Jordy Nelson Fantasy Funk

In one of my fantasy football leagues I left the draft thinking I was stacked at wide receiver. I had Megatron and Jordy Nelson as my top two guys. After five weeks I am near the bottom of the league in scoring and a big reason is the lack of production I have gotten from Nelson. Defenses have done a great job nullifying Nelson. As a frustrated Nelson owner I have been forced to look at the reality of this year instead of hoping for the production of last year.

When I step back and analyze Nelson this year and take off my green and gold colored glasses from last year I don’t find much good news for myself. The Packers’ offensive problems are real. They are not going to get back to anywhere near the last couple of years of production. The Pack’s problems start up front. The offensive line has not been a good run-blocking line for a few years now, but they have slipped terribly in pass protection. Right now they are 31st in the league in sacks allowed. Last season they weren’t great either at 22nd, but Aaron Rodgers can’t get the ball to Nelson on his back.

Rodgers also can’t get the ball to Nelson if they have no balance on offense. With Cedric Benson, it looked like the offense could at least fake it with the running game. Right now they are in the top twenty in both rushing yards and average yards per rush. Now with Benson down – although it means Nelson will get more pass plays called – it also means the offensive line will need to do more pass-blocking against defenses that don’t need to worry about the threat of a running game.

The biggest reason for the frustration of Nelson’s season has been the injury to fellow wide receiver Greg Jennings. Last season Jennings was getting each opposing defense’s best corner. Last season Jennings was getting a safety rolled over to his side of the field, freeing up Nelson. This year, Nelson is getting the number one receiver treatment. Not surprisingly, the guys who are in Nelson’s old spot, James Jones and Randall Cobb, are both having good statistical starts to the season.

As much as it kills me – and the team I have Nelson on – it is getting to the point where Nelson might not be an automatic starter. Until Jennings is back at full strength and unless the Packers’ offense gets its offensive line issues corrected, Nelson will continue to struggle. So then will my team and make that squad one of the most frustrating teams I have had in a long time.

**Jordy Nelson was a popular topic in this week’s Fantasy High 5, check it out here