Matthew Golden Fantasy Overview

Production & Fantasy Finishes

Golden’s rookie-year fantasy production was thin. He had 29 catches on 44 targets for 361 yards and no TDs.

He had no top-12 finishes and just one top-24 finish among 14 games. He finished 12 of those outside the top 36, including nine outside the top 50 and six outside the top 80.

That left Golden well outside fantasy relevance throughout the season.

Usage & Role

Golden’s route participation was more interesting than his box score.

He ran 267 routes, playing 52.6% of snaps in the games he played. He played from multiple alignments, with a 56.6% wide rate and 41.3% slot rate. The slot rate increased to 51.1% when Jayden Reed was out.

Golden drew only 40 targets in 14 games, or 2.9 per game.

Efficiency & Regression

Golden’s efficiency was not strong enough to force a bigger role throughout the season.

He averaged 12.4 yards per catch (46th among 90 WRs with 40+ targets) and carried a 12.7-yard average depth of target (28th). So Green Bay targeted him with some of the intermediate and deep looks that can drive good yardage efficiency. But Golden’s 1.35 yards per route run (62nd) and 68.1 PFF receiving grade (55th) point to a player who didn’t do much with those opportunities.

Golden’s 2025 looked more like a developmental WR than a WR ready to break out.

Offensive Context

Green Bay has leaned run since signing RB Josh Jacobs in 2024. HC Matt LaFleur went from a 58.1% pass rate in 2023 to 48.8% in 2024 and 51.3% in 2025.

The Packers ranked 15th in rushing yards per game (212.8) last season, 15th in total yards per game (332.6), and 17th in passing yards per game (212.8).

Projected Role & Competition

Golden appears to be the favorite to be the primary outside WR across from Christian Watson with Jayden Reed mostly manning the slot.

Golden’s flexibility to play in the slot or out wide should keep him on the field, including in two-WR sets with Doubs and Wicks now gone.

That gives him a path to more involvement if he improves.

Supporting Cast

Golden should at least benefit from good QB play.

Jordan Love ranked fourth in PFF pass grade last year and sixth in passer rating (101.2). His +3.7 completion percentage over expected (fifth).

The downside is that a strong rushing game and more-established pass catchers create serious competition for touches.

Coaching & Offensive Scheme

Since signing Jacobs in 2024, the Packers have leaned run:

With Jacobs under contract through 2027, the Packers will likely continue hovering around a 50-50 run-pass split.

The scheme does attempt to push the ball downfield in the passing game. Love’s 8.8 intended air yards in 2025 ranked eighth among QBs. He ranked sixth in 2024 with 8.9 intended air yards. Golden showed some downfield ability as a rookie and could succeed with Love’s downfield passing tendencies.

Paths To Ceiling

Golden’s ceiling path starts with a second-year jump in his development.

The Packers appear committed to putting Golden on the field. Letting go of Doubs and Wicks frees up 131 targets, and many of those could go to Golden if he earns them. If he can improve his route running and draw more targets, Golden could challenge for a top-2 spot in team target share.

Combine that with the downfield speed that could drive Watson-like yardage and scoring efficiency, and Golden could climb into WR3 territory as a fantasy scorer.

Risk Factors

The major risk for Golden is simply not showing progress.

Golden needs to improve dramatically on last year’s 1.35 yards per route run, which ranked 62nd among WRs with 40+ targets. That rate signals a player who didn’t garner enough targets, didn’t do enough with what he got, or both. And we weren’t big fans of Golden as a prospect.

Shedding Doubs and Wicks means target share available for someone, but it doesn’t necessarily mean Golden claims a large chunk. He’ll contend with healthier versions of Watson and Reed this season, as well as the return of Kraft, who missed last year’s second half.