Matthew Golden: Everything you need to know

Golden has a clear path to move up Green Bay's depth chart in the absence of Romeo Doubs (Patriots) and Dontayvion Wicks (Eagles), ESPN's Rob Demovsky reports. Green Bay's offseason moves leave Golden, Christian Watson and Jayden Reed without serious competition for the top three spots at wide receiver, pending results of the 2026 NFL Draft. Golden went 23rd overall in last year's draft, yet didn't score his first NFL touchdown until the playoffs. He had four straight games with at least three catches and 37 yards in Weeks 3-7, before averaging just 14.0 yards on 2.6 targets over his final eight appearances of the regular season (shoulder and wrist injuries contributed to the slump). Golden then put up 4-84-1 in a playoff loss at Chicago, restoring some hope for a Year 2 breakout. If nothing else, the Packers seem to be planning a major increase in playing time.

Golden brought in four of five targets for 84 yards and a touchdown in the Packers' 31-27 wild-card loss to the Bears on Saturday. The speedy rookie put together an inconsistent debut campaign, but he was a key part of the Packers' success in his first career postseason game. Golden finished tied for second in catches and as the runner-up in receiving yards as well for Green Bay on the night, and he flashed with a 36-yard reception and a 23-yard touchdown grab that came with under seven minutes remaining in the contest. Golden finished the 2025 regular season with a 29-361-0 line on 44 targets, a 10-49-0 tally on the ground and 28 punt-return yards across 14 games. Considering Romeo Doubs is a candidate to leave via unrestricted free agency this offseason, Golden should be primed for a busy and more productive second season.

Golden caught one of three targets for eight yards in Sunday's 16-3 loss to the Vikings. He finished his rookie regular season with 29 receptions for 361 yards on 44 targets and 10 rushes for 49 yards over 14 games. Golden saw a major increase in playing time in Week 18 with the Packers resting most of their key offensive players in the regular season finale. The rookie wideout played 100 percent of Green Bay's offensive snaps Sunday after averaging a sub-50 percent snap over his 13 prior games. After being drafted in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, the expectations surrounding Golden's ability to be an instant contributor this season were not met. However, the Texas product did flash his potential as a deep threat with the ability to stretch the field. His limited usage in a crowded receiving corps featuring the likes of Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks ultimately capped his upside in his first year as a pro. Golden will continue to be extremely difficult to trust for fantasy purposes as the Packers visit the Bears in the first round of the wild-card playoffs on Saturday.