Is Randall Cobb playing against the San Francisco 49ers tonight? The Green Bay Packers wide receiver has been out since Week 12 after undergoing core muscle surgery. Overall, he missed five games for Green Bay thanks to their first-round bye in the Wild Card round of the playoffs. Will Cobb return to the Packers this weekend, and what can fantasy football managers expect from him in the Divisional Round?
Update 01/22/22: Packers WR Randall Cobb is active and will play tonight against the San Francisco 49ers.
Randall Cobb’s 2021 production
Cobb saw mixed results throughout the 2021 season, although he performed better than most would’ve expected coming into the year. He posted 28 receptions for 375 yards and 5 touchdowns on 39 targets over 12 games.
One of the more shocking aspects of his game is his elite role in Green Bay’s red-zone offense. He’s only seen 12 red-zone targets, which ranks fourth on the team. With that being said, Cobb ranks eighth in the NFL in targets inside the 10-yard-line with 11. He’s turned those into 4 catches for 16 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Cobb was coming off of his best game of the season in Week 12. He put up 4 receptions for 95 yards and 1 touchdown against the Los Angeles Rams. Still, he’s only recorded more than 5 targets in one game this season. Nevertheless, with trust from Aaron Rodgers, Cobb has a clear role in the Green Bay offense.
How would Cobb’s absence affect the Packers’ offense?
If Cobb were to miss this game, the Green Bay offense would stay the same as it’s been for the last few weeks. He hasn’t played since Week 12, and the Packers have found plenty of success without him in the lineup.
With that being said, the offense could change quite a bit with Cobb back and Marquez Valdes-Scantling doubtful. Cobb would resume his slot role, which would push Allen Lazard to the outside in three-receiver sets. The veteran receiver would add a different dimension to Green Bay’s offense, as he’s a different type of player than Lazard out of the slot.
Is Cobb playing this week vs. the 49ers?
Cobb underwent core-muscle surgery after a Week 12 win over the Rams, forcing him to miss the final five games of the season. Green Bay had a first-round bye last weekend, although some suggested that Cobb would’ve been able to return if they played.
Head coach Matt LaFleur said he fully expects Cobb to be able to play this week, and the receiver was activated off of injured reserve on Thursday.
It’s unknown at this point how many snaps Cobb will play, as they could look to limit him. With that being said, Valdes-Scantling is listed as doubtful for this game, which could force Cobb into more snaps.
The expectation would be that the veteran receiver will play as many snaps as he can handle in a close game. It’s important to note that he could take a few snaps off if the Packers get out to a large lead at any point in the game.
Are fantasy points available vs. San Francisco?
There are plenty of fantasy points available against the 49ers. San Francisco is allowing 23.2 fantasy points per game to receivers, which ranks as the sixth-most in the NFL.
The 49ers have also struggled against slot receivers throughout the season. They could put plenty of focus on Davante Adams, who looked elite in their Week 3 matchup. This would open more looks for Cobb and Lazard.
Ultimately, Cobb isn’t a top-notch fantasy option. However, he does come with plenty of upside because of his touchdown potential in this particular matchup.