The 2023 NFL Season is here, and the Music City Drive In is getting you ready. Check back each day from now until September 3 as we look at each team and make award and playoff predictions. Agree? Disagree? Let us know in the comments.

After winning 13 games and a division title in each of Matt LaFleur’s first three seasons, the wheels came off the bus for the Packers in 2022. The team struggled out of the gate and throughout the season, culminating in a home loss to the Lions in a win and get in scenario. The Packers finished 8-9, out of the playoffs and asking some tough questions.

Off-Season Changes

Those tough questions carried into an off-season of massive change. The biggest was the exit of long-time franchise quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who is now in New York with the Jets. Veteran receivers Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb followed him there along with safety Adrian Amos. Veteran tight end Robert Tonyan left for the Bears, while defensive end Jarran Reed left for the Seahawks.

The Packers brought in a few free agents, re-loading at safety with Jonathan Owens from the Texans and Tarvarius Moore from the 49ers. But as is the team’s habit, most of the work was done through the draft. The Packers spent their First-Round pick on pass rusher Lukas Van Ness. But most of the work was done at the skill positions.

The Packers drafted a pair of tight ends—Oregon State’s Luke Musgrave in the Second Round and South Dakota State’s Tucker Kraft in the Third Round. Both figure to be a factor in the passing game. The Packers also added several receivers, including Dontavyion Wicks and Grant DuBose. The team also added Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford. But the biggest pick was a Second-Round selection of Michigan State receiver Jayden Reed. Reed caught 147 passes for 2,069 yards and 18 touchdowns in three seasons. He figures to give the Packers another weapon in the passing game.

Fantasy Impact

It’s now the Jordan Love era for the Packers. Love is entering his fourth season, but he has little experience. Love is 50-for-83 for 606 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions for his career. He’s an unknown that has an incredibly inexperienced receiving corps around him. He’s a QB3 for me.

The backfield is the only rock-solid piece of the Packers’ offense. Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon have been a strong duo for years and both are back. Jones was RB9 while Dillon was RB26 in 2022. I think Jones is the more explosive back and the better receiver, so I see him as an RB2 in 2023. Dillon is a pounder. I like him more as an RB3 in 2023.

The receiving group is wide open. The Packers return second-year players Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs, along with rookie Reed. It’s likely Musgrave and Kraft will be the key duo at tight end. Watson was explosive at times as a rookie, catching 41 passes for 611 yards and seven touchdowns. Doubs caught 42 passes for 425 yards and three touchdowns. Watson is likely the top option for fantasy, more of a WR3 for me. But I like Doubs for value, as he’s going as WR65 currently. At tight end, I prefer Kraft, but I wouldn’t want to rely on either.

Prediction

The Packers are a young team on offense. It will take some time for Love to grow into the starting role and for these young receivers and tight ends to develop. All that suggests to me a middling season where the Packers finish at the bottom of the NFC North. There’s hope in the future, but 2023 could be rough.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.