Super Bowl Hangover?  Don’t bet on it… We all know the story of how Green Bay limped into the Super Bowl and won.  This season, they will be back bigger and better!

Aaron Rogers, won the Pro Football Writers of America “Good Guy Award” awarded to the player that best helped the media do their job.  He will undoubtedly be a player in the talks of who best help Fantasy owners everywhere make it to the play offs or win the league championship.  He is a no brainer as a Fantasy QB (especially with upgraded protection) but let’s break down who else on the PACK you might wanna keep an eye on draft day:

Jermichael Finley started last season as a Top Five TE in all Fantasy league formats.  Those who drafted Finley were not disappointed at the start of the season, giving fantasy owners those often hard to obtain TE fantasy points.  But with a season ending injury in week 5, many owners were scrambling around trying to find another TE to fill Finley’s big cleats.  This season, look for Finley to pick up where he left off.  It’s sometimes hard to return back so quickly from a devastating knee injury, but as I’m writing this analysis–Finley is out running routes.  He recently twitted, ” Today was the first time since Week 5 that I caught a ball & ran routes. And my my my, I look good.”

Well speaking of a good look, let’s talk about Fantasy Stud Greg Jennings.  You know him… he scored 12 TDs last year (2nd of all WRs in the league) and had 1,265 receiving yards…well TRUST he’ll be back!  The real issue is, which OTHER Green Bay wideout will make noise for Fantasy owners this year?  For years it was Donald Driver, and while he’s had some good seasons, at 36 years old  I think the best is in the past when it comes to Fantasy points.  James Jones, has not really stepped up with his play to be considered a heavy contender, in fact not really sure he’ll be a Packer this season (it’s a crowded roster)… I think you look to Jordy Nelson who stepped up big in the playoffs and the Superbowl last year.  Many were a bit surprised the Packers drafted  rookie WR Randall Cobb out of  Kentucky.  There are talks that Green Bay may have interest using him in WILD CAT ways, but of course Mike McCarthy is playing that down.  They have not been shy about saying he could play a big role in the return game.   Did you know that the Green Bay Packers have not had a kick off return for a TD since 2000?!?!   My guess is he will make his way into the pass offense…so stay tuned.

Also suffering a season ending injury was RB Ryan Grant.  Grant started off last year as top dog in the Packer backfield.  He had a great preseason and in Week 1, he was well on his way to being a Fantasy Stud.  Grant averaged 5.6 years a carry in that game and he even scampered for a 18 yard run.  Unfortunately, that was his last play for the season.  Grant has plans to come back this year, but he’ll be coming back to a crowded backfield, starting with rookie Alex Green out of Hawaii, being drafted in the 3rd round.  Green will get some looks this year, especially with Grant’s shaky health and the possible departure of Brandon Jackson, who did an OK job filling in for Grant last season.  Actually “OK” is being nice.  In 16 games, Jackson had 703 yards rushing and 4 total TDs.  Those numbers SUCK!  Other factors in the Green Bay backfield will be bruiser John Kuhn, who will definitely be a factor on short yardage and goal-line situations; and James Starks, who came on late last season and made his presence felt in the playoffs and the Super Bowl.  Remember his name!  Look for Starks to be a Fantasy Sleeper this up coming season.  I predict he will be competing with Green for the starting RB role in Green Bay.

You would think that a defense that has players with the names Matthews, Woodson, or Hawk would be a SCARY bunch.  Truth is, the Packers defense is scary–just not in Fantasy Football.  Clay Matthews, who was 4th in the league with 13.5 sacks, is a monster at LB.  Charles Woodson and his DB partners, corner Tramon Williams and safety Nick Collins, form one of the best secondaries in the NFL.  Add in LB AJ Hawk, NT BJ Raji (who remembers his entertaining interception TD return against the Bears in the NFC Championship), and DE Cullen Jenkins and you have a solid defense.  They also added a couple of late round defensive players in the draft.  BUT, they don’t SCORE.  The Packers D last year scored 2 regular season TDs off interceptions from Matthews and Woodson, AND they only pitched ONE SHUTOUT, that ugly 9-0 win over the Jets.  Also, on Special Teams, they have some good return guys in Williams and receivers Greg Jennings and Jordy Nelson, but again, THEY DON’T SCORE!!  The Pack had ONE special teams TD last year, off a fumbled Cowboy kick return.  When it comes to the Green Bay Packer Def/ST, draft at your own risk.

 When it comes to kickers, you don’t realize how good one is until they start missing FGs.  Mason Crosby had been pretty consistent up until last year.  The two previous years he was AUTOMATIC.  But last year he missed a few.  He made 22 out of 28 FGs, 8 being 40-49 yards and 2 at 50+ yards.  That’s a 74.4%.  Still not bad and you definitely could do a lot worse.  Crosby can do it if you need him.  The Pack will move the ball very easily with that offensive firepower in the passing game, so look for Crosby to have plenty of scoring opportunities this year.

A team doesn’t win the Superbowl with out Playmakers on its team.  Ultimately, this is who we are recommending on Draft Day: Aaron Rogers,  Greg Jennings, and Jermichael Finley.  However, in those later rounds or when you need to cruise that waiver wire…check out Randall Cobb and James Starks.

Coming up, we take it to the Steel City and review what the Pittsburgh Steelers have to offer to Fantasy Football owners.