Jordan Love's Potential Fantasy Value Takes a Nosedive After Being Drafted by the Green Bay Packers
In a draft that was short on chaos, it finally came with the pick of quarterback Jordan Love. Apparently planning for the post Aaron Rodgers future, the Green Bay Packers took a chance on Love with the 26th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
While there are many questions surrounding Love's decline in performance in 2019, Love will have ample time to develop under the tutelage of Rodgers for two to three more seasons.
Love's Background
After lighting the FBS world on fire in 2018, Utah State Aggies quarterback Jordan Love regressed in just about every meaningful category in 2019.
Two years ago, Love ranked in the top 15 in FBS in touchdown passes, yards per attempt, and total quarterback rating, while leading the Aggies to an 11-2 record and a New Mexico Bowl Championship. Last season, he could only manage a 7-6 record under a new coaching regime while also dropping out of the top 40 quarterbacks in most major statistical categories.
To make matters worse, his interceptions rose from six in 2018 to an FBS-high 17 in 2019, leading to questions about his decision-making and accuracy, particularly in a Mountain West Conference not known to be overflowing with elite talent. What scouts don't have questions about, however, is if Love is physically ready for the NFL. Whether it's his 6'4" frame, his rocket arm that has drawn comparisons to Patrick Mahomes, or his rushing ability and elusiveness that some compare to Colin Kaepernick, Love seems to have an NFL-ready body.
The questions NFL scouts have are primarily about what's between his ears -- can he reduce the ill-advised throws and mistakes from his disappointing Junior season? Love will need to improve on his decision-making and reading his various routes to excel at the next level. It looks like he will have plenty of time to do that.
What to Expect in 2020
Barring injury, probably nothing.
From a fantasy perspective, Love seemingly has no fantasy value for the foreseeable future as Rodgers will continue to helm the offense as long as he is playing at close to an elite level. Rodgers even said himself last month that any potential competition the Packers bring in should not plan on seeing the field in any meaningful way in 2020.
If there is a silver lining for Love, however, it will be that he can start traveling down the Aaron Rodgers path of being mentored by a future Hall of Famer for a couple seasons before taking over the offense with hopefully more maturity, more discipline, and with a firm grip of the Green Bay offense.
Should Love have an opportunity to play this season due to injury or an apocalyptic collapse by Rodgers, he will at least have a full arsenal of Davante Adams, Devin Funchess, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and Aaron Jones at his disposal on all levels of the field. The Packers could really have used one more wide receiver in a wide receiver-heavy draft, but Love looks to be a long-term project -- and one that hopefully doesn't sour the relationship between Green Bay and their franchise quarterback.
