Golden's lack of collegiate production or efficiency are alarming signals. Golden joins Xavier Legette as the only WR with a career yard per route run rate below two yards to be drafted in Round 1 since 2017. If Round 2 receivers are included, then Chase Claypool, Keon Coleman, Jonathan Mingo, Adonai Mitchell, Van Jefferson and Jack Bech enter the group. Golden will need to be an outlier if he's going to be a successful pro. According to the Fantasy Points Data Suite, Jordan Love led the NFL in dropped yards, an insane feat considering he ranked only 19th in pass attempts. Opportunity is ripe for Golden to establish himself as the WR1 in what has been a volatile receiver room. His late-season breakout (3.52 yards per route run over the final six games) at Texas hinted at Golden being capable of much more than his career receiving rates. Are you comfortable making that projection as he transitions to the pros? Pass on Golden until the Round 8-9 range.
Fantasy Stats
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2025
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2024
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2023
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3y Avg.
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Fantasy News
Packers' Matthew Golden: Makes long catch
Rotowire
Golden made one catch on two targets for 39 yards in Saturday's 20-7 preseason win over the Seahawks.
Golden played on the first two offensive possessions along with many of Green Bay's top skill-position players, such as Josh Jacobs, Romeo Doubs and Tucker Kraft. He made a long contested catch down the right sideline on a throw from Malik Willis, showcasing his playmaking ability that will be a welcomed addition to the Packers' receiving corps. Golden looks locked into an immediate role as a starting outside receiver heading into a Week 1 matchup against the Lions.
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Packers' Matthew Golden: Doesn't play Saturday
Rotowire
Golden didn't play in Saturday's 23-19 preseason win over the Colts.
Though Golden wasn't one of the 29 Packers listed as not suiting up ahead of the game, the rookie wideout didn't log any snaps against the Colts. Golden's next chance to see game action will occur in this coming Saturday's preseason finale against the Seahawks, but it remains to be seen whether or not Green Bay plans to rest key players in the contest.
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Packers' Matthew Golden: Suiting up Saturday
Rotowire
Golden will play in Saturday's preseason game against the Colts, Mike Spofford of the Packers' official site reports.
Golden will be available for quarterback Malik Willis, despite starters including RB Josh Jacobs and TE Tucker Kraft being listed as healthy scratches. Across the starting lineup, Green Bay will have multiple players sitting out due to injuries, including Jordan Love (thumb), Jayden Reed (foot), Dontayvion Wicks (calf) and Romeo Doubs (back).
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Packers' Matthew Golden: Getting some work with starters
Rotowire
Golden caught a deep sideline pass with the first-team offense Monday, Matt Schneidman of The Athletic reports.
It's a good sign he's getting some snaps with the starters in his first week of training camp, although Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com notes that Golden's impressive catch was followed by a mistimed jump that contributed to an interception. The rookie brings 4.29 speed to a WR room that otherwise has Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks as the top candidates for playing time, with Christian Watson (ACL) potentially joining the mix later in the season.
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Packers' Matthew Golden: Packers add burner wideout in first
Rotowire
The Packers selected Golden in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, 23rd overall.
Although Golden probably isn't a prototypical WR1 at just 5-foot-11, 191 pounds, he presents a rare speed element that the Packers lack in the meantime. Golden's 4.29 speed was one of the headlining stories at the combine, and with wheels like that defenses have new reason to reconsider placing the safeties too close to the line of scrimmage. Jayden Reed (4.45-second 40) was the fastest remaining base package wideout for the Packers with Christian Watson (ACL) out indefinitely, so Golden is a good bet to jump into the starting lineup at the expense of either one or both of Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks. Golden was an excellent kick returner at Houston and Texas and could be the same for the Packers, but it would be a disappointment if Golden can't push for at least the WR2 role in Green Bay by the end of his rookie season.
