Matthew Golden

After all the hype for Matthew Golden last year, he was only a part-time player for Green Bay in his rookie season. He had only five games in which he surpassed a 60% snap share. When he was on the field, he had a 17% target-per-route-run rate, 1.46 yards per route run, and 0.065 first downs per route run (per Fantasy Points Data). Among 109 qualifying receivers, he was 16th in separation and 67th in route win rate. The separation score is notable, but all of his other metrics and the fact that he had a quiet rookie season leave me unimpressed. Golden can take a step forward this season as the primary running mate with Christian Watson in two-receiver sets, and it can still be uninspiring. The Green Bay passing attack will still flow through Christian Watson and Tucker Kraft this season, with everyone else playing a role or a bit part, or at least that is how I'm projecting it. I'm avoiding Golden in drafts this season.

Matthew Golden's rookie season was mostly quiet from a fantasy perspective, but the underlying context suggests better days are ahead. Green Bay has significant vacated targets entering 2026, and Golden's lack of production was driven more by inconsistent playing time than poor efficiency. The former first-round pick flashed his upside late in the year and remains an intriguing fit alongside Jordan Love thanks to his speed and big-play ability. If his route participation climbs in Year 2, Golden has clear breakout potential in an evolving Packers offense.