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2024-09-07 22:00:17Unfortunately, I didn’t have a ton of action in this game. I had the Packers with the points and am now 0-2 to start the week in my home picking pool. I had Xavier McKinney in the [Steak League](https://www.realmansports.com/p/steak-league-879?utm_source=publication-search) which was nice as like Roquan Smith he too started the year with a pick. But I was missing the principal scorers namely Saquon Barkley (maybe I let the nerds talk me out of him, as I had him [ranked highly initially](https://www.realmansports.com/p/running-back-rankings?utm_source=publication-search)) and Jayden Reed. Barkley I’m okay with because the potential for Jalen Hurts TDs was something I hadn’t initially considered, but Reed was a major error and in fact I passed on him for freaking Chris Godwin in my [Primetime last night](https://www.realmansports.com/p/nffc-primetime-fa7?utm_source=publication-search)! I had even argued with Alan Seslowsky that Reed was the [obvious choice](https://www.realmansports.com/p/week-1) among the Packers receivers. So seeing him go off (and he should have had a third TD, but it was called back due to something I’ve never seen before (both teams having 12 men on the field) was painful. Godwin is almost sure to have a terrible season now just to hammer home the lesson for me: Don’t worry about 10 spots of ADP, take the fucking guy you like. Stop listening to the consensus when you have a real lean. I don’t know how many times I need to learn this lesson, but apparently at least one more! - Reed looked like the most electrifying receiver on the field for the Packers. He had only six targets, not including the TD called back due to the penalties, but it’s obvious he’ll get more, and the handoff he took 33-yards to the house will incentivize them to do that again too. Year 2 after the surprisingly strong Year 1. He belongs in the second round now, along with Rashee Rice. - Christian Watson caught a TD and will be involved, but as great an athlete as he is he doesn’t have Reed’s football skills. Romeo Doubs is just a guy, but he’s reliable, and Dontayvion Wicks had a rough game — he’s an easy cut for me. - Jordan Love didn’t scramble much, and the Packers settled for a ton of field goals, but he looked okay. I think once they give Reed his 10 targets, Love will have his expected numbers. *(Just read on RotoWire that Love left the game for the last two plays with an unspecified leg injury, something not apparent on the 40-minute edited version. I thought they brought Malik Willis to throw a Hail Mary!* *Obviously, if he’s out for any length of time, all bets are off for the Packers receivers.)* - Josh Jacobs got stuffed in short yardage early, fumbled (though the Packers recovered), but ran well and hard late and even caught two passes. I have zero shares, but he looks like a fine pick for the late-third/early fourth. His backup Emanuel Wilson looked pretty spry too. Marshawn Lloyd is a cut now too in most formats. - Brayden Narveson missed a key kick off the post, but got a lot of attempts. He seems to have landed in the right place for a big season. - Jalen Hurts was a bit sloppy with two picks and a lost fumble, never got going on the ground (seemed like the Packers were really dedicated to taking that away), and the ass-smash didn’t work as well without Jason Kelce. But his receivers are so good, and Saquon Barkley is a big upgrade too. I would downgrade him a little though as his rushing TD projection maybe went from 10 to seven. - AJ Brown didn’t even look like he was running fast as he easily scored a 67-yard TD past the Packers defense. DeVonta Smith seemed to line up more in the slot and was automatic on key third-downs. There was no third receiver of which to speak, and even Dallas Goedert saw only five targets. - Barkley looked great, both on his TD catch, and as a rusher. As I said I don’t have any shares despite being high on him initially, but I love Barkley as a player (and bitcoiner!), and still kind of root for him. I hope he smashes this year.