Green Bay Packers second-year gunslinger Jordan Love is set to get his first NFL start amid the news that Aaron Rodgers has tested positive for COVID-19.
Rodgers, the 2020 NFL MVP, has already been ruled out of this week's contest against the Chiefs. Practice squad signal-caller Kurt Benkert also tested positive, meaning Love is currently the Packers' lone healthy quarterback.
It's difficult to say how this will impact fantasy football given the paucity of playing time Love has seen in his short career. Love took zero snaps in his drama-laden rookie campaign after the Packers traded up to draft him in the first round — a move many viewed as a reach and curious given the depth of wide receiver talent in the 2020 class.
This season, Love has appeared in two games so far. He completed 5-of-7 attempts for 68 yards, zero touchdowns and zero interceptions in the Packers' Week 1 blowout loss to the Saints. He took three knees to end Week 2 against the Detroit Lions.
How Jordan Love Impacts Fantasy Outlook of Davante Adams, Aaron Jones, More
I expect Love will be a significant downgrade for pass catchers Davante Adams, Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb, Equanimous St. Brown, et al. Adams falls to the low-end WR1/high-end WR2 territory while the rest are dart-throw flex plays at best.
In terms of the run game, on one hand, I feel the Packers will find themselves in a negative game script fast against the Chiefs, who, in spite of their recent struggles, can make a game get out of hand quickly. This would not favor the run game, though Matt LaFleur may have no choice if Love struggles. Therefore, Aaron Jones' and A.J. Dillon's values are net neutral from this development.
Love's standalone fantasy value is also somewhat of a black box. He has elite weapons and an elite system to support him, which could obscure some snafus due to inexperience.
He was a polarizing prospect out of Utah State and regarded as a high-upside gunslinger with some turnover-prone tendencies. Many thought he would forgo the 2020 NFL Draft and transfer to a Power Five program to further develop, which made it so shocking that general manager Brian Gutekunst made the aggressive move to draft him at No. 26 overall.
The coaching and surrounding talent alone put him in the QB2 conversation, especially with four teams on bye. He's a worthwhile pickup in two-quarterback and superflex leagues.
