup could both be long overdue for a breakout.

If you’re chasing rookie WR upside in fantasy — and want a player whose skills align perfectly with what his team needs — Matthew Golden is the name to circle. The Packers and your fantasy lineup could both be long overdue for a breakout.

If you’re chasing rookie WR upside in fantasy — and want a player whose skills align perfectly with what his team needs — Matthew Golden is the name to circle. The Packers and your fantasy lineup could both be long overdue for a breakout.

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• For two decades, the Packers have famously resisted taking receivers in Round 1, and they tend to prioritize big-bodied, outside targets. Golden bucks both trends: he’s a bit lighter than their historic athletic thresholds, and he brings a different flavor to the table than their current WR corps. As Nate Tice put it, this was surprising given Green Bay’s “usual weight thresholds,” but the move immediately made sense once you examined the room around Golden: “The positive is, the rest of the room is so big and can handle all these things. You can drop in a quote-unquote, maybe slightly undersized guy in there.”
• The Packers have their big, physical outside presences — think Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson (when healthy) — and Jaden Reed thriving in the slot. This means Golden can be used as a chess piece, opening up combinations Green Bay hasn’t had in years.
• The Packers are a run-heavy team, yes, but that’s not the whole story. With their spread of talent, defenses can’t double everyone. Harmon notes that Golden can thrive even if he’s not the “WR1” by label. Golden’s skills translate into open targets, and Harmon believes his “toughness at the catch point” has been underrated. With Reed (in the slot), Doubs (as the physical X) and a healthy tight end group, Golden’s Z-receiver skill set will put him in single coverage — a formula for rookie WR breakouts.

Matt Harmon is as bullish as anyone on Golden’s outlook, and he zeroed in on two critical factors for fantasy success: