Green Bay Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs earned a meaningful role in the offense before second-rounder Christian Watson. But over the course of the year, Watson overtook Doubs as the team’s WR2 behind Allen Lazard. With Lazard gone, is Doubs locked into a starting role, and can he threaten Watson to lead this team in targets? What is his fantasy football outlook for the 2023 season?
Behind in research? Get a trade offer in your dynasty or redraft league? Not sure who to start or sit this week? Leverage PFN’s FREE fantasy tools — our Fantasy Football Draft Kit, Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer and Calculator, and Start/Sit Optimizer! Put the finishing touch on your A+ draft with 1 of our 425+ fantasy football team names.
Romeo Doubs’ Fantasy Outlook
It feels like the perception surrounding Doubs’ rookie season is better than reality. Beginning in Week 3, Doubs became a starter. From Weeks 3-8, Doubs averaged around a 90% snap share. That likely would have continued had he not sprained his ankle in Week 9.
During that six-week stretch, Doubs was … well … not that great. He posted 21.3 PPR fantasy points in Week 3, which got fantasy managers’ attention. Of course, no one started him that week because it was the week he broke out. If you started him in Week 4, you were rewarded with 13.7 fantasy points. Then, you got 5.9, 6.1, 0.0, and 16.2.
After missing Weeks 10-14, Doubs returned in Week 15 to a backup role. If you were bold enough to start him in the fantasy playoffs, you got returns of 10.5, 6.6, and 5.0 fantasy points.
On the season, Doubs averaged 7.8 ppg, finishing as the WR64. He was worth starting three, maybe four times.
Efficiency-wise, Doubs wasn’t particularly good. He averaged just 1.51 yards per route run and 6.3 yards per target. If there’s any silver lining to his usage, it’s that his 23.8% targets per route run rate was 32nd in the league. He didn’t run many routes, but when he did, he was targeted at a rate higher than you’d think.
Should Fantasy Managers Draft Doubs at His ADP?
Once Christian Watson established himself as the Packers’ WR1, Doubs was relegated to being the third option behind Allen Lazard as well. With Lazard gone, Doubs will have a shot to compete for the WR2 role. However, rookie second-rounder Jayden Reed is a far better prospect and very much a threat to win that role at some point this season.
Additionally, we have the matter of Jordan Love taking over for Aaron Rodgers. We can confidently say Watson is going to lead this team in targets. Aaron Jones will still be a factor in the passing game. Will Love be capable of supporting a second fantasy-relevant wide receiver?
My projections have Doubs catching 61 balls for 676 yards and 3.6 touchdowns. That comes out to 9.1 ppg and a WR53 finish. Doubs has an ADP of WR58, No. 164 overall, and I have him ranked at WR56.
A difference of no more than five spots between ADP, ranking, and projection is quite minimal this late in drafts. If you want to take Doubs as your WR5 or WR6, I won’t stop you. This late in drafts, the risk is virtually nonexistent.
With that said, I just don’t think Doubs is particularly talented, and as a Day 3 pick, he lacks the draft capital that would afford him extended time to prove himself. If Reed (or anyone) proves to be better, he will play ahead of Doubs. There is a point at which I will take any player, but Doubs does not possess the type of upside I look for in a late-round dart throw.